Hamster Species Explained
Hamsters are the perfect small pet. These small, furry animals have been a must have pet over the last few decades in the U. S.. There are many hamster breeds available for sale. The most popular breed was discovered in Syria. The Syrian hamster was the first to be utilized in a lab and first to be domesticated and kept as a family pet. The Syrian hamster is known as the golden hamster, fancy hamster or "teddy bear" hamster. It is the largest breed, at a median adult size of 6 inches long. It is a solitary animal and should never be caged with another hamster. Syrian hamsters that live in the same enclosure are prone to fight.
Dwarfs
After the initial discovery of the Golden hamster, new breeds were found in other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, the Chinese Hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster species and are all kept as pets. These species aren't technically 'dwarfs' but are referred to as such because of their smaller size relative to the Syrian. Campbell's dwarf hamster has tiny ears and a thin dorsal dark fur stripe down the back. The Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, or 'Robo' hamster, is the smallest of the small breeds. It has patches of white fur above both eyes and does not have the dorsal dark fur stripe found on other dwarf breeds. The Chinese hamster is extensive and thinner than the other breeds of hamsters and looks more like a mouse than a hamster. It also is the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Hamster Breeds
Several breeds of Goldens also exist, for example. the Angora hamster, which is legendary for males that have a longer, thick fur coat. The black bear hamster is comparable to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat color is black, and temperament is much more docile.
Differences Between the BreedsVariations in hamster breeds and species is essentially the overall size, coat type and color. The basic biology and behavior are the same between the differing types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The major difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches long. The dwarf species only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches, making them half the length of the Syrian. The other significant difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf breeds is that, while the Golden hamster is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more friendly and will like being caged with others. Nonetheless, all hamsters should be watched closely for aggressive behaviour when housed together, particularly when originally introduced.
Dwarfs
After the initial discovery of the Golden hamster, new breeds were found in other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, the Chinese Hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster species and are all kept as pets. These species aren't technically 'dwarfs' but are referred to as such because of their smaller size relative to the Syrian. Campbell's dwarf hamster has tiny ears and a thin dorsal dark fur stripe down the back. The Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, or 'Robo' hamster, is the smallest of the small breeds. It has patches of white fur above both eyes and does not have the dorsal dark fur stripe found on other dwarf breeds. The Chinese hamster is extensive and thinner than the other breeds of hamsters and looks more like a mouse than a hamster. It also is the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Hamster Breeds
Several breeds of Goldens also exist, for example. the Angora hamster, which is legendary for males that have a longer, thick fur coat. The black bear hamster is comparable to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat color is black, and temperament is much more docile.
Differences Between the BreedsVariations in hamster breeds and species is essentially the overall size, coat type and color. The basic biology and behavior are the same between the differing types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The major difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches long. The dwarf species only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches, making them half the length of the Syrian. The other significant difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf breeds is that, while the Golden hamster is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more friendly and will like being caged with others. Nonetheless, all hamsters should be watched closely for aggressive behaviour when housed together, particularly when originally introduced.
About the Author:
Cathy "cat" Doggins has authored multiple articles on small pet care. When not caring for her pets like these, Cathy helps as a volunteer at local pet shelters and cares for her growing collection of dwarf and golden hamsters.
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