Types of Hamsters

Most hamsters are nocturnal. Although they may wake for short periods of the day, they prefer to be up and about in the evening and during the night time hours.
 
They eat nuts, berries, seeds, insects. (Of course, captive hamsters eat a prepared seed-blend of various seeds and nuts)
 
They come from a desert climate and live in burrows that consist of long tunnels with different "dens" for sleeping and for food storage. (many new, colorful cages simulate this environment). The have cheek pouches that carry food from discovery back to the storage den.
 
They can cover nearly 4 miles a day travelling in search of food. (They need exercise in their captive environments to simulate the miles they travel in natural settings)

 
Syrian hamsters are larger than dwarf hamsters. They are solitary, territorial, and live alone in the wild most of the time. They are more social with humans but more aggressive to their own species in my opinion. They should live alone, not in groups.
 
Syrian hamsters who have been raised together have been known to fight after just a few hours of separation. If separated and then placed back into the same cage, they can be quite hostile.
 
Rule of thumb: One Syrian hamster = one cage.
 
 
 
They live to be 1-3 year old in captivity. Can breed as early as 4 weeks and stop breeding about 12-14 mos.
 
They are called "Golden Hamsters" although captive-bred Syrians come in many different colors. The long-haired variety (left) are often called "Teddy Bear" hamsters. They are the most popular of the "pet store" hamsters.
 
 
Russian Dwarf Hamsters are smaller, and they live in more communal organizations. You can keep up to 10 Russian Dwarf Hamsters of the same sex together without fighting. Their life-span is about the same, but they start breeding slightly later than the Syrian variety.
 
If you purchase from a pet shop and want more than one, purchase animals that are already living together. Just be sure to get only same-sex pairs unless you want lots of little ones.
 
Hamsters vs gerbils:  The difference?
 
See the two pictures below.  Syrian Hamsters are slightly larger, more plump.  Hamsters have no tail.  Gerbils have a tail almost as long as a mouse, but with hair.  Both make great pets.
 
 
 
 
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