Within the occasion you are not pretty in a position to make the leap into pet possession with a canine or cat, a smaller companion, harking back to a hamster can often be a wonderful first step. These tiny rodents are considered to be low-maintenance pets, although as with each animal, it’s essential to know the way one can appropriately care in your new pet, from the supplies you’ll should how one can feed them. Hamsters are highly regarded pets for teens and with good motive—they keep for just a few years, are typically glad to be housed alone, and their meals/supplies can be found at pet outlets. (To not level out, they take up minimal space in your home and don’t make a whole lot of noise or mess).
Nonetheless what may first-time hamster householders don’t notice is that hamsters actually can be found a wide array of colors and breeds, which all have their very personal distinctive traits. Listed below are 5 of essentially the most well-liked hamster breeds that may assist you choose which is the suitable match to your family members.
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Table of Contents Chinese language language Hamster:strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-998169502-4151dc00057c43489464adeafa6d1537.jpg)  The Chinese language language hamster is a small, further unusual hamster breed that isn’t as extra prone to be found at your neighborhood pet retailer as just a few of the completely different hamster breeds. They develop to solely about 4 inches prolonged, and are typically mistaken for dwarf hamsters on account of their miniature dimension. Typically known as Chinese language language striped hamsters or Chinese language language dwarf hamsters, they’re native to the deserts of China and Mongolia and typically have an prolonged tail than completely different hamster breeds. The Chinese language language hamster is commonly docile and easy to tame, although like completely different hamster breeds they’re typically skittish and might chunk when startled. Species OverviewLENGTH: 4 inches WEIGHT: 1-2 ounces PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Brown with a black stripe on their once more, stomach is a lighter coloration 
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Roborovski Hamsters![Roborovski hamster]() 
 There are actually a lot of kinds of dwarf hamsters, they usually’re simple to hunt out in pet outlets. Additionally known as the Russian Dwarf hamster (or the “Robo”), the tiny Roborovski hamsters are native to the desert areas of every Northern China and Mongolia. They’re named for Lieutenant Vsevolod Roborovski, who popularized the breed once more inside the late Eighteen Nineties. These hamsters are so in fashion partly on account of their tiny dimension; they won’t take up a lot of room in your home. They’re going to start off a bit shy and nervous, nonetheless often warmth up as quickly as they’re comfortable with you—and that’s when their energetic, nice nature will start to shine by way of. Amongst one amongst a lot of tiny species of hamsters, the Roborovski hamster is social and easy to cope with. They’re going to differ from their greater (and typically further territorial) household on account of they actually thrive when caged in pairs or groups. These docile pets are moreover pretty entertaining. They want to tunnel and romp spherical their cage larger than completely different hamster breeds, they often’re simple to deal with on account of their weight reduction plan is accessible they often solely require routine cage cleaning. Species OverviewLENGTH: 3-4 inches WEIGHT: 1 ounce PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Distinctive white eyebrows and no dorsal stripe, fur is lighter behind the ears 
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Syrian Hamster![Syrian hamster]() 
 Principally generally known as each golden or teddy bear hamsters, the Syrian hamster is type of most likely essentially the most well-liked breed of pet hamster. As a consequence of selective breeding, you may uncover the golden/teddy bear hamster in an array of colors and coat lengths, they often can typically keep between two to 4 years. Along with its cuteness, the Syrian hamster makes most likely the best pet hamsters on account of it’s one among many greatest breeds to tame and cope with. It’s on the larger (and slower!) side, and it’s often pretty nice (and wouldn’t chunk as often as just a few of the completely different breeds). The one draw again is that they are nocturnal, and subsequently hardly vigorous inside the day…so when you want to play or work collectively alongside along with your Syrian hamster, it’s best to do it early inside the morning or late inside the evening. Though they’re docile, they’re typically territorial, in order that they’re best housed alone to stay away from combating. Species OverviewLENGTH: 5-9 inches WEIGHT: Spherical 5 ounces PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Typically current in golden brown and white nonetheless on the market in a lot of completely different colors/coat lengths. 
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Campbell’s Hamster![Campbell's hamster]() 
 The Campbell’s hamster is technically one different variety of Russian Dwarf hamster, they usually’re native to China, Central Asia, and Northern Russia. They’re significantly a lot much less in fashion as pets on account of they will startle merely and tend to chunk once they’re scared. Named for the biologist Charles William Campbell (he collected the first specimen in 1902), moreover they’re prone to have a shorter life span, most likely on account of they’re vulnerable to rising diabetes. Species OverviewLENGTH: 3 inches WEIGHT: Spherical 1 ounce PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Gray-brown coloration with a white abdomen, furred toes, and darkish dorsal stripe on their once more Proceed to 5 of 5 beneath
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Winter White Hamster![Winter white hamster]() 
 Another breed of Russian Dwarf hamster, the winter white hamster is a ravishing snow-white choice that are current in Southwest Siberia and Jap Kazakhstan. These make good pets on account of they’re mellow, nice, and sweet. Although they’re typically significantly timid, they crave socialization and when given some time and endurance they make affectionate and lovable pets. Species OverviewLENGTH: 3.5-4 inches WEIGHT: .75-1.75 ounces PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: White fur, spherical/oval physique kind, furred toes and legs 
Hamsters to Avoid
Although they’re pretty low-maintenance, a hamster just isn’t going to be the suitable match for every family. Homes which have canine or cats that could possibly be fascinated by munching in your hamster as a day snack are probably not the right match for these pint-size rodents.
Hamsters may even fare greater in homes with out very younger youngsters on account of they’re typically pretty fragile. Households with kids may want to resolve out of the dwarf species just because they are much much less attainable to have the flexibility to tolerate a lot of coping with. Another reason to stay away from: They’re moreover sooner, further agile, and extra prone to escape or be injured within the occasion that they deal with to get unfastened in your home.
 
					 
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