There are two general types of hamsters kept as pets, Syrians and dwarfs. The dwarf hamsters are made up of four types.

Syrian Hamsters

Syrian hamsters are the largest of the hamster family. They are sold in pet stores under the names of Teddy Bear Hamster, Black Bear Hamster, Panda Bear Hamster, etc. These are all actually the same species of hamster. The only difference is hair length and color. Pet stores try to use these names in order to sell certain colors for more money. Their temperament, life span, genetics and place of origin are no different. Syrians have four toes on their front paws and five on the back, and all paws are fur-less. They have very short hairless tails.

Syrian hamsters are generally about 6-8 inches in length when fully grown and can weigh anywhere from 140g to over 200g when fully grown though some can weigh less. Most good breeders breed for size as one of the goals when breeding. Their life span is between 2 and 2.5 years on average, but some have been known to live for over four years.

Syrians are solitary animals and should never be kept in pairs or groups as they can and will fight, sometimes to the death.

Dwarf Hamsters

Campbell’s

The Campbell’s hamster is likely the primary type of dwarf you will find in North America. They are also sold under names such as Russian Hamster, Siberian Hamster and sometimes Dzungarian hamster. There are several colors and patterns available. Campbell’s have a thin dorsal stripe that goes down their back, ending just short of the tail. Campbell’s are about 3-4 inches in length when fully grown and generally weigh between 35g and 50g. Campbell’s have furry feet and short furry tails. They have an average life span of 1.5 – 2 years, though they can live through 3 years. Campbell’s are highly prone to diabetes, so care should be taken to avoid a diet high in sugar.

Campbell’s are generally social and do enjoy being kept in pairs or small groups. There are some who will not live in a group setting and can bully others. This can occur without warning, so enough cages should be available to separate each hamster into his own home if the need arises.

Winter Whites

The Winter White is a close relative of the Campbell’s and does have the ability to interbreed with them, creating hybrids – this should be avoided in order to preserve both species. Winter Whites may be mistakenly sold as Campbell’s and are also sold as Dzungarian hamsters or Siberian Hamsters.

Winter Whites are roughly the same size as Campbell’s but have fewer color variations. The dorsal stripe is thick and runs down the back from the head to the tail. They generally weigh 35g to 50g and are 3-4 inches in length. They also have furry feet and short furry tails. The name Winter White comes from the fact that they will shed their regular coat under the correct lighting conditions and come into a white coat for winter. The only part that doesn’t change is the black stripe down the back.

The average life span is also 1.5 – 2 years, though they can live through 3 years. Winter Whites are not as prone to diabetes as Campbell’s, but the incidences are increasing as more hybrids are bred.
Winter Whites are generally social and do enjoy being kept in pairs or small groups. There are some who will not live in a group setting and can bully others. This can occur without warning, so enough cages should be available to separate each hamster into his own home if the need arises.

Roborovski Hamsters

Roborovski hamsters are the smallest of all the dwarf hamsters kept as pets. They grow to approximately 1.5 – 2 inches in length and weigh approximately 22g – 30g. Because of their small size, care must be taken to keep them in a cage with a smaller bar spacing as they can squeeze out of the cage. They move very quickly and are nearly impossible to catch.

Robos are more of a watching pet than a handling one due to their size and speed. Though they will become tamer over time, it’s a good idea to handle them in a closed room or over a storage tub so that they can’t go too far. There are only two color patterns, normal, sandy color with white eyebrows, and a white face, a sandy-colored body and a white-masked face without visible eyebrows. Robos also do not have a dorsal stripe. They have a life span of approximately 2-3 years, though four years is not unheard of.

Robos are generally social and do enjoy being kept in pairs or small groups. There are some who will not live in a group setting and can bully others. This can occur without warning, so enough cages should be available to separate each hamster into his own home if the need arises.

Chinese Hamsters

Chinese Hamsters are known as the Striped hamster or the rat-like hamster. They are not technically dwarf hamsters but are generally grouped with them due to their smaller size. They tend to be longer and thinner than the other hamsters and also have a longer tail. They grow to approximately 4 – 5 inches in length and weigh around 40g – 60g. They have a life span of, on average, 2 – 3 years, though they can live longer.

Chinese Hamsters are generally social and do enjoy being kept in pairs or small groups. There are some who will not live in a group setting and can bully others. This can occur without warning, so enough cages should be available to separate each hamster into his own home if the need arises.