Syrian Hamster

About Hamster

Domesticated Relatives

There are many species of hamsters but only 5 species are widely kept in captivity as pets. Except already mentioned Syrian Hamster, there are 4 next species so: Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster, Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster, Roborovski Hamster and Chinese Hamster.

Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster

The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) originates from Eastern Kazakhastan and South West Siberia where it lives amongst grassy steppes and on the tablelands up to 3000 m above sea level. The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster was first recorded in 1770 and it was the first seen in pet market in 1978, meanwhile it was used in laboratories.

The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster is much smaller than big Syrian Hamster. The average lifespan is 1,5 - 2 years. Females are pregnant only 18 - 21 days. The number of its chromosomes is 28. In the wild it lives in burrows in colonies and it is very territorial. It is nocturnal, waking only for short periods during the day. Its sight is poor but it has a very good hearing and smell. They are recognising each other in group by smell. In captivity the Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster is a sociable pet and will live with another of its own kind if they are introduced when young. However, an older hamster will resent the addition of another hamster and a fierce fight can occur. As a pet it is less suitable than the Syrian Hamster because it is less tolerant of clumsy handling. The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster is so called because of its tendency to turn white in the winter. The original colour in the wild is dark grey with black eyes. Currently there is only one mutation in colour now.

BHA Standards of Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster

Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster

The Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster (Phodopus campbelli) lives in steppes and semi deserts of Central Asia. It was first discovered in 1905 by Thomas Campbell. It became popular as a pet in 1980s. Here in Czech Republic it is not meanwhile ordinarily available in pet markets.

The Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster is petty as well as the Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster. The average lifespan is 1,5 - 2 years. Females are pregnant only 18 - 21 days. The number of its chromosomes is 28. In the wild it lives in pairs or small groups in burrows. It is nocturnal, waking only for short periods during the day. Its sight is poor but it has a very good hearing and smell. They are recognising each other in group by smell. In captivity it is a sociable pet and will live with another of its own kind if they are introduced when young. However, an older hamster will resent the addition of another hamster and a fierce fight can occur. As a pet it is less suitable than the Syrian Hamster because it is less tolerant of clumsy handling, it has a ply to bite. The original colour in the wild is brownish-grey with black eyes. There are many coloured mutations and patterns.

Roborovski Hamster

The Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) lives in deserts and semi deserts of Western and Eastern Mongolia and Northern China. It was first discovered in July 1894 by Lt Roborosky in Nan Shan. It became to be a pet later then both previous species. In Czech Republic you can find it in pet shops.

The Roborovski Hamster is the smallest of the hamster species kept as pets. It is only 4 - 5 cm long. The average lifespan is 3 - 3,5 years. Females are pregnant 23 - 30 days. The number of its chromosomes is 34. In the wild it lives in groups in burrows. It is nocturnal, waking only for short periods during the day. Its sight is poor but it has a very good hearing and smell. In captivity it is a sociable pet and it is best to keep it with others of its own kind as to keep it singly because of it is thought to shorten its lifespan and make it agitated. It is more suitable to look on it then to cuddle it. The original colour in the wild is sandy gold. Currently there is only one mutation only in pattern now - White Faced.

Chinese Hamster

The Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus) originates from Northern China and Mongolia, where it lives in steppes, forest steppes and semi-deserts. It was first recorded in 1900 and it was later kept and used in laboratories. Interest in it as pet grew in the 1970s. In some states  there are some restrictions on keeping them, sometimes it is needed to have a licence to keep them.

The Chinese Hamster looks like a rat. It is 10 - 12 cm long, it has a noticeable longer tail. It lives 2,5 - 3 years. Females are pregnant 21 days. The number of its chromosomes is 22. In the wild it lives in groups in burrows. It is nocturnal, waking only for short periods during the day. Its sight is poor but it has a very good hearing and smell. In captivity it is a sociable pet and can be breeded in groups. It is extremely active and fast, it is not very suitable as a pet. The original colour in the wild is dark brown.

Interbreeding Hamster Species

I don't advise to do interbreeding hamster species, it is unnatural. Although most of hamster species is not possible to interbreed, exception is sad to say the Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster and the Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster, which have the same number of chromosomes. Because of they are similar in appearance, they are very often mistakenly interbreeded. From these crossings came hybrids, which are very often infertile. It is possible to recognise them from each other, but it is needed to have some experiences. The nature colouring of both species is on the first sight grey but Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster come to brown a little. The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster has eyes more close to ears then to nose, thicker dorsal strip and good seen triple bow on the sides of the body. Hybrids are always something between, it is very hard to recognise them. One type of hybrid looks more like Dwarf Winter White, but it usually has nose to Campbells and dorsal strip is thinner, second type looks more like Campbells, but eyes could be more close to ears then to nose and dorsal strip is wider between shoulders.

See more on: http://www.petwebsite.com/hybrid.htm