| Scientific name |
Mesocricetus auratus (Syrian) Phodopus campbelli (Russian) Phodopus sungorus (Winter White) Phodopus roborovskii (Roborovski) Cricetulus griseus (Chinese) |
| Place of origin | Various |
| Life expectancy | 2-3 years |
| Adult weight | 85-140g |
| Weaning age | 3 weeks |
| Gestation period | 16-23 days (depending on species) |
| Average litter size | 7 |
Hamsters are rodents which have expandable cheek pouches which they use to carry food and bedding back to their nest (the word hamster comes from the German word - 'to hoard'). They have only been kept as pets since the Second World War but have increased in popularity and are the most popular small rodent to be kept as pets.
There are several different species of hamster kept as pets, the most common being the Syrian or Golden hamster. These have been selectively bred to produce a wide range of different breeds with different colours and hair coats.
The different species of hamsters have very different needs so you should make sure that you know as much as possible about the species you are interested in. In my view, Syrian hamsters make the best pets, being relatively easy to handle (as long as they are tamed carefully) and generally more docile than the 'dwarf' hamsters.
It should be remembered that despite their small size, hamsters are still living animals with feelings so they should be cared for as such. For more information about caring for hamsters, please use the links below.
 Buying a hamsterHousing |
 Hamster healthSkin problemsMouth problems Diarrhoea Nutrition/Feeding |
