Which Species of Hamster Should I Get?
LAST UPDATED FEBRUARY 2019
The Simplest Answer
...whichever one you want.
In general, the differences in care between the different species of hamster are pretty minor. It isn't like dog breeds where owning a German Shepherd is totally different from owning a Pomeranian.
As a rule, if you are prepared to care for a hamster and all that it entails, you are reasonably prepared to care for any species. However, there are considerations that can make one species a better fit than another for any given person.
What SHOULDN'T be a Major Consideration - Personality and Behavior
This is often a big factor for would-be owners - they want a hamster that behaves a certain way and has a particular personality. So they aim to pick a species that's "known" for being a certain way.
However, the truth is that it's nearly impossible to generalize behavior by species. A lot of the stereotypes about hamsters such as "Syrian hamsters are always nice and sweet!" or "Russian dwarfs are mean and usually bite" simply don’t hold up on a large scale. You can check out this widespread survey on hamster personalities for more information about that. In addition, each species can have a very wide range of personality types.
Think of it this way. If "Species A" were universally the nicest, most cuddly, sweetest hamsters, why would anyone ever get another species? If "Species B" was almost always mean and nasty and prone to biting, why would anyone own them at all? And yet, all 5 species of hamster are popular and owned by many.
As a note, if you are not prepared to care for an anti-social / difficult to tame / "leave-me-alone" type of hamster, please reconsider getting a hamster at all. While not the majority, it is not uncommon for any species to behave this way.
Valid Considerations
Space - This is probably one of the most important factors to consider. While bigger is always better for any species, Syrian hamsters are often particularly hard to satisfy in terms of cage space. This is a very common issue for Syrian keepers, though there are always exceptions.
Many dwarfs will be at least content in a large bin cage or 40 gallon tank. For a Syrian, this is often not the case. The best bet for getting a Syrian is going to be a very large DIY cage.(something in the range of 1000+ square inches) This is definitely something to consider if you are limited on space or cage materials.
Handling - Syrians are larger, so they can be a little easier to physically hold onto than a smaller, lightweight dwarf. However, their large size also means that they're stronger, so a wiggly Syrian can more easily force itself free than a dwarf can.
Dwarf species are the opposite - they're not as strong, so they're less able to brute-force themselves free. But they can slip between fingers a lot easier. For example, Robos (even friendly ones) can be challenging to hold because they're very tiny, lightning fast, and can jump much longer and higher than any other species.
This isn't to say that any species is the "easiest" to handle - it has more to do with what you personally are more comfortable with. If a bigger, stronger hamster is intimidating to you, maybe one of the dwarf species is a better bet. If a tiny, slippery dwarf makes you nervous, you might want to go with a Syrian.
Bites - To be clear, this is not talking about the frequency of bites or how likely a hamster is to bite. Any species can and will bite. Rather, this section is discussing the physical mechanics of bites.
The simple biological fact is that the larger the hamster, the more severe the bite is going to be. Bigger animals have larger teeth and stronger jaws. A bite from a larger hamster is going to be inherently worse (deeper, more painful) than a bite from a smaller hamster. In this regard, Syrians will have the worst bites, and the dwarf species will have less severe ones.
Equipment - Syrians require larger cage equipment that dwarfs. This includes things like wheels, hideouts, and toys. There are a few downsides to this. One is that there is often less variety available, as many toys and hideouts only come in small dwarf sizes. Another potential issue is that Syrian-sized items can often be more expensive. This is especially true for wheels - a 12" Silent Spinner can be triple the price of a 6.5" model of the exact same wheel. Finally, sometimes there is no good Syrian size available, and a super-oversized model (for rats, guinea pigs) may be necessary. These items may be too tall or too bulky for all but the largest cages.
Dwarfs are significantly easier to equip because most hamster items are appropriately sized for them. It is much easier and cheaper to get dwarf cage accessories.
Grooming - This is a very minor quirk that comes up in terms of species. Syrian hamsters tend to trim their own claws by chewing on them. Not all Syrians do this, but many will. Dwarfs generally do not do this, and thus will often need to have their claws clipped. This can be a bit difficult to do, and may require a second person to help.
Odor - Odor can be a factor to consider if the hamster is being kept in a smaller or less ventilated space. In a larger room, odor is unlikely to be an issue regardless of species.
This consideration intersects a bit with the sex of the animal. And similar to the biting issue, it comes down to biology. Larger animals produce more urine, which means more odor. Female Syrians are probably the "smelliest" hamsters. They go into reproductive heat every few days, and produce a very strong-smelling discharge from their genitals. Some people are more sensitive to this smell than others - some cannot stand it, and others are unfazed. For dwarfs, the males tend to be smellier. However, they are more musky than pungent.
Edited by Taxonomist, 27 February 2019 - 12:56 AM.
I can't even describe how great it is. I just love it! This will be great for newbies. c:
Since they are popular in pet shops, you can get the right cage, food, water bottle, house and chew toys (no wood). 
Also, they are more easier to tame than the chinese and the dwarf, and they live an average lifespan. 
Because to be honest, I can't say that I agree with any of them, and in most cases, the opposite is actually true of what's being claimed.
