CREDITS: I want to thank HoppingHammy, Biscotti, Freep, SyrianPumpkin, tinypixie, and DolphinDreamer for allowing the use of their pictures in this project.
NOTE 1: This thread is not intended to be a complete guide to hamster colors and patterns. It does not cover every color and pattern possibility, and this omission is intentional.
NOTE 2: One thing you will notice about this thread is that there is very little mention of personality. There's a good reason for this.
You cannot predict a hamster's personality based on its species.
Personality is entirely individual, and has very little to do with what species the hamster is. There is no one species that is the friendliest, and there is no one species that is the meanest. It is impossible to generalize and say that "[Species] hamsters are nice/mean/whatever." Individuals who make claims like this are generally basing them on a single experience with a single hamster. Every species of hamster can run the gamut from shy to outgoing to friendly to skittish to aloof to playful.
NOTE 3: The average weights given are just that - averages. It does not mean that a hamster outside of the given weight range is automatically unhealthy, these are just typical sizes based on a brief survey.
Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
Alternate names: Golden hamster, teddy bear hamster, fancy bear hamster, black bear hamster, panda bear hamster, short-haired hamster, long-haired hamster, fancy hamster, calico hamster, dalmatian hamster
Variation: Syrian hamsters come in many different colors, patterns, and fur types. They can be black, white, gray, brown, orange, golden, yellow, cream, and so on. Patterns can produce banded and even spotted hamsters. Fur can be long or short, straight or curly, matte or glossy.
Average weight: 120g - 180g, though Syrians vary enormously in weight. Some lines can be as little as 100g at adulthood, while others can be 250g+.
Sociability: Syrians are solitary and highly territorial towards all other hamsters. They can never be housed in pairs or groups, regardless of the situation. If two Syrians are housed together, they will fight to the death.
Health concerns: Syrian hamsters may develop a deadly disease known as wet tail (especially in the first 12 weeks of life), so precautions must to taken to prevent excessive stress when bringing a young Syrian home.
About: Syrian hamsters are the largest species of hamster. Their large size means that they require extra large wheels (8" - 12" diameter) and hideouts, which can be difficult to find. It is possible for Syrians to get stuck in some narrower brands of hamster tubes. Syrians are also known to be difficult to keep entertained, and can require very, very large cages to be content.
Chinese Dwarf Hamster (Cricetulus barabensis)
Alternate names: Chinese hamster, striped dwarf hamster, mouse-like hamster, mouse-ster
Variation: Chinese dwarf hamsters have little color variation, generally being grayish brown with a white belly and dark dorsal stripe. The dominant spot pattern produces hamsters with large splotches of white.
Average weight: 30g - 40g
Sociability: The exact level of sociability of Chinese dwarf hamsters is not well-understood. They can sometimes be housed together, but this can be difficult, so it is generally recommended to house Chinese hamsters alone.
Health concerns: Chinese dwarf hamsters are prone to developing diabetes, so diet must be carefully monitored and controlled.
About: In the past, it was often said that Chinese dwarf hamsters were not actually "dwarf" hamsters, because they are in a different group than the others. However, they are indeed considered dwarf hamsters, and are in fact the only true dwarf hamsters kept as pets. Chinese dwarf hamsters have the longest tails of any hamster. They have a generally sleek, mouse-like appearance.
Roborovski's Desert Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Alternate names: Robo dwarf hamster, Roborovski's dwarf hamster, Robo
Variation: Roborovski's desert hamsters have little color variation. They are generally tan with distinctive white eyebrows and a white belly. Unlike the other "dwarf" species, Roborovski's desert hamsters lack a dorsal stripe. White-faced, pied, and all-white varieties can sometimes be found.
Average weight: 20g - 25g
Sociability: Roborovski's desert hamsters are semi-social, and under very specific circumstances, can be housed in same-sex pairs. However, as with any social hamster, there is no guarantee that any given two individuals will get along. There is always a chance that a pair will fight and need to be permanently separated.
Health concerns: There are no major health concerns unique to this species.
About: Roborovski's desert hamsters are the smallest and fastest species of hamster. Roborovski's desert hamsters also have the ability to jump fairly long distances for their body size, which is unusual among hamsters.
Campbell's Desert Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Alternate names: Campbell's dwarf hamster, Russian dwarf hamster, dwarf hamster, fancy dwarf hamster, Djungarian hamster, DJ hamster, blueberry hamster, snow hamster
Variation: Campbell's desert hamsters, much like Syrians, come in a huge variety of colors and patterns. They can be brown, black, white, blue, tan, and various other colors. They are also the only other type of hamster besides the Syrian that has multiple fur types (standard and satin). They often have a single thin dorsal stripe, though this is not present in all color varieties.
Average weight: 30g - 50g
Sociability: Campbell's desert hamsters are semi-social, and under very specific circumstances, can be housed in same-sex pairs. However, as with any social hamster, there is no guarantee that any given two individuals will get along. There is always a chance that a pair will fight and need to be permanently separated.
Health concerns: Campbell's desert hamsters are extremely prone to diabetes, and so their diet must be carefully monitored. This species is also prone to cage aggression, so a large cage is vital to the hamster's mental well being.
About: Campbell's desert hamsters have a persistent, yet undeserved reputation of being "mean." This is related to their tendency to develop cage aggression. But with proper care, Campbell's desert hamsters can be perfectly wonderful pets. Campbell's desert hamsters are often confused with Winter White desert hamsters, as the two species are similar in appearance and share nicknames.
Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
Alternate names: Winter White Russian dwarf hamster, Djungarian hamster, DJ hamster, Siberian hamster, Striped desert hamster
Variation: Winter White hamsters come in only a few colors / patterns. They are typically dark grayish brown or smoky blue with one dark dorsal stripe and one wavy stripe on each side. There is also a white variety that has a faint dorsal stripe and appears dusted with black.
Average weight: 30g - 50g
Sociability: The exact level of sociability of Winter White hamsters is not well-understood. They are potentially semi-social, and under very specific circumstances, can be housed in same-sex pairs. However, they are anecdotally known as being very difficult to house in pairs.
Health concerns: Winter White hamsters are considered diabetes-prone, and so their diet must be carefully monitored.
About: Winter White hamsters are often confused with Campbell's desert hamsters. These two species are closely related and can actually interbreed, producing hybrid offspring. Indeed, most "Winter Whites" found in pet stores and rescues are actually hybrids. Purebred Winter Whites are extremely rare and can only be attained from a select few breeders.
Edited by Taxonomist, 20 February 2019 - 06:14 AM.
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