Syrian Hamsters: Also known as golden, teddy bear, and black bear hamsters, Syrians are the most common type of hamster kept as a pet. They are also the largest and can reach up to 6 or 7 inches when full grown. Syrians come in a variety of colors and can have short or long hair. They are very territorial and should not be kept together once they reach 8-10 weeks of age. Syrians usually live for 2-3 years.
Dwarf Hamsters: There are actually three different types of dwarf hamsters: Campbell's Russian, Winter White Russian, and Roborovski. Campbell's and Winter White are often mistaken for different color variations of the same species and are thus sometimes accidentally crossbred. Both live for 1.5 to 2 years and grow to be about 4 inches long. Roborovski or Robos are the smallest at about 2 inches and also the longest lived at 3 to 3.5 years. They are very fast and are better for owners who don't wish to handle their hamsters too often. All dwarf hamsters are best kept in small same-sex groupings.
Chinese Hamster: These are not true dwarf hamsters, although they are similar in size to Cambell's. These are much harder to find than the other varieties and require permits in some areas, such as California.
This information is courtesy of
Dr. Tripp Stewart.
