Hamster breeds, types and colours

What types of hamster are there?

There are five pet species, and they differ more than you might think. The RSPCA lists the Syrian, Chinese, Campbell's Russian dwarf, winter white dwarf and Roborovski's dwarf as the ones most commonly kept. Wood Green adds a sixth name you will see in shops, the "dwarf hamster", which is usually a cross between a winter white and a Campbell's.

Figures are from the National Hamster Council's species pages and show standards. Its Roborovski page gives 4.5 to 5 cm and its show standard 6 to 8 cm, so we show the full range.

Syrian hamster

The Syrian is the classic pet hamster and the biggest, at around 13 cm (5.5 in). It is also called the golden hamster, after its wild colour: golden brown ticked with black, with a white belly and dark cheek flashes. The National Hamster Council says most pet Syrians trace back to one mother and her litter of 12, caught near Aleppo, Syria, in 1930. In the wild it is now classed as endangered.

Syrians are fiercely territorial. The Council says they will attack another hamster in their space, so they must live alone from about 8 weeks old. They make up for it with people: they can become very attached to their owners and, Wood Green says, are often easier to handle because of their size. Female Syrians tend to be more energetic and may need more space.

Syrian hamster care in brief

• A home of at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (40 × 20 × 20 in), with bars no more than 1 cm (0.4 in) apart, as Wood Green advises
• At least 15 cm (6 in) of paper bedding, with a 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) digging area
• A solid upright wheel of 30 cm (12 in)
• About 10 g (a tablespoon) of dry hamster food a day, scattered
• A sand bath, hides, cork logs and cardboard to shred

Our complete hamster care guide and hamster cage size guide go into each of these.

Syrian hamster types, colours and coats

All the "breeds" of Syrian you see for sale are one species in different colours, patterns and coats. The National Hamster Council recognises these.

Teddy bear hamster

A teddy bear hamster is a long-haired Syrian. The name is a pet-shop label, as are angora and fancy bear, and PetSmart sells long-haired and fancy bear hamsters alongside short-haired ones at the same price. Only males grow the really long coat, which the National Hamster Council describes as a skirt around the back end.

The coat changes two things. The Council advises against wheels for longhairs, as the hair can catch, so give a large floor area and a supervised play pen for running. And long coats pick up bedding, so the RSPCA says long-haired types may need brushing once a week to clear mats and debris.

Roborovski hamster

The Roborovski is the smallest and fastest pet hamster, at 4.5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) and 20 to 25 g (about 1 oz). The National Hamster Council says it comes from the deserts of Central Asia, digs burrows up to 1.8 m (6 ft) deep in the wild, and was named after Lieutenant Roborovsky, who found it in 1894. It is sandy gold with a white belly, white eyebrow spots and, unlike other dwarfs, no stripe down its back.

Robos rarely bite, but they are very wriggly. Wood Green says they are unsuitable for regular handling, especially by young children, so they suit people who love watching more than holding. They are among the longest-lived hamsters, often reaching three and sometimes four.

Siberian (winter white) hamster

The winter white is a dwarf hamster from Kazakhstan and Siberia, which is why it is also called the Siberian hamster. Its name comes from the white coat it grows in winter in the wild, as camouflage in the snow. Adults are 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in). Recognised colours are normal (shaded black and grey), sapphire (smoky blue-grey) and pearl (white with lightly ticked hairs).

The National Hamster Council says mandarin, orange, brown and mushroom "winter whites" are actually winter white and Campbell's hybrids.

Campbell's dwarf hamster

The Campbell's dwarf comes from Russia and northern China and grows to 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.75 in). It looks very like a winter white, and the two are often mixed up. Colours include normal (shaded browns), argente (orange or sandy with red eyes) and albino, plus non-standard dove, beige, black, blue fawn and black-eyed white. Coats can be mottled, platinum, satin or rex.

Chinese hamster

The Chinese hamster is the odd one out: long and slim, a little like a mouse, with a short tail it can grip with. It comes from north-eastern China, grows to about 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.75 in) and weighs up to 45 to 50 g (about 1.75 oz). The National Hamster Council says it is one of the longest-lived hamsters, often reaching three and sometimes four, and that once tame it will happily sit in your hands or climb a sleeve. Females can be very territorial.

Chinese hamsters are rarer in shops, so a club breeder or a rescue is often the best place to find one. Two colours are usual: normal and dominant spot.

Small hamster breeds

If you want a small hamster, you are looking at the dwarfs: the Roborovski (the tiniest), the winter white, the Campbell's and their hybrids. Most "Russian dwarf" hamsters in UK shops are winter white and Campbell's crosses, Wood Green notes. Small does not mean easier: dwarfs still need the same 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in) floor as a Syrian, Wood Green advises, with narrower bars of 7 mm (0.3 in) and a 20 cm (8 in) wheel.

Which hamster breed is best?

It depends what you want from it.

We share our home with a dwarf hamster, and dwarfs are wonderful to watch, but for most first-time owners we would still start with a Syrian. Our Syrian or dwarf comparison goes through the choice in detail.

Can hamsters live together?

We say no, for every species. Wood Green advises keeping all hamsters alone, because even dwarfs that live in groups in the wild often fight in a cage, causing severe injuries or death. Sources disagree here: the RSPCA says dwarf pairs or trios can sometimes live together with the right care, and the National Hamster Council says Roborovskis are social. We follow Wood Green, because a falling-out between hamsters happens at night, fast, and the RSPCA itself says even dwarfs do not need company to be happy.

Syrian hamster for sale: where to look

Check a rescue first. Wood Green rehomes hamsters for £12, and many other rescues have Syrians waiting. For a particular colour or coat, a club breeder through the National Hamster Council's regional clubs is the next best route. Our guide to where to get a hamster covers what to ask and what a healthy hamster looks like, and our hamster cost guide sets out what you will spend.

For how long each type lives, see our hamster lifespan guide.