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In this article we describe the main features of Syrian, Djungar, Campbell and Roborovsky (Roborovski) hamsters. But remember this is only average description, each hamster has personality and unique features.

Syrian (golden) hamsters may be longhaired and shorthaired. The other names of Syrian hamster are Golden Hamster, Fancy Hamster, Teddybear Hamster, Standard Hamster. They are the largest domestic hamsters.

The Syrian Hamster is the most common type of hamster kept as a pet and is approximately 6-7 inches in length with a very short tail. It has hairless feet with four toes on the front feet and five on the back feet. The Syrian Hamster has expandable cheek pouches which it uses to collect and carry food and bedding and it can carry up to half its body weight in grain in its cheek pouches.

They are not suitable as toys for young children. You may optimally get this hamster for a child from 9-10 years old. Syrian hamsters are sociable with the owner, but not with each other. You need a cage with area at least 50 x 30 cm for each Syrian hamster and 18 cm - diameter wheel with a solid running surface.

Tamed Syrian hamsters are very affectionate and friendly, you may play with your hamster for a long time, holding it in your arms or watching on the couch. Life expectancy of Syrian hamsters is about two years.

Djungar hamsters belong to the family of dwarf hamsters. The other names are Siberian hamster, Dwarf Winter White Russian hamster, Djungarian hamster. Small furry animals almost never bite. However they are more independent than Syrian hamsters.

Djungar hamster’s standard color is grey without yellow-brown hue, with dark, distinct stripe on the back and a bright distinct rhomb-shaped mark on the forehead.
Djungarian (Siberian) hamsters are also called "winter white" because their fur have the ability to turn to a winter white coat during short day length, ie. during the winter months when the hours of darkness are longer than the hours of light. As winter whites are not allowed to enter shows in their winter coat (they takes months to change coats) and they tend to breed more readily when they are out of their winter coat, one of the ways to prevent them from changing coat is to increase the hours of light artificially (such as placing fluorescent tubes) which in effect lengthens the day.

Adult Djungarian hamsters also are not kept together. It causes fights for the territory, often giving births of the female that leads to its premature aging and death, as well as bloodshed between females and males. Sometimes one-litter Djungarian males may get on well if they have been living together since birth.

To keep Djungarian hamster you need a cage with frequent rods (a distance between rods 5 - 7 mm) or plastic terrarium with an area of 50 x 30 cm and the 14-16 cm diameter wheel with a solid running surface. Jungar hamsters live on average about two years.

Campbells hamsters are dwarf hamsters as well as Djungarians. Theya are also called Dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters. The appearance of Campbells and Djungarian hamsters is similar, but after closer examination you can notice that the Campbells hamsters have brownish-yellow fur, stripe on the back is barely noticeable and rhomb mark is very narrow.

The Russian Campbells are currently the most common species of dwarf hamsters. Named in honour of W.C Campbell, who found a Campbell Russian hamster in Mongolia in 1902. Due to the similar appearance of the Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster and the Winter White Russian Hamster  and their ability to interbreed it may be difficult to distinguish which species a particular hamster is, or indeed if it is a hybrid of the two species of Russian Hamster.

Campbells hamsters are more independent than Djungarians. They prefer a solitary lifestyle and do not suffer from a lack of communication with the owner. They are suitable for observation. Despite this many breeders managed to tame Campbell hamster so much that it calmly goes to the hand and very attached to the master.

The requirements for keeping are the same as for Djungar hamsters. Life expectancy of Campbells hamsters is about two years.

Roborovsky (Roborovski) hamsters are the smallest of domestic hamsters. They are very independent, bright, brisk and jumping small lumps.

Roborovsky hamsters are suitable for observation. They are social and they can be kept by couples and families.

They rarely if ever bite but do wiggle - and if they escape they are difficult to catch, although repeated, gentle handling will calm them down somewhat. They make ideal pets for those who basically want a pet that is active and interesting to watch.

You need 50x30 cm plastic or glass terrarium and 12-14 cm sized wheel with a solid running surface.

Life expectancy of Roborovskii hamsters is in average two years.