So You Want a Hamster
Where Do Hamsters Come From
A hamster is a small rodent originating from the East and Asia. There are many hamster breeds and they all care sized and look different. I've created a list of the places where the breeds originate below.
The Syrian (also known as the bear hamster)
This hamster originates in Syrian thus the name. This hamsters color variation is gold and white all other colors are not natural. They live 3 to 4 years and grow up to 5 to 7 inches long. They're scientific name isMesocricetus auratus.
The Roborovski Hamster
The Roborovski hamster originates from Mongolia and Northern China where they live in areas with little vegetation. They can grow to sizes up to 2 inches and are the smallest breed of hamster. Their life span is 3.5 to 4 years. I only recommend this hamster to older children because of its size and behavior. They come in a gold or beige with a white underbelly. The scientific name of this little guys is Phodopus roborovskii.
The Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster
These hamsters come from Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia they are very popular among pet owners. These hamsters come in normal (agouti), Pearl, and Sapphire Blue.This hamster is very small and only grows 3 to 4 inches long. They have a shorter life span than most hamster and only live 1.5 to 2 years. This hamsters scientific name is Phodopus sungorus
Campbells Russian Dwarf Hamster
Campbells Russian dwarf hamster is very similar to the winter white dwarf hamster except the winter whites come from the steppes and semi-arid areas of central Asia, the Altay Mountains and northeastern China.They where discovered in Tuva, Asia. These hamsters colors are restricted to brown, black and some other unnatural colors. These little guys live 1.5 to 3 years and are the same size as they're look alikes the winter white dwarf. Phodopus campbelli is they're scientific name.
Chinese Hamster
The Chinese hamster grows from 3 to 5 inches long and live anywhere from 2 to 3 years. They are native to the deserts of northern China and Mongolia. These hamsters are known to have longer tales than other hamsters. They have a dark stripe that follows its spine down its back and has a light color covering the rest of its body. Some places require permits to own this breed. The scientific name of this hamster is Cricetulus griseus.
