How to Tell What Breed Your Hamster Is
Your hamster may be a Syrian, a Russian dwarf, a Roborovski or a Chinese. Characteristics such as appearance, size and socializing preferences may vary depending on the animal's breed. Hair length and color and the length of the hamster itself are typically used to determine its breed.
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Instructions
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Measure your hamster. The smallest hamsters are the Roborovski, at 4 to 5 cm long. Next in size are the dwarf Russians, at 7 to 11 cm; then the Chinese, 10 to 12 cm, and finally, the Syrian, which measure 12 to 16 cm.
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Look at the length and texture of your hamster's coat. Short-haired Syrian hamsters are sometimes called "fancy" hamsters. Longer hair is found in Syrian hamsters, also known as "teddy bear" hamsters. The males have longer hair than the females. The third type of hair, "rex," has longer hair being lifted by shorter guard hairs, and these hamsters have curly whiskers. Another characteristic featured by all types of fur is a glossy appearance resulting from thinner hair that creates a more reflective surface.
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Observe the color patterns of your hamster's fur. Light-brown Syrian hamsters are known as "golden" hamsters. "Black bear" and "panda" hamsters are actually variants of Syrian hamsters that have been bred specifically for the characteristic color and markings. Campbell's dwarf Russian hamsters are mostly light-colored with a darker stripe down the back, while winter white dwarf Russian hamsters have three stripes: one down the center of the back and one along each side. If you have a very small dwarf hamster with no stripes, it's probably a Roborovski.
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Look at your hamster's distinctive body shape and other identifying characteristics. The Chinese hamster, also known as a "rat-like" hamster, has a short nose, short legs, a relatively long, thin body, stocky legs and a long tail. Roborovski hamsters have longer legs than other dwarf hamsters, relative to their size, and large dark eyes surrounded by white fur.
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Tips & Warnings
The dwarf hamster breeds are active and can run fast, so they are not suitable for children. It's fun to watch the antics of these tunneling dwarf breeds, but it won't be easy to handle them.
If Chinese hamsters are housed with other hamsters, they might become aggressive and start fights.
References
Resources
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