Wild species of hamsters in nature live in the steppe zones of Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Hamsters are nocturnal animals: they dig underground, long, branched passages with residential chambers, in which they spend all day. They come to the surface at night to get food for themselves.
Most of these animals, including domesticated hamsters, have cheek pouches in which they carry food. They are quite spacious: for example, a Syrian hamster can stuff food by the cheeks, the total weight of which exceeds half its own weight! Hamsters are trained to make stocks: in nature, they store food collected and delivered in a hole in cheek bags in residential chambers. These rodents feed on plants, nuts, various seeds.
The most common variety of hamsters kept at home is the so-called Syrian, it is also golden. It is somewhat larger than other decorative species of hamsters. This animal must be kept in a separate cage: Syrian hamsters do not like to share their territory with anyone. The remaining hamsters suitable for living in dwellings - dwarf ones - are more sociable and get along well in pairs and in colonies. At the same time, they show aggression in relation to their owners much more often than Syrian ones. Dwarf species include the Dzungarian hamster, Campbell's hamster , Chinese and Roborovsky's hamster.
Syrian hamsters are more suitable than other species for families with children. They are contact and well tamed. This species lends itself to elementary training: for example, a Syrian hamster can be taught to run to the owner with his nickname. He easily gets used to managing his needs in a special hamster toilet. Syrian hamsters can be both one-color (cream, white, black, ivory, chocolate, etc.), and have a mixed color - the hairs are different colors at the base and at the tips. In addition to color, different colors are also distinguished: there are spotted, fringed, tortoiseshell, roan Syrian hamsters. Their appearance differs both in the length of the coat, as well as in its type or texture (satin coat is short, shiny, “rex” - the coat is slightly longer, slightly curly). Long-haired Syrian hamsters, the so-called Angora, are very beautiful and cute. Care for them, in addition to feeding and cleaning the cage, should include regular combing of the hair - otherwise it will fall into dirty clods.
Dzungarian hamsters are the most meek and sociable species of dwarf ones. Outwardly, they are very cute and attractive: they resemble small balls with black pearl eyes. These hamsters are sociable animals: you need to pay attention to them daily. Most of the "dzhungariki" has a natural color - dark gray, with a light belly. A dark stripe stretches along the ridge of such a hamster, and on its head there is a rhombus of a darker color than the rest of the hair. Outwardly they look like Campbell hamsters, which have a brownish-gray fur. This species of dwarf hamsters is the most aggressive and poorly tamed, but it’s very interesting to observe the habits of these animals.
Roborovsky's hamster is the tiniest species of these pets. Its length is only 4-5 cm, for this reason Roborovsky’s hamsters can only be kept in terrariums. These babies are awake and moving most of the day (other types of hamsters are active at night, which can cause some inconvenience when keeping them). Roborovsky hamsters do not bite and children can calmly pick them up, but their excessive mobility can cause them to slip out of their hands and fall from a height. This hamster has a sand color, a characteristic feature of it are white "eyebrows" and abdomen. In our country, this species is still not widespread, since it is difficult to breed them: even from a couple who have been living together for several years, it is difficult to get offspring.
Having studied the different types of hamsters, everyone can choose for themselves exactly the animal that suits him more than others. Before you get this tiny pet, it is advisable to study special literature to familiarize yourself with the rules of its maintenance and create the most comfortable conditions for the hamster.