INTRODUCTION: Selecting the perfect hamster is harder than you think. Many types of hamsters are all unique! From the larger Syrian hamster to the smaller and my skittish Winter White.

TYPES OF HAMSTERS: We’ll go over the main 5. The Syrian, Dwarf Roborovski, Campbell’s Dwarf, Winter White Dwarf, Chinese hamster, and even the rare and wild European hamster!

THE SYRIAN: This hamster is the biggest of all the pet hamsters. They are also the most popular! Easier to handle due to their size, they’re also the best hamster for first-time owners. They are also known as the golden hamster. They come in all sorts of colors and their fur can come in different lengths.

DWARF ROBOROVSKI: The tiniest of the hamsters, this hamster is naturally curious. They are known to be low maintenance and usually come in sandy brown with white bellies. Even better, if they are raised with other Robos at a young age, they can be somewhat sociable towards other hamsters.

CAMPBELL’S DWARF: These hamsters are also quite small. They crave affection towards gentle owners beware, they can be very fast and agile. Keep a firm (but gentle) grasp on them. Because of their size, it’s best to keep them away from any other household pets. This can be included for ALL hamster types. They can come in grayish-brown with white bellies and dark stripes down their backs.

WINTER WHITE DWARF: This hamster is also known as the Russian hamster. This small little rodent is only a fraction of the size of a Syrian! They also have the ability to change their coat from grey to pure white as the seasons change! Winter Whites are very tolerant towards humans and other hamsters alike. (Still don't recommend putting 2 hamsters in the same cage) They can be light grey during the warm months and turn white during the winter! They too, have black stripes along their backs.

CHINESE HAMSTER: This hamster, hailing from China, has the longest tail/body ratio. They can be brown with black stripes down their back (a lot of hamsters come this way apparently) Their fur turns a lighter color on their underside. Like all hamsters, they need plenty of space to roam

THE WILD EUROPEAN HAMSTER: Please keep in mind that this is a wild animal. The European hamster lives in many countries around Europe and even Asia! (Because of this, they are also known as the Eurasian hamster) They live in steppe and grassland regions. As people continue to inhabit once-wild lands, the European hamster has become somewhat of a pest to farmers. They are the largest hamster, almost coming in at 10 inches! They can be reddish-brown to greyish-brown. Their snouts and cheeks can come in white. Their bellies are black. Sadly, they are considered critically endangered. If you ever encounter this wild animal. Back away and leave it alone. ALLOW IT TO BE WILD. They can be aggressive and territorial.

SELECTING YOUR HAMSTER: Please, select your hamster based on your temperament, ability to handle gentle creatures, and preference in color. If you are able to be gentle, a smaller hamster may be the best choice for you. If you are a little less gentle, the bigger Syrian would be better. Also, if you crave more variety in colors, I would go with the Syrian.

CONCLUSION: As you can see, there are quite a varsity of little hammies. Selecting the perfect hamster for you can lead to an excellent experience and allow a hamster to have a great and loving life. One last thing. This is not children’s pet. If you aren't mature or responsible enough to keep a hamster alive. Don't even consider it. These aren't toys, they are beautiful creatures.