Syrian Hamster: Pictures, Temperament & Traits (Vet-Verified Info)
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) are one of the most popular choices for small pets. They’re so cute they’re also known as Golden or Teddy Bear hamsters. If you’re thinking about getting one, you might wonder what goes into their care so you can decide if they’re suitable for your family. Syrian hamsters are relatively low-maintenance pets, easy to tame, and ideal for beginners. So, let’s take a closer look at what that means.
| Size: | 5 – 7 inches |
| Weight: | 100–150 grams (3.5–5.3 oz), females heavier |
| Lifespan: | 2 – 3 years |
| Similar To: | No other hamster species |
| Suitable for: | Beginners |
| Temperament: | Curious, docile with humans, solitary, easy to tame, comfortable being handled |
The Syrian hamster comes from arid regions of Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. They are generally golden brown with a lighter belly; however, thanks to selective breeding, they can also come in other hair lengths, patterns, and colors. While they aren’t big pets, that doesn’t mean they’re not full of personality. Syrian hamsters are known for developing quirky personalities and quirks that are entirely their own.
Syrian Hamster Characteristics
How Much Do These Hamsters Cost?
Syrian hamsters generally cost between $5 and $25 depending on their hair length, color variations, and whether you decide to adopt or shop. Hamsters from reputable breeders can cost around $70, but you will come away with more than just a hamster in those cases. For example, many reputable breeders will tame the hamster to be handled and give you a start-up kit to make the transition smoother.
When buying a hamster, it’s important to choose where to acquire one wisely as you don’t want to inadvertently support a rodent mill, where hamsters are mass-produced for profit in poor conditions, generally without access to medical treatment or proper care.
When taking on a hamster, you must factor in everything you need to care for them in your initial costs. Hamsters need proper housing, toys, and food, which can all be quite costly at the beginning.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Syrian Hamster
If you have had any experience with hamsters, the Syrian hamster won’t surprise you much as they’re very similar to other species. They’re nocturnal, so they sleep for most of the day, which means they’re at their busiest at night. It’s therefore important to consider carefully where you choose to house them.
Certain hamsters might adapt to their owner’s schedule, but you shouldn’t rely on this happening. You should also avoid picking up a sleeping hamster as they could bite you when startled or mishandled.
Syrian hamsters are relatively inquisitive and enjoy moving around in tubes in their enclosures. They create a bathroom at a point far from where they sleep, making it simpler for you when it is time to clean them out.
Do These Hamsters Make Good Pets?
Many parents get a Syrian hamster as a first pet for their children as they’re so docile with humans and are easy to look after. They’re also good for teaching children responsibility and traits like compassion, patience, and being gentle. However, as hamsters do sleep mainly during the day, consider that sometimes your hamster will wake up as your child goes to bed.
Syrian hamsters are also not like dogs in the context of how they bond closely with their owners. They’ll usually come to the side of the enclosure you’re standing at and run around your lap, but you won’t get as much back from them as you would, for example, from a cat or dog.
Additionally, make sure you’re taking time to handle your hamster each day to ensure they stay tame.
Does This Hamster Get Along With Other Pets?
These hamsters are incredibly solitary, territorial animals. They should be housed alone; females that aren’t in the mood to mate can easily overpower and kill males that come too close to them. Regarding other pets in the house, hamsters are natural prey animals and are skittish, so they should be kept separate to avoid stressing them out or causing injury.
Things to Know When Owning a Syrian Hamster:
Hamsters don’t have a particularly long lifespan, but that doesn’t mean there are not things you can do to ensure they live as long and healthy a life as possible.
Food & Diet Requirements
As omnivores, Syrian hamsters will eat a mix of cereals, seeds, insect larvae, and larger insects like crickets in the wild. As a pet, they need a balanced, high-quality, and varied diet containing all the minerals and nutrients required to thrive. They can get this from:
- A diet that comprises primarily a species-appropriate pellet.
- A mixture of different seeds (in small amounts).
- Hay (timothy hay being the most popular choice).
- They can enjoy grains, seeds, fruits, and nuts as a treat occasionally.
A hamster’s typical calorie requirement is around 100 kcal a day; it might not seem like a lot, but remember, they are small pets.
Enclosure Requirements
A big mistake many first-time owners make is getting an enclosure that isn’t big enough. At a minimum, you want something around 2’ x 2’ x 1’, but a larger cage can hold more of their accessories and provide more running space. Hamsters readily burrow and appreciate a depth of more than 30 cm (approximately 12”) in which to dig.
They will need a sleeping hut or nest in the corner, which you can get from a pet store. If you’re getting an exercise wheel, the solid ones minimize the risk of injury compared to the wire ones. You can also get chew blocks for their dental hygiene and tunnels and bridges for climbing and hiding.
As for substrate, they will need safe bedding, either from aspen or paper products. Avoid cedar or pine since the strong smell can harm their lungs, and the sharp pieces can cut them. You will have to scoop out wet spots daily, change the bedding weekly, and scrub the enclosure with a pet-safe cleaner.
Hamster balls are not considered humane and should be avoided; these products can easily disorient a hamster as they don’t have the ability to stop the ball once they move. This makes them prone to injuries as the ball slams into walls, furniture, and other objects.
Exercise & Sleeping Needs
If you provide your hamster with an exercise wheel and enough space to roam around, they should get plenty of exercise. They must exercise daily because it will prevent health issues such as obesity.
Your hamster generally sleeps 12–14 hours a day, but hamsters kept as pets often have polyphasic sleep-wake patterns, which means that these 12–14 hours of sleep may be broken up throughout the day.
Training
You don’t have to train your hamster, but they can be taught a few simple tricks. For example, people say that if you call your hamster by its name regularly, they can learn to recognize it. This is disputed though, as it seems hamsters familiarize themselves with your scent before your voice, so in actuality, they might be responding to your smell and not their name. Hamsters can also be litter-trained.
Grooming
Hamsters are pretty low maintenance when grooming, as they tend to groom themselves. If you own the long-haired version, you might have to give them a short weekly brush to remove food, substrate, and dirt from their coat. You can use a small animal comb or even a fine, soft toothbrush.
A hamster’s teeth never stop growing, so they will need a chew stick, toy, or mineral chew to wear them down. Contact your veterinarian if you notice chipped or broken teeth or if they become overgrown.
Hamsters don’t tend to need their claws trimmed, but if you notice them scratching themselves when grooming or that the nails are curled beneath their feet, take them to the veterinarian.
3 Little-Known Facts About Syrian Hamsters
1. They Can Go into Hibernation
Exposure to cold stimulates hamsters to gather food, and they will often hibernate at temperatures < 5°C (41°F). Hamsters do not fatten up before hibernation, and therefore, need to be roused from hibernation so that they don’t starve and die. They should be roused by increasing the ambient temperature.
2. They Have Expandable Cheek Pouches
Syrian hamsters have expandable cheek pouches used after foraging to carry food to their burrows. They are so large that they expand to their shoulders, which has earned them a name in Arabic that translates to “mister saddlebags.”
3. They Can All Be Traced Back to a Few Individuals
In 1930, outside of Aleppo, Syria, the Jewish biologist Israel Aharoni captured 8 hamsters. Of these, 4 escaped and a male killed a female. Of the 3 that survived, litters were raised that were distributed to much of Europe and the USA. Another 12 hamsters were captured in 1971, which were imported to the US.
All pet hamsters found today are thought to be descended from these 15 hamsters.
Conclusion
Syrian hamsters are wonderful pets, are docile with humans, like being handled, and are anecdotally smart enough to learn simple tricks. They are territorial and natural prey animals, so they shouldn’t share their space with any other pets, and if you have other larger pets, make sure you keep them separate. Syrian hamsters are nocturnal and relatively easy to take care of. They rarely bite but will if startled or scared.
Featured Image Credit: Johannes-Menge, Shutterstock
