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10y ago

The ubiquitous little hamster, one animal you will find in almost any pet store, has brought joy to millions with its amusing antics, affable nature and cute-as-a-button physical appeal. It's the perfect pet for people who don't have much room, for children wanting a first companion animal, and for anyone who simply wants a wonderful little cuddly friend.

The hamster's story is unique. It is native to the arid Middle East, primarily in the country of Syria, where the tiny animals weren't given much thought for thousands of years. And so it might have remained if not for a brood of wild hamsters that ended up in the possession of a doctor in Jerusalem who embarked on a conscientious breeding program in the early 1930s. Offspring from this brood were shipped to many different countries, including the United Kingdom and the U.S., where they were initially utilized for medical research. But as familiarity with the animals grew, their pet quality was soon recognized.

It is suspected that all Syrian/Golden type pet hamsters alive today are descended from that original wild hamster brood in Jerusalem. Perhaps so, though their offspring have evolved into a dazzling array of colors, and even different shapes and sizes.

The name "hamster" supposedly stems from the German word hamstern, which means to store, or to hoard. Of course, anyone who knows hamsters knows they are champion hoarders, capable of filling their cheek pouches until it seems they will burst. This is a very handy adaptation for wild hamsters who must roam far and wide in a sparse desert environment to find food. Pet hamsters don't really have to worry about stocking up their burrows, but they keep in practice nonetheless... to the delight of their human keepers.

There are two general types of pet hamsters. The most common is a form of the original Syrian or "Golden" hamster. This animal can be up to five inches long and comes in many colorations and coat types. They can have relatively short hair, long hair or even wavy hair. A distinct species is called the "Dwarf" hamster, or sometimes "Russian Dwarf" hamster. These guys are much smaller (sometimes just half the size of their hamster cousins), and typically have a brownish-gray short-haired coat with a distinctive dark stripe down the center of their back.

In addition to the pronouced size difference, some personality differences have been noted between the two primary types of hamsters. Dwarfs seem to be a bit more laid back and milder mannered. They also get along somewhat better with cagemates than do the goldens, typically. The golden variety is best kept as a solitary pet, though it is possible to keep two or more together especially if they are introduced at a young age. Same sex pairs can also do OK on occasion. Dwarf hamsters can be kept as solitary pets, or can be carefully paired up with another of the same type. Putting a dwarf hamster in the same cage with a golden type is never advised. Nor should hamsters be kept with gerbils, mice, rats or other rodents.

Pairing hamsters as cagemates can be very tricky, and one must pay strict attention to ensure that they do not fight, injure or perhaps even kill their cagemate.

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8y ago

dessert dessert
it depends really! golden syrian=syria russian dwarfs=Russia Chinese dwarfs=china

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15y ago

Hamsters live in cages.Also they might live in the wid sometimes.Mostly live in cages.

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15y ago

They have to live in a CLEAN enviroment, so clean there cages twice a week

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13y ago

I know 1 thing: Hamsters are coloured to camouflage in their enviroment.

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Q: What is a dwarf hamsters natural habitat?
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Related questions

Is it natural for a dwarf hamster to be constantly digging?

Yes. In their natural habitat, dwarf hamsters dig tunnels and underground homes. As pets, they still dig homes, but they are more like small nests that homes.


Are there hamsters in the US?

as in living or natural habitat?


Can winter white hamsters fit inside the habitrail ovo dwarf hamster habitat?

Why not, white winter hamsters are the same size possibly smaller than a dwarf hamster.


What kinds of hamsters are there?

There are Syrian Hamsters (the most common type), Dwarf Russian Campbells Hamsters, Dwarf Russian Winter White Hamsters, Dwarf Roborovski Hamsters, and Dwarf Chinese Hamsters.


What other hamsters can go with Asian dwarf hamsters?

Only if it is a dwarf with a dwarf


Are dwarf hamsters sad if they squeak?

No, dwarf hamsters squeak when they are happy.


How do you make dwarf hamsters?

By breeding them. Dwarf hamsters are a breed of hamster.


Are Russian dwarf hamsters blind?

Yes.Russian dwarf hamsters Is Blind....


Would a dwarf hamster fit in the Petville Roll-A-Coaster Hamster Habitat?

Yes. The wires in the cage have gaps too small for a dwarf hamster to fit through. The cage is good for dwarf hamsters.


Ware do you buy by dwarf hamsters?

You can buy dwarf hamsters at Pet Smart.


Where do Chinese dwarf hamsters live?

About the same time that dwarf hamsters live


How many types of dwarf hamsters are there?

There are a bunch of types of hamsters, an the dwarf is already a type a hamster.