By Yvonne Zhu
August 6th, 2023
The Five Species of Domesticated Hamsters
Among the five domesticated species of hamsters, there are many common characteristics. For example, all hamsters love burrowing, have cheek pouches, are mainly active at night, are omnivores, and have relatively short lifespans. But what sets them apart, and why are some hamsters so big while others are so small?
Keep reading to find out!


Mesocricetus auratus
Syrian Hamster
The Syrian hamster is the largest species of domesticated hamster, ranging anywhere 100-300 grams in weight. This species orignated from agricultural fields in Syria and was first domesticated in the 1930s with researchers interested in animal testing. Syrian hamsters come in a variety of colors, patterns, and hairlengths and are bred by many ethical breeders worldwide.

Phodopus roborovskii
Roborovski Dwarf Hamster
The Roborovski dwarf hamster is the smallest species of domesticated hamster. Roborovskis typically weigh anywhere from 20-30 grams. These hamsters come deserty regions in Asia, which explains their love of sand! Roborovskis should have access to large sandbaths, matching their natural habitat in the wild. Roborovki hamsters are often called "robos", and they are known for being the fastest, tinest, and most recently domesticated.

Cricetulus griseus
Chinese Dwarf Hamster
The Chinese dwarf hamster is a very unique species among the domesticated hamsters. Unlike all other species of domesticated hamsters, Chinese hamsters have a relatively long, flexible tails, giving them better climbing skills than other species. Adult Chinese hamsters typically weigh 30-45 grams. Many compare Chinese hamsters' appearance to mice, since they have pointy faces, slender bodies, and longer tails. This species is arguably the rarest to find in pet stores due to their unusual appearance and low popularity. Chinese hamsters were also first domesticated for laboratory use, but nowadays are mostly seen in the pet trade.

Phodopus sungorus
Winter White/ Djungarian Dwarf Hamster
The Djungarian dwarf hamster, often referred to as the Winter White hamster, is a species of dwarf hamster that originated from regions of northern China and Russia. In the wild, their coats change to white during the winter to provide camouflage in their snow-covered environment, which is where their popular nickname comes from. These hamsters are bigger than Roborovskis but smaller than Syrians, averaging around 40 to 60 grams for adults.

Phodopus campbelli
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
The Campbell's dwarf hamster comes from the steppes and deserts of central Asia. They were named after Charles William Campbell, who collected the first specimen in 1902. Campbell's dwarf hamsters come in a variety of colors, and like many other species, they have a dark dorsal stripe on their back. Adults weigh between 40-60 grams, making them similar in size to Djungarian dwarf hamsters.
Phodopus sungorus x Phodopus campbelli
Hybrid Dwarf
Because Campbell's dwarf hamsters are closely related to Djungarian dwarf hamsters and look quite similar, they often breed across species in the pet trade, resulting in hybrids. These hybrids take on both Campbell's and Djungarian traits and may experience negative effects of cross-breeding like neurological issues, a higher chance of having diabetes, and a shorter lifespan. Since there is no way to tell a purebred from a hybrid without a pedigree from an ethical breeder, all Campbell's dwarves or Winter Whites purchased from pet stores or rescued must be considered as hybrids.
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Note: these are the only two species of hamsters that are closely related enough to breed (e.g. a Syrian hamster and a Chinese dwarf hamster would not be able to breed)