Syrian Hamster
About
The Syrian hamster is the largest and most common pet hamster species. Fluffy, friendly when well-socialized, and robustly built, Syrians are wonderful first hamsters — especially for families.
History
All domestic Syrian hamsters trace their lineage to a single wild litter captured in Syria in 1930 by zoologist Israel Aharoni. By the 1940s they had arrived in the US, and by the 1970s they were among the most popular small pets in the Western world.
🧠 Temperament
Solitary (must be housed alone), generally tame when handled regularly, active at dusk and night.
🏠 Care Notes
Cage minimum: 40×20 inches. Wheel minimum: 10–11 inches. Deep bedding (6+ inches) for burrowing. Provide hides, tunnels, and chews.
✨ Fun Fact
Syrian hamsters can carry up to half their body weight in food in their cheek pouches.