Syrian or dwarf? A friendly guide to the basics

Illustrated Guga

Syrian hamsters

Larger (roughly 5 to 7 inches), usually calmer, and best kept alone. They need a bigger wheel and bigger hideouts, and they tend to sleep a lot.

Dwarf hamsters

Smaller and often quicker and more energetic. They are delicate, can be more prone to diabetes, and are often too fast and tiny to hold safely for long.

What they share

Both do best with lots of floor space, deep bedding, a solid-surface wheel of the right size, and a home of their own.

Every hamster has a personality of their own, so don't choose on description alone.