Sushi For My Little Hamster

The best-known species hamster is the Syrian or Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), which is the type hamster most commonly kept as a pet. It is also sometimes called a "fancy" hamster. Pet stores also have taken to calling them "honey bears", "panda bears", "black bears", "European black bears", "polar bears", "teddy bears", and "Dalmatian", depending on their coloration. There are also several variations, including long-haired varieties that grow hair several centimeters long and ten require special care. British zoologist Leonard Goodwin claimed that most hamsters kept in the United Kingdom were descended from the colony he introduced for medical research purposes during the Second World War.
Other hamsters that are kept as pets are the four species "dwarf hamster". Campbell's Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is the most common the four—they are also sometimes called "Russian Dwarfs"; however, many hamsters are from Russia, and so this ambiguous name does not distinguish them from other species appropriately. The coat the Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) turns almost white during winter (when the hours daylight decrease). The Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) is extremely small and fast, making it difficult to keep as a pet. The Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus), although not technically a true "dwarf hamster", is the only hamster with a prehensile tail (about 4 cm long)—most hamsters have very short, non-prehensile tails.
Many breeders also show their hamsters and so breed towards producing a good healthy show hamster with a view to keeping one or two themselves so quality and temperament are vital importance when planning the breeding. Although breeders show hamsters specialise in breeding show hamsters, there are also owners who have bred their pet hamsters. These may be the result a planned or unplanned pregnancy but the hamsters have usually been cared for well and handled regularly, so make very suitable pets. Buying a hamster directly from a breeder means that there is the opportunity to see the parents and know the dates birth.