Hamsters are small rodents that are commonly kept as pets. They are distinguishable from other rodents by their short tails, fat paws and small ears. Hamsters can be of different colors, including black, gray, brown, white, yellow, red or a mixture of different colors and are very active animals that need to move a lot, and are also very affectionate with humans.
There are 24 species of hamsters in a wide range of sizes. The European race can grow as much as 13.4 inches (34 centimeters) long and is one of the largest varieties of hamsters. The dwarf hamster does honor to its name, these small hamsters grow from 2 to 4 inches (5.5 to 10.5 centimeters) long. The most famous common hamster mascot, the Syrian hamster, also known as the stuffed hamster or golden hamster, usually grows about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) from the The first hamsters were discovered in Syria, although they also live in Greece, Romania, Belgium and northern China. Wildly, they like to live in hot, dry areas, such as steppes, sand dunes and desert edges.
The hamsters were brought to the United States in 1936 from Syria, according to the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. These were one of the first domesticated hamsters.
Hamsters are nocturnal, according to the ASPCA, which means they sleep during the day. In a wild way, they dig burrows, which are a series of tunnels, to live and mate. Hamsters also store food in their burrows. Living underground keeps the wild hamsters cold in the Hot climates.
