Buyer question
Is a Syrian hamster good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Syrian hamster 4 out of 5 for beginners (good first small pet).
Source: the Syrian hamster page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Syrian hamster in the Animal Library
The detail
The Syrian, or golden hamster, is the largest pet hamster and the easiest to handle, bred in captivity since the 1930s from a small wild population. It is strictly solitary as an adult, so an owner keeps one per enclosure and never a pair.
- Best fit
- First pets, older children
- Handling
- 4 out of 5 (Tames well with patience)
- Care load
- 2 out of 5 (Daily food, spot-clean)
What to weigh
A short life of two to three years, and it is awake at night when children are asleep. It needs a far larger enclosure and deeper bedding than most pet-store cages provide.