5 Rare Hamster Breeds That Are The Most Exotic

Only two of the five hamsters on this list are species of their own: the Chinese striped hamster and the European black-bellied hamster. Black Bear and Angora are names sellers use for Syrian hamsters with a black coat or long hair, and Blue Sapphire is a seller name for a blue-grey Siberian dwarf hamster. All five are rare to see, which is why they keep turning up in searches for exotic hamsters.

The difference changes what you can do with the information. Three of the five are varieties of hamsters that veterinary references already cover as pets. One is a wild steppe species that most people will never see. One is Critically Endangered in the wild and protected by law across Europe.

Black Bear Hamster

Sellers use the name Black Bear for a Syrian hamster with a solid black coat. The Merck Veterinary Manual says at least 20 mutations affecting coat color are known in Syrian hamsters, and that pet Syrians "now come in many colors and coat types." A wild Syrian has a light reddish-brown back and white underparts.

Every Syrian in captivity descends from a small group. Merck says they appear to come from one litter of eight hamsters collected near Aleppo, Syria, in 1930. A Syrian grows to about 6 to 8 inches and 4 to 5 ounces, and Merck gives its lifespan as 2 to 3 years. Our lifespan guide covers what shapes its health across those years.

Merck also says both male and female hamsters can be aggressive toward other hamsters, so a Black Bear lives alone. Feed it a pelleted hamster diet, and for the research behind dietary preferences, the National Institutes of Health bookshelf hosts a chapter on hamster nutrient requirements. For hamsters smaller than a Syrian, see our guide to dwarf hamsters.

Blue Sapphire Hamster

Sellers use the name Blue Sapphire for a Siberian dwarf hamster with a soft blue-grey coat. It is the same species as a hamster in any other color, so it eats, sleeps, and needs the same care. Merck names this species, written there as the Djungarian hamster, among the dwarf hamsters now common as pets.

The Mammal Diversity Database places the species in eastern Kazakhstan and southwestern Siberia, and lists it under a new genus name, Cricetiscus, after moving it out of Phodopus. Merck says pet hamsters usually live from 18 months to 3 years.

Housing is the same question for every color. A survey study of amateur hamster keepers looked at what appropriate housing means in practice, and our guide to Hamster Houses lists cage options.

Chinese Striped Hamster

The Chinese Striped Hamster is a species of its own, Cricetulus barabensis, described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1773. The Mammal Diversity Database calls it the striped lesser hamster, and says it lives on the steppes of southern Siberia, from the Irtysh River to the Ussuri region, south through Transbaikalia to Mongolia, northeastern China, and the Korean Peninsula. It is recorded in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North Korea, and Russia.

It is not threatened. The database lists its IUCN status as Least Concern. The pet care advice later on this page is written for Syrian and dwarf hamsters, the species the Merck Veterinary Manual covers.

European Black-Bellied Hamster

The European hamster, Cricetus cricetus, is the largest hamster here. Animal Diversity Web gives its length as about 24 cm (9.5 inches) and its weight as 359 to 451 grams, against 110 to 140 grams for a Syrian. It has a reddish-brown to grey-brown back, white patches on the snout, cheeks, and feet, and a black underside. It lives from northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands east to the Yenisey River in Russia, eating grains, seeds, roots, fruit, and legumes, and insects when it can. Adults are very aggressive toward their own kind except in the breeding season.

In July 2020 the IUCN moved it to Critically Endangered. The IUCN says a female once had more than 20 young a year for most of the 20th century, and females now have only 5 to 6. The reasons are not fully understood. Monoculture plantations, industrial development, global warming, and light pollution are being studied. Conservation work such as hamster-friendly field management and reintroductions has slowed the decline in some areas but has not reversed it.

The species has been protected all over Europe since 1992. In June 2011 the European Court of Justice ruled that France had failed to protect it. The Alsace survey that summer counted 460 burrows in 22 places, down from 480 in 25 places the year before. Because the law protects it, this is a hamster to read about and support, and a national wildlife authority is the place to ask before anything else.

Angora Hamster

An Angora hamster is a long-haired Syrian. Merck says five mutations affect the fur and give longhaired, rex, and satin coats, and that longhaired Syrians are also known as "teddy bear" hamsters. Hair length depends partly on testosterone: starting at sexual maturity, longhaired males have much longer hair than females or castrated males.

That is useful when you shop for a long-haired hamster. A male will show the fullest coat. Ask a veterinarian who treats small mammals how to care for the fur. Hamsters are not the only small animals known for incredible fur. See which species made our list of the softest animals in the world. If a child will help look after the hamster, our guide to small pets for kids covers what else suits a young family.

Caring for the Three Pet Hamsters

The Black Bear, the Blue Sapphire, and the Angora need what any Syrian or Siberian dwarf hamster needs. Merck recommends deep bedding that suits burrowing. It says to feed a complete, balanced, pelleted hamster diet and to avoid generic seed mixes, because hamsters pick out the seeds and ignore the pellets. Syrians chew hard and escape well, so check the latches on any cage.

Cold matters too. Merck says hamsters often hibernate below 5 degrees C (41 degrees F), and a hamster that hibernates can starve if it does not wake to eat. Keep the room well above that.

Sick hamsters often hide away. Merck lists weight loss, a hunched posture, lethargy, rough fur, and labored breathing as signs. Diarrhea is known as "wet tail" and is serious in young Syrians. A vet checks for overgrown teeth during an exam. Find a vet who sees small mammals before you need one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to keep a rare hamster?

It depends on the species and the place. The European hamster is protected across Europe, so it is not a pet to look for. The Black Bear, Blue Sapphire, and Angora are varieties of pet species. For any other wild species, ask your local wildlife or agriculture agency before you buy.

Can a rare hamster live with a cat or dog in the house?

Put the cage in a room the cat or dog cannot enter, and keep the lid secured. A hamster that can see and smell a predator all day is under stress, even when the cage is closed.

How much does a rare hamster cost?

Prices depend on the seller, the region, and the color. How much is a hamster covers the animal and the cage, food, and bedding that come with it.

Do rare hamsters have special health problems?

Merck's hamster chapter describes wet tail, overgrown teeth, and impacted cheek pouches for Syrians in general, and none of them is limited to a color. A vet who sees small mammals is the right contact for any of them.

How can I help European hamsters?

The French group Sauvegarde Faune Sauvage runs three breeding grounds in Alsace and releases captive-raised hamsters every year, according to the Guardian's 2011 report. Supporting a wildlife group in the hamster's range, or a local farmland conservation program, helps the species more than any pet purchase can.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual. "Hamsters" (exotic and laboratory animals). merckvetmanual.com.
• Merck Veterinary Manual. "Description and Physical Characteristics of Hamsters." merckvetmanual.com.
• Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. "Cricetus cricetus." animaldiversity.org.
• IUCN. "Almost a third of lemurs and North Atlantic Right Whale now Critically Endangered," 9 July 2020. iucn.org.
• Mammal Diversity Database. Cricetulus barabensis and Cricetiscus sungorus.
• Vincent, Catherine. "Black-bellied hamster given reprieve by European Court of Justice." The Guardian, 26 July 2011. theguardian.com.