Long-Haired Syrian Hamster Care: Teddy Bear Hamster Guide

A long-haired Syrian hamster is a Syrian hamster with a long-hair coat, and pet parents call it the teddy bear hamster. It is a coat type of the Syrian, so it needs the same care as any Syrian: a large enclosure, deep bedding, a pelleted diet, and a life alone. The long coat adds three jobs. Brush it once a week, use plain paper nesting material instead of fluffy fibers, and offer a sand bath in place of a water bath.

What a Long-Haired Syrian Hamster Is

The Merck Veterinary Manual says five mutations affect the fur of Syrian hamsters, giving longhaired, rex, and satin coats, and that longhaired Syrians are also known as "teddy bear" hamsters. They belong to Mesocricetus auratus, the one species every pet Syrian comes from. The name Angora is another label for the same long coat, and our guide to rare hamsters sorts out which of the names on those lists are species and which are coat varieties.

Merck says pet Syrians now come in many colors and coat types. An adult is about 6 to 8 inches long and weighs about 4 to 5 ounces (110 to 140 grams). Every Syrian in captivity appears to descend from a litter of eight hamsters collected near Aleppo, Syria, in 1930, and Animal Diversity Web says wild Syrians live in a small area of the Middle East, mostly on the Aleppo plateau.

The coat is not the same on every hamster. Merck says testosterone influences hair length: from sexual maturity, longhaired males have much longer hair than females or castrated males. A male is the one to expect a full, long coat from. Our guide to telling male and female hamsters apart shows how to check which you have.

Coat Care for a Long-Haired Syrian

PetMD says gently brushing a long-haired Syrian's coat once a week helps stop debris and tangled fur from building up. The RSPCA says some long-haired varieties may need weekly brushing to remove matts, bedding, and debris. Use a small soft brush made for small pets and work gently over the sides and back. PetMD suggests pairing a treat with brushing so the hamster accepts it more easily.

Brushing is also a weekly look at the whole animal. Check for bits of bedding caught in the coat, for mats, and for wet or stained fur around the rear end. PetMD lists wet or fecal-stained hair around the rectum as a reason to call a vet, and Merck says diarrhea in Syrians is known as wet tail. A dark, raised patch over the hip is usually the flank gland that hamsters have naturally, and PetMD notes it can be mistaken for hair loss or a tumor.

Baths and the Sand Bath

PetMD says hamsters groom themselves often and rarely need a bath, and to ask your vet first if you think yours does. A sand bath does the cleaning instead. Put a shallow dish of sand made for hamsters in the enclosure so the hamster can roll in it, and take the dish out once it is soiled. PetMD warns against dust baths made for chinchillas or gerbils, because that dust can irritate a hamster's airways.

Nesting Material

Fluffy nesting products such as cotton wool, kapok, and synthetic fiber are unsafe for any hamster. PetMD says the fibers can wrap around a hamster's limbs or lodge in its cheek pouches or gut if swallowed. The RSPCA adds that thin strands can tangle around a limb and cut off its circulation. Offer plain, unscented, dye-free shredded toilet paper, tissue, or paper towel instead.

Housing a Long-Haired Syrian

PetMD gives a minimum enclosure of 40 inches long, 20 wide, and 16 high, and says larger is better. The lid must be escape-proof. Glass and plastic enclosures work when they are ventilated, kept out of direct sun, and cleaned regularly. If you choose wire, check the hamster cage bar spacing: PetMD says bars should be half an inch apart or closer, and a wire enclosure needs a solid plastic floor so the feet do not get sore.

Fill the enclosure with paper-based bedding. PetMD recommends 6 to 10 inches of compressed bedding where the enclosure allows, so the hamster can dig and tunnel, and says to avoid cedar and unprocessed pine. Add a hide and chewable wooden toys, because a hamster's front teeth never stop growing. Tunnels, platforms, and hideouts encourage natural behaviors like burrowing and exploring. Add hamster tubes for extra routes, and a solid-surface wheel. PetMD says a Syrian generally needs a wheel about 11 to 12 inches across so its back stays fairly straight.

Keep the room between 68 and 75 degrees F, away from drafts and direct sun. PetMD says temperatures above 75 to 80 F may cause overheating and temperatures under 50 F can trigger a hibernation-like state called torpor.

Remove soiled bedding and uneaten fresh food every day, and do a fuller clean once a week. PetMD says never to strip everything at once. Save some clean nesting material and any dry food the hamster has hidden, and put them back so the enclosure still smells familiar.

Feeding

Feed a complete pelleted diet made for hamsters. Merck says to avoid generic seed mixes because hamsters pick out the seeds and leave the pellets. Our guide to the best hamster food lists pellet options. PetMD says fresh vegetables, grains, fruit, and treats together should stay under 10 percent of the daily diet. It lists leafy greens, green beans, squash, and broccoli florets as safe, and says never to offer citrus, fruit seeds or pits, onions, garlic, or chocolate. Throw out uneaten fresh food after a few hours, and keep clean water available at all times.

Temperament and Handling

Syrian hamsters are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night, when they burrow, play, and chew. Expect your hamster to wake in the evening. Adults live alone. The research charity Understanding Animal Research says territorial aggression starts around 8 to 10 weeks of age, and Merck says both males and females can be aggressive toward other hamsters.

PetMD says a properly socialized hamster is friendly and usually tolerant of gentle handling. Give a new hamster time to settle in before you handle it. Hold it over a soft surface in case it jumps, never grab it by the tail, and do not wake it to handle it, because a startled hamster may bite.

Health and Lifespan

A Syrian hamster lives about 2 to 3 years. Merck gives pet hamsters 18 months to 3 years. Hamsters hide signs of illness, which is why the weekly brush is useful. The RSPCA says tumours are not uncommon, especially along the underside of the abdomen, so run your fingers gently over the body for lumps.

PetMD lists weight loss, reduced appetite, diarrhea, drooling, overgrown teeth, lethargy, a hunched posture, wheezing, and lumps as reasons to call a vet. It recommends a wellness exam at least once a year. Find a vet who treats small mammals before you need one.

Before You Bring One Home

A healthy hamster should be alert and active when it is awake, and Burgess's health-check guide adds bright, clear eyes and a soft, shiny coat. PetMD adds a clean coat with no hair loss.

Merck describes Syrians as skillful at escaping and active chewers, so check the lid latch and keep cords out of reach when the hamster is out of the enclosure. For a price guide, read how much it costs to own a hamster.

READ NEXT: Dwarf Hamster Breeds: A Pocket-Sized Guide to Tiny Companions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I care for a long haired Syrian hamster?

Brush the coat once a week with a soft brush, offer a sand bath, and use plain paper nesting material. The rest of the care matches any Syrian. Set up a comfortable cage with deep bedding, feed pellets, and keep one hamster to an enclosure.

Are long haired Syrian hamsters friendly?

Most are. A hobby guide to long-haired Syrian hamsters says most are friendly and males are slightly more so, and PetMD says a hamster that has been handled gently from the start is usually tolerant of handling. A new hamster needs time to settle in before it will accept handling.

How long do long haired Syrian hamsters live?

About 2 to 3 years, the same as other Syrians. Merck gives pet hamsters 18 months to 3 years.

What personality does a long haired Syrian hamster have?

Long-haired Syrians are solitary and territorial animals, so each one lives alone as an adult. They are nocturnal and most active at night.

What colors do long haired Syrian hamsters come in?

Many. Merck 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.

Is a male or female long haired Syrian hamster better?

Choose the one that is calm when held. A male grows the longest coat, because Merck says testosterone influences hair length and longhaired males have much longer hair than females after sexual maturity. A female has a shorter coat and needs the same weekly check.

Do long haired Syrian hamsters need baths?

No. PetMD says hamsters rarely need baths and to ask a vet first. Offer a sand bath in a shallow dish and brush the coat once a week.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual. "Hamsters" (exotic and laboratory animals). merckvetmanual.com.
• Merck Veterinary Manual. "Description and Physical Characteristics of Hamsters." merckvetmanual.com.
• PetMD. "Syrian Hamster Care Sheet." petmd.com.
• RSPCA. "Hamster health and welfare." rspca.org.uk.
• RSPCA. "Creating the right home for your hamster." rspca.org.uk.
• Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. "Mesocricetus auratus." animaldiversity.org.