Today's fancy hamsters are descended from three Syrian Golden
Hamsters taken into captivity in 1930. Dwarf hamsters are a
different species, though they are still part of the same rodent
family and require similar care. Two species that are common in
captivity are the Dwarf Russian hamster and the Chinese hamster.
All hamsters are small, easy to care for animals which explains
why they continue to make popular pets. Hamsters are a popular
pet for children. These pets are primarily nocturnal, and they
do not adapt to our schedule like other animals can, spending
the day sleeping and the night feeding and exploring. Hamsters
have a reputation for biting, but this behavior is not usually
from aggression. A hamster bites most often when they are
startled or awakened during the day. If you need to wake your
hamster during the day, do so slowly and gently, by speaking and
tapping lightly on its cage or den. It is best to wait until the
hamster's ears are fully perked up and it looks alert before you
put your hand i