by Scottie Westfall

Created on: July 15, 2008

Natives to various parts of Eurasia, several species of hamster have been domesticated. The most common of these is the Syrian or Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). It is native to Syria and Turkey, but it has been rarely encountered in the wild. It is relatively uncommon in the wild, but it is readily propagated in captivity. The golden hamster is often chosen as a pet for children, but it is generally only suitable for children who have the maturity to handle a small, relatively fragile creature. This species of hamster is solitary and nocturnal and lacks some the charms that more social species of rodent, such as rats, possess. For the right person, though, a golden hamster can be a rewarding low-maintenance pet.

All Descend from One Female

Golden hamsters were first brought into captivity in 1930, when an Israeli zoologist named Israel Aharoni, who captured a female and her young near Aleppo. All domestic golden hamsters descend from that female, which means that all golden hamsters in captivity are quite inbred. The descendants of these hamsters were sent to Britain in 1931 and were sold to private individuals in 1937. By the 1950's, the golden hamster had become a common pet.

In Britain, hamsters were selected for their good temperaments. Hamster shows and societies were developed, complete with breed standards for each hamster variety. All sorts of colors were developed, including black hamsters, creams, cinnamons, and many others. They also were developed in long-haired and short-haired varieties. The hamsters bred in Britain were larger and tended to have placid temperaments.

Those bred in the US never received this sort of selection. Today, one can buy "black bear" and "teddy bear" hamsters, which are larger than the typical golden hamster. These varieties are derived from British black and long-haired hamsters, and they are known for their good temperaments. One should keep this in mind when selecting a golden hamster for a pet.

Housing

Each golden hamster needs its own enclosure, because they are largely territorial animals and will viciously defend their own territories. One study put two male golden hamsters in the same large enclosure, which was divided by a partition. They were kept separate for several weeks and see and smell each other. The partition was removed, and one hamster took over the entire enclosure. The other hamster never knew any peace. It never got to eat or move around its enclosure without being attacked. Thus, when selecting

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