Russian and Chinese dwarf hamsters have been fighting for centuries. Okay, not really, but some kind of battle has been going on. For a long time, pet owners have been struggling with the decision between having Russian dwarf hamsters or Chinese dwarf hamsters. I myself love both of them so much that I could never choose one over the other. In this article, I’ll go over both types of hamsters and some of their differences and similarities.
The most notable difference between these two types of hamsters is appearance. Sure they are both very cute and very small, but they also look very different. The Chinese dwarf hamster looks more like a mouse than other hamsters. In fact, it has a tiny tail (about an inch long). It is also thinner than the Russian Dwarf Hamster, which sometimes looks more like a small hamster ball. They are both about the same size, about four inches long, although there are species of Russian hamsters that are much smaller (the Robo Russian dwarf hamster only grows to about two inches long).
One of my favorite parts about Russian and Chinese hamsters is their fur patterns. They both have gorgeous colors and patterns, but they are very different from each other. The Chinese hamster usually has a black line running down its spine and a white belly. Other Chinese hamsters have patches of color distributed on their backs. Russian dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, come in a plethora of colors and patterns. This is because they have been specifically bred as beautiful pets for many generations. They range in colors from white to sand brown to dark gray and have a number of different patterns that also include a dominant stripe on the back similar to that of the Chinese hamster.
Russian dwarf hamsters not only differ in appearance from Chinese dwarf hamsters, but they also have a big difference in behavior. A major difference between the two is that Russian dwarf hamsters are more social, while Chinese hamsters are sometimes a bit antisocial and have trouble with their roommates (especially females!). But while they can be a bit less social, Chinese hamsters are also less troublesome in the sense that you shouldn’t have to worry about getting bitten. This is something that Russian dwarf hamsters tend to do the most.
As you can see, Chinese dwarf hamsters and Russian dwarf hamsters are very similar and very different at the same time. They both make great pets and I suggest you give them both a go (although Chinese hamsters are harder to find, so they may make the decision for you).