Understanding hamster behavior

Admit it. You were first drawn to your hamster because he was just so...well, cute! Through a little reading and first-hand experience, you soon found out there's much more to your hamster than meets the eye. He snoozes away most of the day, for one, and doesn't like to be disturbed during his beauty sleep. Who exactly is this fuzzy little guy who's come to live with you?

Types of hamsters

Do you know what kind of hamster you have? The most common are Syrian hamsters, also called golden hamsters. These guys have either short or long hair; the latter are known as teddy bear hamsters. No matter what you call members of this species, you must understand that they are solitary animals who must live alone. Keeping two Syrians together is a serious no-no, as they will fight--and battles can be fierce. Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, are best kept in pairs, and will get lonely on their own.

We've heard of many owners concerned because their hammy sleeps so much; others worry because their pets are up all night, obsessively running on the exercise wheel. They're not sick--they're just nocturnal! Yup, that's right--by nature, hamsters are most active during the evening and night, and sleep most of the day.

Can hamster pets be tamed?

Your pet can and should be tamed, but you must do it on his time. More than any other companion rodents, hamsters are the most likely to bite. Most nips are received by owners who didn't respect their pet's inner timeclock and attempted to awake their sleeping hammy. Not a good idea! For tips on hand taming, check out our handling section.

No, your hamster doesn't have the mumps--but he does have roomy cheek pouches that can hold a surprisingly large amount of food when chockfull. You've probably seen your hammy stuffing extra food and treats in his pouches, only to unload his stash in a corner of the cage for future snacking. This behavior is perfectly normal--and downright charming, to some!

Hamster behavior

It may take a while for you to figure out what your hamster is trying to tell you. If you see him walking with stiff legs, tail straight up in the air, he's likely scared of something. The happy hammy, on the other hand, may spontaneously pop up into the air or stretch contentedly.

You'll probably notice that your hamster spends a lot of time grooming himself. This is a good sign--not only is he keeping clean and looking good, he feels comfortable enough to relax and get down to the job at hand. Be on the lookout for other cool hamster expressions and behaviors--and we'll let you have the fun of figuring out what they all mean!