Hamsters make wonderful pets that will keep you entertained for hours due to their playful and affectionate nature. They make wonderful starter pets for children as they are fairly low-maintenance and will teach your child how to be responsible and care for a living creature. The hardest part of owning a hamster is deciding which breed to choose as there are five main breeds of domesticated hamster that range in size, colour and life-span. Once you get your new pet home, you will need to choose the perfect name that suits their appearance and individual heritage. Here are a few popular hamster pet names to consider.
1. Titch
Roborovski hamsters are native to the Gobi Desert. They are the smallest species of domesticated hamster with an average length of just 4.5cm. They require a special cage as they can easily squeeze between the bars of a standard cage. Why not pay homage to your tiny friend by honouring it with a name that celebrates its tiny stature such as titch, micro, peanut or short-stack?
2. Vladimir
Vladimir makes the perfect name for a Russian Dwarf hamster. This species is generally sociable towards other hamsters and they can live in pairs as long as they are introduced from a young age. They live for an average of three years. Russian hamster’s coats can be short, wavy, satin or normal.
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3. Bolt
Russian Dwarf hamsters are also known for being extremely fast runners and will spend hours in a hamster wheel or exercise ball. Naming your pet after the fastest man on the planet makes a great alternative to the traditional options. Usain Bolt stunned the world after clocking a record speed of 23mph during a 100m sprint. Hamsters can run at a top speed of around 3mph which is impressive considering their small size.
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4. Ling
An oriental name makes the ideal choice for the Chinese hamster. Hailing from northern China and Mongolia, this breed is generally slimmer with a longer tail. White Spotted Chinese hamsters have a greyish/white coat and a dark stripe down their back. Strangely, in certain parts of the US this breed is considered to be a pest and owners require a special licence. In other parts of the US they are considered to be exotic animals and require a different type of licence.
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5. Stubby
Unlike other members of the rodent family, hamsters do not have long tails. This is due to them living in desert climates and in burrows where a tail would serve little purpose. Mice are native to woodland areas where they require their tails to provide balance for climbing vegetation and small trees. Stubby makes the perfect name in honour of your pet’s adorable short tail.
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6. Snowy
Winter White Russian Dwarf hamsters moult during the winter time revealing a snowy-white coat that makes this name ideal. They originate from countries such as Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia and are also known as Siberian hamsters. Their small size makes them difficult for young children to handle. Once they become tame they make wonderful pets.
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7. Bear
The Syrian or Golden hamster is the most common breed of hamster that is kept as a domestic pet. They are also the largest and can grow up to 17cm. Like bears, they are solitary creatures that prefer to live alone. Trying to house them with other hamsters will result in fights, so always give them their own cage.
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8. Gizmo
Those who grew up during the 80s will certainly remember the cute, cuddly creatures that turned into demons after dark. Hamsters come in many different colours including white, grey, yellow, red, gold, black and brown. Their incredibly sweet nature can quickly change once they are threatened, and females are generally regarded as the most aggressive.
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9. Patch
Many hamsters have multi-coloured patches over their head, eyes, back or stomachs. Hamster pups are born completely naked and do not develop their fur until around a week old. Once they reach four weeks old, it is important to separate them from their mother into two different cages according to their sex to stop them from breeding.
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10. Fluffy
The fur of a Syrian hamster can become extremely long making them ideal candidates for the name fluffy. It is important to take care of their coat to avoid any matting or infections developing due to bacteria. Your pet store or veterinarian will be able to advise you on the best methods of keeping your hamster clean and healthy.
Before getting a hamster, you will need to think seriously about whether or not they are the right pet for you or your child. Many hamsters come alive at night and can create an incredible amount of noise by gnawing on the bars of their cage or running on their exercise wheel. There is also the possibility that your hamster will not become tame and cannot be handled. However, some hamsters have naturally friendly, mellow personalities making them ideal pets for every household. As long as you are able to love and care for your pet no matter what personality quirks they may have, then you should definitely consider purchasing a hamster. Do you have hamsters? What are their names?