9 Facts about Teddy Bear Hamsters

9 Facts about Teddy Bear Hamsters

1. A Teddy Bear Hamster is a long haired version of the Syrian or Golden hamster.
2. They are also referred to as fancy hamsters or angora hamsters
   
3. Because of this long hair, they need to be brushed regularly - an activity that helps with handling and bonding with your pet.
   
4. Their average life span is 2-2.5 years when they receive proper care.
5. They need to live in solitude, one per cage - just like all Syrian hamsters.
6. Their body size is usually 4 - 6 inches long, females tend to be slightly larger.
7. Male teddy bear hamsters have longer hair than females.
8. Hamsters in general often blink one eye at a time.
9. Teddy Bear Hamsters are the cutest of all the hamsters.
   

To learn more about teddy bear hamsters, including how to care for them and train them check out The Essential Hamster Guide.

Teddy Bear Hamsters - Super Models of The Hamster World

Teddy Bear Hamsters have long fluffy fur that feels like cotton wool to the touch. It is this unusually fluffy appearance that earned them the name "teddy bear" - because many thought they resembled the toy. It is easy to see why these little pets are such a popular pet choice.

Teddy Bear Hamsters - Perfect First Pets

I fell in love with these fury little pets about 5 years ago. My 7-year old nephew was petitioning his parents for his first pet. I volunteered to help him do his research and pick out the the best one. Fairly quickly we arrived at the same conclusion: a hamster. But not just any hamster would do, it had to be one of the teddy bear hamsters.

Hamsters in general make good first pets because they are small and fairly easy to keep. They don't require too much attention (unlike a dog) and they are fine being left alone for short periods of time. And of course they are curious and fun to watch as they go about their daily activities.

While there are several varieties of hamsters, the teddy bear really is the "super model" of the hamster world. They are a long-haired variety of the Syrian hamster. And while most hamsters have a velvety short hair, the teddy bear hamsters have a long fluffy fur with a cottony feel. It is this fluffy fur that gives makes them look very similar to a toy teddy bear, hence the name. This sweet appearance coupled with their good nature, being easy to handle and tame, made them even more appealing. Of course there was a lot more to learn about how to train and care for our teddy bear hamsters.

One of the books that my nephew used to learn about his new pet was Training Your Pet Hamster - it is written for a young reader and easy for a young pet owner to understand. And for the older reader, like myself, I found Hamsters A to Z to be quite useful.