Syrian
hamsters were first kept in captivity in this country around the middle of the
nineteenth century. They make excellent pets, as they are a convenient size,
do not smell, and are easy to house and feed.
Their
natural range extends throughout Syria and into southern Turkey, however they
are now very rare in the wild and may even be extinct. The climate in this region
has a wide daily temperature range with hot dry days and cold nights. Their
natural diet consists of seeds, grains, root vegetables, fruit, the occasional
insect or worm and some leaf crops.
The
life expectancy of pedigree Syrian hamsters ranges from 18 months to two years
or more, (somewhat greater than that of ordinary pet hamsters).
The
species of hamster we are talking about, Mesocricetus Auratus, or the 'Golden
Hamster', is now bred in over 50 different colours, and is more often known
as the Syrian hamster, after the region where it was found.
Find out more about colours and breeding
Syrian hamsters