Hamsters are mammals which belong to the rodent family.
There are many species of hamsters but only 5 species are widely kept in captivity as pets.

Hamsters are nocturnal, sleeping during the hot days and waking in the cooler evenings. They have very poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell and excellent hearing.

Hamsters eat grain, seeds, grass, fruit, roots, stems...

 

 

Hamsters are from 5 to 28 cm long.
Most have a short tail, but some have longer tails. They can weigh up to 900 grams.

The coat colour ranges from white to brown. Like all rodents, the hamster's front top teeth continue to grow throughout its life. It must gnaw on hard things to keep wearing the teeth down.

Hamsters have a life span of about 2 to 3 years.