Syrian vs Winter White vs Robo: which hamster is right for you?
Most people walk into our shop in Bacoor saying "I want a hamster", and walk out knowing there are three very different ones. A Syrian is big and calm. A Winter White is small and cuddly-looking. A Robo is tiny and never stops moving. This guide puts them side by side so you can pick the one that fits your home.
MomoLooking for her first pet
DangoThe Winter White she brought home
KinakoA big, calm Syrian
GomaA tiny Robo who never stops
Momo picked a Winter White. Here is how the three types compare, so you can pick yours.
Three hamsters, side by side
Syrian
Winter White
Robo
Syrian: the big, calm one
The Syrian is the hamster most people picture. It grows to 13–18 cm. It needs patience: tame it slowly, a few minutes a day, until it trusts your hands. The long-haired kind is called a Teddy Bear Syrian.
- Always alone. Adult Syrians fight, even siblings. One per cage, always.
- Needs the most room. It's the biggest, so it needs the biggest cage and wheel.
- Colours: golden, cream, black, white, cinnamon, banded and more.
Winter White: the small, round one
The Winter White is a dwarf hamster, about half the size of a Syrian. Look for a round face, thick soft fur and a grey stripe down the back. In cold countries its coat turns white in winter, which is where the name comes from. That doesn't happen in our weather.
- Colours: Normal (grey), Sapphire (blue-grey), Pearl (white with grey tips) and Mandarin.
- Easy to hold. A Winter White is one you can hold every day.
- Many dwarfs sold in the Philippines are mixed with Campbell hamsters. If we're not sure of the line, we label it "Dwarf".
- Can share sometimes. Two of the same sex that grew up together can live in one cage. Watch for fighting.
That's me! Round face, a grey stripe down my back, and about half the size of a Syrian. I'm the best pick for beginners, and you can hold me every day.
Robo: the tiny, speedy one
The Roborovski, or Robo, is the smallest hamster at just 4–5 cm, and the fastest. It has no stripe down its back and little white "eyebrows" over its eyes.
- A pet to watch. Robos run, dig and zoom around all night. They're fun to watch but hard to hold.
- Not for small kids. It can jump out of a hand in a second.
- Robos come in when we have them in stock. Message us to ask.
- Our cartoon Goma is a white Robo. The usual colour is sandy brown with a white belly.
Two things every hamster has in common
1. They are night animals
- Hamsters sleep in the day and wake up in the evening.
- Don't wake a sleeping hamster to play. It can bite when startled.
- A silent wheel helps if the cage is in a bedroom.
2. They like to be held low
- Sit on the floor or hold them over a table.
- Scoop from below with two hands. Don't grab from above.
- A short fall is dangerous for a small hamster.
Pick the hamster that fits your home
if you have the patience to tame it slowly and room for a bigger cage.
if it's your first hamster, or you want one you can hold every day.
if you love watching animals more than holding them.
Every hamster on their site has its own name and its own photo, so you see exactly who's coming home. Need the setup too? Their hamster supplies cover cages, wheels, bedding, sand baths and Little Pets food.
How hamsters leave our shop
- Pickup
- Our shop in Bacoor, Cavite.
- Lalamove
- Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
- Pet transport
- Message us to arrange it.
- J&T
- Not for hamsters.
- Sundays
- No deliveries or pickups.
Questions customers ask us
Which hamster is best for beginners?
A Winter White. It's the one you can hold every day. A Syrian needs more patience, because you tame it slowly.
Can two hamsters live together?
Syrians, never. Adults will fight. Dwarfs like Winter Whites and Robos sometimes can. At our shop the babies share a cage until about 6 weeks old, then we separate males and females. Two dwarfs of the same sex that grew up together can share, but watch for chasing or fighting, and keep a spare cage ready in case you need to split them.
What's the difference between a Winter White and a Campbell?
A Winter White has a rounder face and a grey back stripe. A Campbell has a pointier face, a thin dark stripe and a brownish tone. Many dwarfs in the Philippines are a mix of the two.
Do hamsters bite?
They can when they're scared or woken up suddenly. Let a new hamster settle for a few days, then start with short, calm sessions, low over a table.
How long do hamsters live?
About 2 to 3 years for Syrians and Robos, and about 1.5 to 2 years for Winter Whites.
Can you ship a hamster by J&T?
No. We only send hamsters by Lalamove or pet transport, or you can pick yours up at our shop in Bacoor.
Momo, Dango, Kinako and Goma are our own cartoon characters, drawn for this guide. The hamster photos are real hamsters from our shop.