The main black varieties of hamsters mainly include the Djungarian hamster, the black-bellied hamster, and the Syrian hamster.
Djungarian Hamster
The Djungarian hamster is also known as the Siberian hamster, the three-line hamster, or the short-tailed hamster. They are relatively small in size. There is a black stripe on their backs. Their back fur is dark gray, and their belly fur is white. The fur color of the original species will turn white in winter. Djungarian hamsters are native to Siberia and are mainly distributed in Mongolia, Siberia, and China. They are nocturnal animals and mainly feed on weed seeds and insects. Female Djungarian hamsters reach sexual maturity at about 4 to 8 weeks old, and male ones reach sexual maturity at about 6 to 8 weeks old. They breed twice a year, and each litter can produce 8 to 20 offspring.
Black-bellied Hamster
The black-bellied hamster is also known as the European hamster or the European golden hamster. Their body length ranges from 20 to 34 centimeters, the tail length is 4 to 6 centimeters, and their weight is between 400 and 900 grams. Black-bellied hamsters are nocturnal animals and are usually most active from 7 pm to 10 pm. They like to hide in dark places, thinking that it makes them feel more secure. The lifespan of black-bellied hamsters can reach up to 8 years. The gestation period is 18 to 21 days, and they give birth to 4 to 12 baby hamsters. The weaning period is about 3 weeks.
Syrian Hamster
The Syrian hamster is also known as the golden hamster or the black bear hamster. They are native to places such as Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. They officially became pets after being introduced to the United States in 1938. Syrian hamsters are relatively large in size, and their fur color is mostly golden yellow or black.
These black varieties of hamsters are very popular in the pet market. Due to their cute appearance and relatively easy-to-raise characteristics, they have become the choice of many people.