Fancy Hamster vs Teddy Bear Hamster: What’s the Difference?

Fancy hamsters are short-haired Syrian hamsters, while long-haired hamsters are Teddy Bear hamsters. 

Fancy Hamster vs Teddy Bear Hamster

Hamsters are cute creatures with pouchy cheeks and tiny feet. There are several types of hamsters available in the market with their unique characteristics. Two of them are; a fancy hamster and a teddy bear hamster.

Fancy hamsters are short-haired Syrian hamsters, while teddy hamsters are long-haired.

Teddy hamsters are famous among all the hamster species because of their affordability and fluffy appearance. In addition, they are gentle in nature and usually make good pets compared to fancy hamsters.

Both fancy and teddy hamsters have a lifespan of up to 2 years.

Here is a quick comparison table of both the species:

	Fancy Hamster	Teddy Hamster
Average Lifespan	2 to 3 years	2 to 3 years
Average Weight	6.2 to 7.9 ounces	5.3 ounces
Scientific Name	Mesocricetus auratus	Mesocricetus auratus
Behavior	Friendly, calm	Solitary, housed alone

History 

Both fancy hamsters and teddy bear hamsters have a lot of similar features. For instance, they both are Syrian hamsters and are likely kept as pets due to their friendly nature.

In addition, both eat the same type of food, and both are nocturnal (wide awake and active at night while sleepy in the morning).

If we talk about their history, both hamsters are originally from Syria as they thrive in arid weather. But they are found worldwide, like in northern China, Greece, and Belgium.

Temperament

Hamsters are cute little loveable creatures. However, every specie has its own different personality and behavior towards its caretaker.

If we talk about fancy hamsters, they are curious and adventurous. They love to wander around and explore things.

While teddy hamsters are calm and have solitary nature. They don’t like to live in pairs at all!

Moreover, if fancy hamsters become scared or startled, they react by biting.

Teddy Bear Hamster vs Fancy Hamster: Weight And Lifespan 

Teddy bear hamsters and fancy hamsters have a lot of similarities while differences too.

The average lifespan of teddy bear hamsters and the fancy hamsters is up to 2 to 3 years. However, the average weight varies from 5 to 6 ounces.

A significant difference between both species is their appearance. For example, a teddy hamster is long-haired while a fancy hamster is a short-haired hamster.

This appearance difference leads to the difference in coat maintenance. A long coat of teddy hamsters gets dirty quickly, and the dirt is caught in them easily. On the other hand, the fancy hamster is short-haired and does not need any special coat maintenance.

Teddy Bear Hamster vs. Fancy Hamster: Price and Care 

Another significant difference between a teddy bear and fancy hamsters is ‘the price.’ You’ll get a fancy hamster a bit more expensive than the teddy bear hamster most of the time. But why is it like that? Just because of its name ‘fancy’?

Well, no! this is not true at all. Fancy hamsters have short hair, which means the cost of their coat maintenance is much low.

While teddy bear hamsters have long-haired coat that requires more care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about fancy bear hamsters and teddy bear hamsters:

Final Verdict 

Both fancy hamsters (short-haired) and teddy bear hamsters (long haired) have several similarities and differences. Similarities include specie, habitat, origin, and eating preferences, while differences have care level, coat type, weight, and lifespan.

So, whether you are buying a teddy bear hamster or a Fancy hamster, you’re responsible for providing it with excellent care.

They can live in a 10 to 20-gallon aquarium with a wire lid for their protection.

However, the aquarium should be adequately bedded with paper or aspen to provide comfort. As well as, hamsters love to burrow, so make sure to make bedding 3 to 4 inches deep.