Syrian Hamster Colors and Coats
The Syrian hamster is commonly called Golden Hamster, referring to the wild colour. But over the years, a number of mutations appeared and now you can find a wide range of colours and coat types, some being common and other rare. Some have been standardized by clubs for show purposes. Should your hamster not be of one of these colours, it can still compete in non standard class or in pet class.
I hope to get more example pictures of each colour, marking and coat type. You're very welcome to participate by providing pictures of your own syrian hamsters. The list below is non exhaustive.
A description of recognized colour, pattern and coat type can be found on the NHC (National Hamster Club).
Thanks to all contributions: Satine Hamstery, Tuftyfluff Hams, Megane59, VectisHams, Julie Young and Custard Hamstery
Agouti Varieties
Beige (dgdgbb)
Blond (Lglgpp)
Silver Blond (Sgsgpp) (non recognized)
Cinnamon (pp)
Golden, dark (genetic code : ++): default wild colour
Dark grey (dgdg)
Light grey (Lglg, lethal as homozygote LgLg)
Silver grey (Sgsg or SgSg)
Honey (ppToY/ToTo)
Lilac (dgdgpp)
Rust (bb)
Smoke Pearl (dgdgToY/ToTo)
Yellow (ToY/ToTo)
Self Varieties
Black (aa)
Chocolate (aabb)
Sable (Uuee or UUee)
Dove (aapp)
Silver Dove (Sgsgpp or SgSgpp)
Cream, Black-Eyed (ee)
Ivory, Black-eyed (eeLglg or eedgdg or eeSgsg or eeSgSg)
White (Albino), Dark Eared (cdcd)
COPPER (UUeebbpp)
CREAM, RED-EYED (eepp)
CREAM, RUBY-EYED (eeruru)
IVORY, RED-EYED (eeLglgpp or eedgdgpp)
MINK (UUeepp or Uueepp)
WHITE (ALBINO), FLESH EARED (cdcdpp)
CREAM, RED-EYED (eepp)
CREAM, RUBY-EYED (eeruru)
IVORY, RED-EYED (eeLglgpp or eedgdgpp)
MINK (UUeepp or Uueepp)
WHITE (ALBINO), FLESH EARED (cdcdpp)
Patterned Varieties
Care must be taken when breeding patterned animals as some patterns contain the anopthalmic or white bellied gene.
White Band (Baba or BaBa)
Dominant Spot (Dsds -lethal gene in homozygote form DsDs- )
Banded Dominant Spot (BabaDsds or BaBaDsds -lethal if double Ds- )
Tortoiseshell (Toto) (only female)
Roan (on cream based hamster) / White bellied gene (non cream based) (Whwh)
pic courtesy of Satine Hamstery
This gene is lethal as homozygote (WhWh), therefore two patterned hamsters should not be mated together if you can't be sure one of them doesn't carry Wh. This hamster is a sable roan.
Umbruous (Uu or UU)
Coat Varieties
The various coat types can be combined together
Longhaired (lhlh)
Mustang-Yakari at two months... pic courtesy of Nimbus Stud, where he comes from.
Satin (shiny, satin, silky coat) (Sasa)
Carlisle
- lethal gene in homozygote form : SaSa, therefore two Satins should never be mated together