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There are more than 20 different species of hamster in the world, but only five are traditionally kept as pets:
- Syrian (aka Golden) Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
- Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
- Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
- Winter White (aka Djungarian) Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
- Roborovski’s Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
These hamsters come in lots of different fur color varieties, especially Syrian hamsters. They also have uniquely colored eyes, ranging from black to red. A hamster’s eye color is determined by the genes it inherits from its parents and is typically linked to the genes for coat color. Some color combinations are quite rare, such as the ruby-eyed cream Syrian hamster, and overall, red eyes are rarer in the dwarf hamster varieties. Interestingly, not all eye colors are found in every hamster species. For example, the Chinese hamster does not carry the genes for the red, pink, or ruby eyes seen in the Syrian hamster or the three dwarf species.
How Do I Determine the Color of My Hamster’s Eyes?
Being such small creatures with even smaller eyes, it can be quite tricky to accurately determine their eye color, and from a distance, it might seem like all hamsters have black eyes. Although they don’t boast the wide color spectrum seen in humans or cats, hamster irises do come in more than just one color, except for the Chinese hamster, whose eyes are always black.
Once your hamster is comfortable with being handled, you can hold the hamster near a bright white light or shine a torch in the eyes for just a few seconds. This should reflect pigment from the iris, and you may see hints of red, blue, pink, ruby, or only black. Now you know how to check your hamster’s eye color; let’s take a look at how common (or rare) that color is.
The 7 Hamster Eye Colors and Their Rarity
1. Black
Black eyes are by far the most common eye color seen in hamsters. When most of us picture cute furry creatures, we picture them with glossy black eyes. This is the standard eye color for all five hamster species, and the only eye color found in the Chinese hamster.
2. Black with a Red Tint
Some black-eyed hamsters have a reddish-pink or ruby tint to their eyes when illuminated by bright white light. The red coloration darkens as they mature and becomes more noticeable in normal light when they reach old age. This coloration may be seen in all pet hamster species except the Chinese hamster.
3. Blue
Do not be mistaken by the name, as it can be misleading. Although it is commonly called a blue-eyed hamster, the eye appears mostly black with a subtle blue-gray ring around the outer edge. This eye color is more common in dwarf breeds that have been selectively bred for more exotic coat colors such as the Sapphire hamster, a color mutation of the Winter White hamster.
Be aware that certain health conditions, including inflammation and cataracts, can create a bluish hue to the eye, so if your hamster’s eye has turned blue, they need to be seen by a vet.
4. Red
Red eyes are found in Syrian, Roborovskis, Winter White, and Campbell’s hamsters, and are considered ‘gems’ amongst hamster owners, as it is a fascinating and unusual eye color variation. When a red-eyed hamster is young, the red coloration is lighter, becoming darker as they get older.
Red eyes are most commonly seen in hamsters with white, cream, or orange coat colors. Although red eyes might seem like a red flag, this color is not a sign of a health or medical concern. Red eyes are actually due to a lack of pigment (a form of albinism), and the red color actually comes from the blood vessels in the retina (back of the eye) being visible.
5. Ruby
Ruby-eyed hamsters have eyes described as a very deep red wine color. Unlike red-eyed hamsters, whose eyes will gradually darken over time, these hamsters are born with ruby eyes. This is a rare eye color and is most commonly seen in Syrian hamsters, winter whites, and Roborovski hamsters.
6. Light Pink
Not technically a completely different color, but young red-eyed hamsters may appear to have pink eyes, and the depth of the color will often depend on the surroundings and natural lighting. In bright light, even the eyes of adult red-eyed hamsters may appear pink.
While the pink to red spectrum is usually just a variation of a healthy red-eyed hamster, any significant changes in the pigmentation of your hamster’s eyes should not be ignored, particularly if it is accompanied by any swelling, discharge, squinting, or hiding away.
7. Heterochromia
Heterochromia is an exceedingly rare eye condition that is known to occur in Syrian or dwarf hamsters. Heterochromia is when a hamster has two different colored eyes, such as one black and one ruby-colored eye. It is not a medical condition; just a genetic mutation that is incredibly rare in the hamster-owning community.
Conclusion
So if you were thinking that all hamsters have black eyes, you’ll have learned something new today. Although the range of colors is not hugely diverse, it goes to show that it’s worth taking a closer look at those adorable faces to see what pigment they may be hiding. Of course, if yours is a Chinese hamster, you can be pretty confident that their eyes will be black. Remember that if your young hamster has pink eyes, they will get darker as they mature. Remember that any sudden changes in the color of your hamster’s eyes could be a sign of illness, infection, or injury, so don’t hesitate to have them checked by a vet if you notice anything unusual.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
