Syrians are large hamsters and can grow to 6-7 inches long. They are usually golden brown with a white belly, but are available in a wide variety of colors and types of hair. The long-haired is often called the Teddy Bear hamster. They live about 2 – 2 1/2 years, often prefer to live alone, and tend to make very good pets. This is the most common type of pet hamster.