These are the things I've noticed in three and a half years of owning them..
Cons
- They're not really that suited to being kept in pairs.
- They can be quite nervous and shy.
- Their small body size will mean that they'll need a cage with narrower bars/solid sides.
Pros
- They're quite an intelligent species and I've found that my Chinese have learnt behaviours and tricks far easier than my sister's Hybrid.
- They're excellent climbers so can be very entertaining to watch.
- Once tame they can be very loving.
- They're less inclined to nip than the Russian species.
- Because of their smaller size, you can get away with buying toys that are actually marketed at hamsters rather than the rat sized ones that you'd need for some Syrians.
- They're just so cute.
The main difference you'll notice between them is their appearance. Chinese Hamsters have a very long and slim body shape whereas the Russian species are bit more round. The Chinese Hamster also has a longer tail which helps them to climb and the males are very easy to distinguish at adulthood due to their rather large testicles.
I've found that they're a little bit more laid back on a whole than the Russian species but every hamster is going to be different.