Is Pebbles the world's smallest hamster?

This tiny bundle of fur could wriggle into the record books as one of the world's smallest hamsters. Pebbles the Syrian hamster is a fraction of the size of her brothers and sisters but is remarkably thriving against all the odds.

The minute hamster is nearly six-weeks-old but only measures about one-and-a-half-inches long and can fit comfortably inside an egg cup. Pebbles was the runt of a litter of about 20 born on Christmas Day.

Owner Gillian Lowe, 51, assumed the frail creature would die but was delighted when feisty Pebbles survived along with her six normal-sized siblings.



Ms Lowe, from Geldeston, near Beccles, said: “The mother will usually keep the strongest ones and eat the rest.

“After a couple of weeks they started to get their hair and I saw this little one. I thought it would die for sure, but despite staying really small she has survived.

“She is now thriving and does everything the others do. The others are a normal size, as are the mum and dad, but she will not grow any more.”

There are more photos here.