Hamster sexing

Sarah Scott is a fact checker with more than 16 years of experience in researching, writing, and editing digital and print media. Hamster sexing has verified and edited articles on a variety of subjects for The Spruce Pets, including pet behavior, hamster sexing, health, and care as well as the latest trends in products for animals in the home.

Babies are called pups or "pinkies". As soon as you realise that your female hamster is pregnant and about to give birth, give the habitat a good clean if necessary so that you won't have to worry about much more than brief spot-cleans for weeks after the birth. Extra good nutrition is vita l for the mom right from gestation until 6 - 8 weeks after the birth to keep her body healthy and strong, and for the developing pups. Note: Do not over-do proteins while she is pregnant as this can cause the babies to grow too large, resulting in a difficult birth. A poor diet will cause the mom to have to eat some of the pups in order to get sufficient nutrition to nurture the rest of the litter.

Hamster sexing

This is one of the most often asked questions from new members and the public. Sexing of adult hamsters is not hard, although young hamsters especially the Dwarf species can be a little harder to handle and their smaller size also makes sexing more difficult. If the hamster struggles hold it by the scruff of the neck and it will usually calm down and lie still. On the male these are the penile opening and the anus and on the female they are the vagina and anus. In an adult male Syrian the gap between these vents is around 1 — 2 cm apart, whilst in the female the gap is so small that is it sometimes difficult to distinguish the two separate vents. The younger the hamster the closer together the vents, however the testicles of the male are usually quite apparent even at 3 or 4 weeks of age. In other species of hamster the same rules apply with all males having a more elongated rear, this is particularly so in the Chinese hamster. Hamsters can also be sexed using the scruffing method. The skin at the back of the neck is quite loose and can easily be held between the thumb and forefinger; however you should ensure that you always support the hamster with the other hand. The diagram on the left shows a male and female Syrian hamster.

The testicles may be retracted as with hamster sexing male hamsters or hidden by fur, but generally, they are discernible in most cases.

Last Updated: August 24, Approved. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. This article has been viewed , times. It is important to know the sex of your hamsters if you have more than one and plan on keeping them in the same cage. You do not want your hamsters to end up breeding, especially if you're not equipped to care for a litter.

When we first rescued Elsa right , we thought he was a girl because his testes were not visible. After two whole months, we gradually realised that dear Elsa might actually be a Kristoff. Of course, the anatomy of each hamster might differ, but we hope to cover as many variations as possible so that you can be sure if your hamster is a boy or a girl! Syrians being the largest hamster species means it is also easiest one to check for sex. Male Syrian are known for their visible testes, especially when sleeping or relaxed. Looking for the testes is the most foolproof way to determine the sex of your Syrian hamster. If your Syrian is still a baby, its testes may not be immediately visible. If so, try holding your hamster on its back and searching for its penis. Female Syrians sport two rows of nipples along the sides of their bellies, although you will have a harder time spotting the nipples with a long haired female Syrian.

Hamster sexing

Having a pet hamster is fun, especially for children. While there are some physical differences between female and male hamsters, the decisive factor when choosing a pet is the character. So, keep scrolling. Yet, there are a few distinct differences between female and male hamsters. Just like any two genders in nature, male and female hamsters have physical variations. Whether dwarf , Syrian , or Chinese hamster , the basic differences are almost the same.

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If they are less than 3 weeks old, you will need to make some kind of an incubator in order for them to maintain body temperature. Generally, Syrian hip spots don't need much maintenance but if you are concerned at any time, you may gently wipe with a cotton pad dampened in little lukewarm water. If you stroke her back, she may "present" for you: the back will arch and she will stay really still in this position but please don't continue touching! Just like other animals, hamsters do in fact use their tails in order to communicate. Ventilation is important but this should be so that most of the heat does not escape above the nest. The majority of oopsie litters occur because of these places. Wait for the pup to stop suckling or 'chewing' the formula it allows them to swallow and is perfectly normal , then repeat. Hamsters do not like being flipped over and will likely kick and resist. Administer a drop or two, before giving a drop or two of milk formula before that first feed. Small Pets Hamsters. But they usually stop suckling or resist more once they've had enough. These nipples can be found in the usual location along the sides of the belly. Yes No. After seeing the info below, if you are still unsure of the genders of a litter that your hamster may have produced, take them to an exotics vet and they should be able to tell you more accurately. If a hamster is squirming, biting, or resisting excessively, do not attempt to flip it over.

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They may even start sampling solid food from that age, but it is important that they remain nursing from their mother until they are at least 28 days old 4 weeks. At this time the female will have a large discharge of thick white fluid that gives the hamster a particular strong smell. So they run to each other, these friends from long past,. Maintenance: Inspect the scent gland regularly. You should notice around the middle of week 2 that the pup will start to chew the brush more and more instead of suckle, and this is normal at this age. Please don't even try pairing or grouping as many people have disregarded this advice and discovered, to their detriment, that it very rarely ends well! It's his scent gland. When we first rescued Elsa right , we thought he was a girl because his testes were not visible. Content Team HSS. Share yours! Learn why people trust wikiHow. Hang a wet, but not dripping cloth from the side at the top of the incubator. If you have your hamster flipped over, thick fur or excessive kicking can prevent you from noticing the genitals. On the male these are the penile opening and the anus and on the female they are the vagina and anus. You can clasp your hand gently around the hamster's body and slowly flip it backwards.