Pick hamsters that are
4 to 6 months old. Waiting until the hamsters are at least
4 months old is important because there are neurological
problems that may be genetic that causes star gazing (the
hamster looks straight up and falls over) or flipping (the
hamster stares upwards and then does a partial or full back
flip. People think this is funny and it has been on America's
Funniest Home Videos. It isn't funny or cute or a "pet"
trick. This is something that can and will pass on to the
offspring. Usually if a hamster is going to show this trait,
it will appear by 4 months of age. Pacing is another similar
problem where the hamster will run the same track around
the enclosure over and over again until the bedding is worn
down in a path. Please pick well adjusted healthy hamsters
to breed. Other genetic problems that Campbells dwarf hamsters
are prone to have are diabetes and glaucoma (if you see
one or both eyes bulging more than usual, your hamster probably
has glaucoma. Waiting until the hamster is 4 months old
also allows the female to mentally mature and to finish
her own growing. Younger female are more prone to eating
their young and having their own growth stunted if bred
too early. As a final note, do not breed two mottled
(spotted or patched ) animals together. Offspring from such
a pairing will result in 1/4 eyeless toothless whites that
will die within two weeks of birth. The mottled gene is
dominant and only one parent needs to have it to pass on
the patched/spotted pattern to offspring.
Pairing Hamsters
Choose two healthy hamsters
of the correct age and place them together in a roomy freshly
cleaned cage.
They must meet on neutral territory and cleaning the cage
wipes away scent markings that the hamster may have left
declaring it his or her cage. If the hamsters fight so
that blood is drawn, immediately separate them. It is normal
for the female to run from the male. The male may even
sit on her but as long as they are not hurting each other,
a little squeaking and getting to know each other is normal.
Watch that the female does not attack the male. Some females
get very aggressive once pregnant (it is uncommon but I
have at least one pair where the male must be removed once
is mate is pregnant or she will attack him constantly).
If all goes well and the hamsters bond, mating should occur
within a week or two. However females seem to be able to
regulate their breeding cycles and it can take a bit longer
for the female to become pregnant
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