Help Please!!

[kirby0202]

Hi I'm new to this forum and I'm new to this website but I'm not new to having a hamster! Ive had my hamster (Kirby) a male dwarf hamster, he has a white bottom and a grey top and a little black line going down the top. for over a year now. I looked it up once and I think he was a syberian but i cant remember. Anyways, the problem is my hamster is always biting anyone who puts there hand inside or near his cage. I saw in another post that you should wash your hands, and i tried that but it didnt work. I also always wait till hes awake to try and pick him up, but he still bites, and i even tried what yer sposed to do when you first get them, by putting food in your hand but it doesnt work. Could someone please tell me some ideas, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanx in adavance!

[Mitchandozzie]

how old id he? there may be a chance taht you tamed him to late.

[kirby0202]

well im really not sure, i bought him at petco january 2002, and im no expert on hamsters but maybe this will help, he was about 2 and 3 fouths of an inch long when i got him.

[kirby0202]

I also have another question, you seem like you know a lot about dwarf hamsters so i hope you dont mind, i have a friend down the street who also has a dwarf hamster, that has like the same colors as mine, and his is a girl named duchess. He and I were thinkin we wanted them to have babys, so i was wondering whether it was better to ummm make the babys in the mothers cage or the fathers cage, because as soon as we know shes pregnant we will take them back to our own houses, first of all is that a bad idea to split them up? and then how ummm long should we put them in the same cage if it is a good idea? thanx for your help!

[Mitchandozzie]

does your hamster look like these in the link?http://www.petwebsite.com/hamster_breeding.htm

[Mitchandozzie]

and are the patches (where its wet) dark?

[kirby0202]

sorry i cant open the link lol i dont know why. could you put them in your reply? thanx, the thing on my screen is just a white box with an x in it, is that the link and how do i open it? thanx

[kirby0202]

o whoops ok i figured it out lol yea he looks almost just like them!

[Mitchandozzie]

ok well then i was just wondering about that but u should put the female should be placed in the males cage.

here is more info on breeding hamsters:

Facts Table:

- Puberty: Male 6-8 weeks (90 g), Female 6-8 weeks (90-100g)

- Oestrous cycle 4 days. The stage of the cycle can be determined by the tenacity and opacity of vaginal discharge. The discharge is thick and opaque at the time of and after ovulation.

- Oestrus 6-10 hours (night). Heat generally begins approximately 1-2 hours after dusk on the third day of the oestrous cycle and ovulation is completed 6-10 hours after onset of psychic oestrus. The female should be placed in the cage with the male at the beginning of the dark cycle. If the female is receptive she will quickly assume a lordotic position with hindlegs spread and tail erect. If copulation does not occur within 5 minutes or if the female becomes aggressive, she is removed. If copulation occurs, the pair can be left together until such time as the female shows no further interest in mating, or shows aggressive behaviour toward the male. Males (Syrian) should not be left with females for prolonged periods, as fighting and injury may occur.

- Gestation 15-18 days. A copulation plug will be visible for a few hours after copulation.

- Litter size 4-12 pups

- Birth weight 2-3 g

- Weaning 21 days (35-40g). Oestrous cycle will not resume for the mother until a few days after her young are weaned. Young from different litters can usually be housed together until 42 days of age.

- Optimum breeding life: Females 14 months, Males up to 18 months, but fertility and chances of mating success decline after this.

[hamz]

u bought him in jan 2002??? he's a pretty old boy now then

hi Mitchandozzie.. the info that u'd posted up.. issit for syrian or syrian dwarf?

[Mitchandozzie]

im pretty sure its for syrian

[qazwsxedc]

its a very old winter white so he's too old to tame and breed in the males but if the girl is as old as the male it won't work and she will die

[kirby0202]

well im not sure but it said dwarf hamster when i bought him so maybe its a syrian dwarf ??? lol i dunno, but is he really that old for a dwarf hamster?? the people at petco said he would live for like five years??? by the way thanx for the replys guys

[BElannaTorres79]

I think the hamster you have is a Dwarf. Syrians, Teddy Bear, or Golden are all the same hamster breed. Also if you breed Dwarves you leave the male with the female as he helps in raising the pups. But if agression is shown then remove the male. Breeding hasmters is the easy part. They will do their "part" without any trouble. But there can be bad consequences too. The female can eat her pups if she doesn't have enough nutrients or perhaps its post partom syndrome. Also if you breed hamsters you have to have TWO seperate cages for the baby males and baby females as they are sexually mature at approx 3 weeks (Depending on species) If you dont seperate them..You will end up with hundreds of hammys quickly. Think carefully before you decide on breeding. What about homes for the babies too? Hope that helps.. :drinky:

[PyscoFalcon]

Sounds like a Dwarf.

Dwarfs only live for 1 to 2 years so leave him be.

[hamz]

hmm if he is dwarf.. though they r all hamsters... the info on syrian might not be too accurate

never believe a shop keeper.. they give wrong info half of the time!!!