how to sex chinese dwarrf hamsters... quickly

[pixibubbles]

So at the weekend i got a suprise: two supposedly male chinese dwarfs... store and vet said both male but...

I dont usually second guess the professionals (i'm talking about the vets not the pet store berks) but.... the more i get to know my new dwarves.... the more i think one of them isnt a little boy. I'm going to try and get a second opion tonight but i really am loathe to seperate them as one is very reliant on the other and draws a lot of confidence from his presence.

the difficulty is the normal colouring (still no names yet!) hammie is smaller than the dominant spot and therefore might be the runt and not develop at the same speed as the dom.

The Dom has a rather noticeable (almost as big a syrian) scrotum... the normal doesnt.

and the normal is a lot more active and jumpy and a bit nippy whereas the dom is quite calm and placid. but i dont know enough about dwarf behaviour to know if this is indicative as it would be with syrians.

Thoughts and ideas appreciated x

[Ky86]

delete me

[Ky86]

oops, accidentally double posted
why can't i delete the first one?


The dominant and submissive sound like how my two campbell's russians are that I just got tonight (although no nipping). http://allied.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/SexingDwarfHamsterGraphic-793147.jpg
http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10517
for some charts on sexing

[pinkpink33]

well even if he/she wasnt the runt they could still develop at different speeds. i can see why the personality difference worries you as the girls do tend to nip more, but it could just be personality.
i double checked mine by holding them both on their backs at the same time (witht he help of my boyfriend) and looking for differences. if you ignore the scrotum, does everything else look exactly the same?
i had to seperate my female pair due to bullying over food and water, even though one was very reliant on the other. the runt was a bit lost at first but she seemed happier after a couple of days when she reallised that in her own home she could do anything she wanted, and wouldnt be continually woken up by her sis lol (she needed a lot more sleep than big sis, but big sis liked to play).
im sorry if you have to separate them, any news yet on gender? good luck, i wish you no inbred babies!

[pixibubbles]

i'm taking them to another vet tonight... i would hate to seperate them as i really dont know how s/he will react. the other problem is the suspected female is a real wriggler and being only two inches long hard to hold... especially when nipping. And becasue the other is a dom spot and s/he is a standard they are different anyway (she's a lot darker and seems to be quite thick and long furred). BUT i didnt see any nipples... (not even sure that i would this young) but hopefully is a good sign lol

in theroy she could already be pregnant :-(... i'm terrified... she's too young and doesnt trust me AND the two are litter mates.

Tell you what though... if i do end up having to seperate the pet shop are getting what for and i WILL be getting a discount lol. i can be a REAL embaressment at times lol... like quick give her what she wants so she goes away lol. I'm just so furious that a couple of morons may have wrecked a really sweet romantic gesture of my boyfriend by not being able to say "i'm not sure whether it's a boy or girl" GRRRRRRRRRRRRR lol

[pinkpink33]

arghh! well good luck with the vets tonight! yes he/she must be hard to hold lol! im not sure, but i thought you could only see ham nipples when they're pregnant?
good luck, hope you dont have to separate them!

[pixibubbles]

rats (or dwarves!?!) i was comparing to syrians again lol. you can usually see them when they stretch (clear cage lol) it's just spots in two lines where the fur doesnt quite lie flat... although if they are pale coloured you can sometimes actually see them. Obviously not work if you have a long haird fluffie lol

Thanks for the good lucks x

[Moosley]

Umm... with Chinese.. if you see the testicles its male, if you dont its female ;) the testicles take up 1/3 of the males body and if you cant see 'em, they arent there :p

[pixibubbles]

yeah... as i figured lol

Moosleys comment and the vet confirmed it. He (ha!) is a she. they will be seperated from now until... well... ever :(

[pinkpink33]

aww i sorry. hopefully you wont have any babies from the stores mistake!

[pixibubbles]

i think i knew anyway to be honest. fingers crossed against babies tho... the vet thinks i might be alright coz she isnt showing any signs of it yet so it would be fairly early on and there isnt any bruising around her bits bless her. apparently males can be a bit rough. Plus she's quite freindly and happy with being handled and most moms to be that young arent.

i know i might be kidding myself but i'm hoping!