AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
Question Hi, I know that after 4 weeks of birth, young hamsters must be separated by sex to avoid sibling-breeding. My Cherry (female winter white) was young and it was her first time mating; she gave birth to only 2 pups and I am wondering about their gender. I have noticed nipples on one of them when she was about 2 weeks of age. However, I am not sure if the other one is a male or a female. The relative distance from the anal opening and sexual opening is quite close, but not as close as the one that has been confirmed as a female. I checked the distance between two openings of my male adult, and it was like from the center of his body to the anal opening. How do YOU determine the gender of my unconfirmed young hamster?
Thank you.
Answer Hi Andy
This is a very difficult question to answer.
Sexing hamsters can be quite hard, especially the dwarf varieties. I usually have a look at them when they are very small so that I can get a rough idea of the number of girls and boys. Before the fur grows you can clearly see a row of nipples on the girls, but obviously these tend to disappear when fur grows. The danger of checking them at this young age is that it can cause problems with their mum, and I never advise anyone to start handling hamsters before 2 weeks of age because of this.
I find that comparison is often the best way of sexing hamsters. I find one that is very definitely male or female and then use this as a base. If I'm not sure I have a good look at the mum or dad and then I use them to compare. This is usually easy because most litters I have had have been quite big - whereas you only have 2 to compare so your task is much harder.
I too look for the anal opening and sexual opening. Also, sometimes on a male (if they are well developed for their age) you can see their testicles. Their rear end is often a different shape from a female. I found a video on you-tube that might help you:
