How to determine the sex of a hamster and distinguish a boy from a girl, males and females of the Dzungarian and Syrian breeds

Why find out gender?

The difference between a female and a male is as important an issue as the issue of feeding and caring for a hamster. It is necessary to know the gender of the purchased pet for the following reasons.

Sometimes the owner plans to breed dzhungariks, and then the issue of gender becomes the main issue in this matter. Buying two animals of the same sex will not lead to results. There are also opposite situations. Perhaps the owner of one animal wants to place a friend or girlfriend with him, but is afraid of uncontrolled reproduction, and therefore tries to choose a pet of the same sex. By the way, this is not a very reasonable approach; Djungarian hamsters are solitary animals that do not tolerate another partner on their territory. Most likely, two same-sex residents will regularly fight and take treats from each other. Most likely, one of them will settle next to the house, since the neighbor will not let the new tenant inside. Perhaps over time, one of the animals will be left without a tail or even without one paw. Even if the owner was lucky and got a boy and a girl, the little hamsters will soon have to be sold or given away. Perhaps the future buyer will also need an animal of a certain gender, and then the seller will be able to confidently show all the guys and girls. It's no secret that dwarfs reproduce very quickly, and there is a high probability of buying a pregnant female in the store

If the owner does not need the babies, then it is better to immediately purchase a male, so that after a few weeks you do not receive a surprise in the form of an unnecessary offspring. It is important to know the gender of the animal in order to choose a suitable name for it. You can choose a neutral nickname, but it will still be correct to name the animal in accordance with its gender.

Why determine the sex of a hamster

Why do you even need to figure out how to determine the sex of a hamster? If this issue is not important for you, then you don’t have to go into it. It's another matter if you want to get a female or a male.

Unscrupulous sellers can often give false information about the sex in order to quickly sell a “staying” rodent. They resort to tricks, refer to their experience and assure that this is the furry that the buyer really needs. To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, it will be useful to be able to understand the differences between the sexes yourself.

It is also important for those who breed them to distinguish males from females. By mistake, same-sex animals can be placed together for mating. Don't want to watch such an incident? Then hurry to find out how to never encounter him.

How to distinguish a boy from a girl hamster

However, the question arises: is it really possible to distinguish a male from a female only by the genitals? You can determine the sex of an animal not only by its genitals, but also by several other distinctive features. For example, in appearance and behavior. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

By appearance

Male dzhungarikas are much smaller in size than females. However, males have longer and thicker fur than females. If this is not enough for you to determine the sex, you can look at the shape of the shoulder blades, but you need to do this very carefully - as mentioned above, hamsters are very fragile and it is easy to cause irreparable harm to them. Males have a less rounded scapula than females.

By behavior

It is not so easy to determine the sex of a hamster by behavior, because it is similar in females and males, but there are still slight differences.

• Females are considered cleaner: their home looks neater, and they also carefully monitor the cleanliness of their fur. Females are somewhat aggressive and less tame. Considered more energetic.
• Males are not so clean; they do not carefully monitor the condition of their fur. However, males are more affectionate and easier to tame and do not bite like females. They lead a sedentary lifestyle.

In newborn hamsters

It is almost impossible to determine the sex of a newborn hamster at home - the genitals of small dwarf hamsters are poorly defined. Therefore, it is advised to seek help from a specialist at a pet store. But you should check whether the consultant or seller has a veterinary education, because an inexperienced seller will not be able to determine the sex of a newborn hamster and may simply deceive you.

The easiest way to determine the sex of dzhungarikas is by external signs

How to determine the sex of a hamster

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External sexual characteristics of rodents differ depending on the age of the animal. Among the signs that you should pay attention to during the examination are the following:

• size of the individual. In the case of hamsters, females are larger in size than males. However, such a difference can only be noticed when comparing two animals;
• body shape. Girls have a slightly pointed back shape. In boys, it is round, without any additional secretions;
• male sexual characteristics begin to appear when boys reach 35 days. The ovaries are almond-shaped and convex. Nothing like this is observed in girls;
• if the girl is an adult, you can see her evenly spaced nipples. If the animal is healthy and normally developed, there are a total of 4 pairs.

Note! There are slight nuances in determining the sex of a rodent in different breeds. One of the smallest representatives - dzhungariki - can cause great difficulties for the owner.

Differences between male and female

How to properly inspect

The animal must be examined correctly and carefully. The detailed instructions are as follows:

1. The animal is picked up. The animal must be calm. If your pet is a little nervous or crawling, you can pet him and give him something tasty. It is worth remembering that rodents do not like to lie on their backs, but this is exactly the position he will have to take.
2. You definitely need to make sure that there is something soft underneath. You can carry out the procedure over a box or deep plate covered with a soft towel or cloth.
3. The thumb is placed on the back of the animal above the shoulder blades. It is necessary to feel the fold of skin located just above the shoulders. This area is slightly held with the thumb and forefinger. This way you can avoid pet bites. You cannot press on the skin, much less pull it away (this is not a kitten). It is forbidden to hold the animal by the scruff of the neck too tightly. Otherwise, there is a chance of eyeballs falling out.
4. With the other hand, the animal carefully turns over onto its back.
5. An inspection is being carried out.

How to distinguish the sex of a Djungarian hamster

Djungarians are the most common domestic rodents. They are sold in most pet stores, so the question of how to determine the sex of a Djungarian hamster becomes very relevant for potential owners.

As already mentioned, the situation can become very complicated due to the small size of the animal. To accurately recognize gender, it is recommended to rely on the following signs:

• Upon reaching 1 month of life, ovaries can already be detected in boys. They can be identified by light pressure in the groin area;
• A girl hamster has a smaller distance between the urogenital opening and the anus. Approximate distance no more than 3 mm;
• if you look at a boy’s tummy, you can easily find the navel, and this can be done at any age;
• Boys' fur is thicker and a little coarser;
• Girls have a very capricious character. It is much more difficult to accustom them to using hands; in principle, they are reluctant to make contact;
• It is almost impossible to palpate a female's navel. When examining the tummy, a person is more likely to find only 4 pairs of nipples.

Note! If there is only one hamster in the house, determining its gender on your own, especially at an early age, is very problematic. This can be done only after the individual reaches adulthood. However, if there are several animals of different sexes, you can understand the difference quickly enough.

Distance between genitals and anus

How to determine the sex of a Syrian hamster

Syrian hamsters are also not large in size, but in comparison with Djungarian hamsters they are still larger. As for the options for determining gender, everything is exactly the same as in the case of Djungarians. It is worth remembering that girls behave more distantly and aggressively. Their navel cannot be felt, but their nipples are clearly visible.

Boys have thicker fur and are smaller in size. Also, by the time they mature, their ovaries are visible and palpable.

Considering that the Syrian animals are larger than the Djungarians, it will be much easier to examine the testes and nipples.

Important! It is necessary to carry out an inspection, and even more so to feel it, as carefully as possible. If the animal begins to squeak or struggle, it is best to stop the procedure.

What other characteristics can be used to determine gender?

There are other, less common and noticeable signs that an animal belongs to a particular sex. For example, boys have a small bump on their lower abdomen. A similar element is inherent in all representatives of small rodents; it is an odorous gland.

This gland is small, devoid of vegetation and located in the middle of the lower part of the abdomen. Happens exclusively in males. It is also almost impossible to find nipples in boys. The thing is that they are less developed and overgrown with thick hair. When the hamster is small, they can generally be confused with pimples.

Note! If for some reason you cannot determine the sex of your pet due to its early age, you can wait 1-2 weeks to be sure. As a last resort, you can always seek help from a specialist.

Size difference

Sexual characteristics in hamsters

Inexperienced hamster breeders first of all look to see if the animal has testes. This approach often leads to erroneous conclusions, especially if it is necessary to determine the sex of the Djungarian hamster: the genitals are too small. In young animals they are not fully developed, and hamsters of different sexes must be placed in different cages no later than at the age of 4 weeks in order to avoid inbreeding and unwanted offspring.

Our article on determining the age of a hamster will help you find out how many weeks your baby is. We cannot exclude cases when the testicles do not descend into the scrotum, but remain in the abdominal cavity and are completely invisible (cryptorchidism).

If the testes are clearly visible, there is no doubt that the hamster is a male. Convex almond-shaped formations in the perineal area can be distinguished at the age of 35-40 days. With age, the testicles increase significantly in size, and determining the sex of an adult Syrian hamster is no longer difficult.

A reliable sign by which you can distinguish a female from a male already at the age of 3-4 weeks is the location of the urethra relative to the anus. The male has a space between the holes covered with fur. In an adult Syrian hamster the gap is 1-1.5 cm, in young animals it is about 0.5 cm.

In the female, the vagina is located almost close to the anus, hair does not grow between them, and a characteristic “bald spot” is formed. The structure of organs is difficult to understand in dwarf hamsters due to their small size; if you cannot find the urogenital opening at all, you have a female dwarf hamster.

The older the animals become, the easier it is to recognize whether the animal in front of you is a female or a male. In dwarf hamsters, this process is always more difficult than in Syrians, due to the tiny size of these animals.

Additional gender differences:

• in a female hamster, two rows of nipples are clearly visible (in young ones these are barely visible “pimples”), while in males the abdomen is completely covered with hair;
• Dwarf hamsters have a clearly visible sign of belonging to the masculine gender - an odorous gland on the abdomen, with the help of which they mark territory. You can find out the sex of an adult dzhungarika by its presence or absence. A round, hairless, yellowish plaque is located at the site of the navel. A female Djungarian hamster cannot have it.

Determining the sex of the dwarf

If you are wondering how to distinguish a boy from a girl, then you should know the basic rules. Sometimes the problem arises about how to determine the sex of a Djungarian hamster. To do this, take the rodent in your hands and place it with its tummy facing up. In order to determine which one you bought, a boy or a girl, you should carefully look at the belly. Remember that you cannot hold them too tightly, because their bones are so fragile that it is not difficult to break them.

If you are thinking about how to determine the sex of a Djungarian hamster, then it is important to know a few rules. Basically, you should look at sexual characteristics, which are more pronounced in adults. To do this, you should pay attention to the distance between the genital area and the animal’s anus.

Hamster boy

The Djungarian hamster boy has the following features:

• the distance from his genitals to the anus is not less than 0.5 cm and not more than 1 cm;
• In the central part of the abdomen there is a small tubercle called a gland that may resemble a navel.

Hamster girl

A female Djungarian hamster has the following characteristics:

• you will not see any bulges on the belly;
• if you have a female hamster, then she will have small nipples on her stomach: a large number of people ask how many nipples should be available, the answer to this question is 1 - 8 pieces, and they are all located symmetrically in 2 rows.

Now it is more or less clear how to determine the genus of a Dzungarian representative.

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Secondary signs for recognition

Now we should look at the question of how to find out the gender of a Djungarian hamster by secondary features. You should be aware that their body dimensions differ. The female hamster will have a much larger body size than the male. In addition, her belly is less fluffy.

To know how to determine the sex of a Djungarian hamster, you should pay attention to a number of other signs. The female's belly button is much more difficult to find, despite the fact that her fur is much shorter and sparser. As soon as you start wondering how to distinguish Djungarian hamsters by gender, you should pay attention to the shape of the shoulder blades. In the female they will have a more rounded shape than in the male.

Excessive attention from owners

Close attention and excessive care will harm not only human relationships, but can also become a reason for cannibalism in female hamsters. Since this rodent is a solitary animal, and after the birth of the cubs, the female needs a secluded environment and tranquility even more, excessive care will only harm these animals

Do not pick up hamsters and do not get into the cage. Let your family see you less.

Foreign odors repel the mother hamster. Sensing a foreign smell, she does not identify the cubs as her own creatures and, as a result, abandons them and destroys them. Do not touch the hamster family for one to two weeks after the babies are born!

It is necessary to prepare in advance for the new offspring of furry rodents. When cleaning the cage, if you find hamster supplies, do not touch them. This is a strategic supply of products, which unpleasantly traumatizes the animal’s psyche in the event of its loss, even to the point of an uneven breakdown in a pregnant female. Only spoiled products can be thrown away to avoid the growth of putrefactive bacteria, odor and poisoning.

To arrange your own nest, it is recommended to put a few paper napkins. Your task is to fill the drinking bowl with clean drinking water and pour food into the feeder on time. This is all that the rodent needs from its owner at this time. Nature will do the rest.

Why do hamsters eat their offspring?

Amazing picture. Life goes on as usual, there is plenty of food and water, a cozy nest has been built. And suddenly such cannibalism, in the midst of complete prosperity. Why?

Stress

Postpartum stress, if you will. Ask any mother what it’s like to bear, give birth, and feed your baby. The usual way of life changes seriously, and long-term depression sets in. Hamster mother is no exception. In some cases, she comes to the “realization” that she has given birth to more babies than she physically can “handle.” By the way, this is quite possible when you constantly disturb a young mother during the day. Be tactful and patient.

Fear

Another natural feeling, especially in such small animals as hamsters. Fear has big eyes, especially during such an interesting period. The female shudders at every rustle. And if the owner’s cat frequents the cage... The unexpected happens. Wanting to protect the babies, the mother eats them. Horrible but true.

Smell

Mom spends a lot of time caring for and caring for her babies. Mom knows the smell of her babies very well; she recognizes it from a thousand. But sometimes everything is spoiled by overly curious owners who love to peek and even pick up the cubs. They immediately begin to smell new, different. Mom is confused and now cannot identify them. And he no longer considers them his own. We invite you, dear readers, to continue the logic of our reasoning.

Lack of food

But the other extreme is when the owners abandon their extended family to the mercy of fate. We noted above that a pregnant and nursing mother needs more food. Please respect the new mother and feed her properly.

Excessively large litter

Yes, the litter can be very large, exceeding your wildest expectations. As mentioned earlier, mom is confused, doesn’t know what to do, how to keep track of everyone. She makes a simple but cruel conclusion: leave the necessary “minimum” of cubs. It sounds crazy, but some are killed for the benefit of others.

Useful tips

When you determine the gender of your hamster, you should follow certain rules so as not to harm him. First of all, you should remember that this procedure can be quite stressful for your pet. If your hamster is not used to being handled, he may struggle and even bite you. Therefore, you should prepare it a little. First, wait until the pet is as calm as possible (it is best to carry out the examination in the middle of the day, at this time hamsters are most calm). Give him something tasty to eat, pet him lightly, and only then pick him up.

It’s also worth preparing yourself. When picking up your hamster, make sure your hands are clean and odorless. If they smell something tasty, the hamster may bite your finger. It is best to wash your hands first and preferably without soap. And don't forget to dry them thoroughly.

You need to hold the hamster very carefully, but at the same time so that he does not escape. When holding the hamster in your hand, you should lightly pinch its chest with your thumb and index finger, and use the rest to support its body (use your other hand if necessary). Never let your hamster's underside hang from your hand, this can be very harmful to him. The examination must be carried out carefully and carefully, but quickly; you should not hold the hamster in your arms for too long.

It is worth remembering that hamsters are not cats or dogs; their bodies are structured completely differently. They should not be picked up by the scruff of the neck or placed on their back. At best, you will simply cause pain to the hamster, and at worst, you will harm his health.

Always be prepared for the possibility that your hamster will vomit. It is best to carry out the sex determination procedure on your knees, with something soft underneath, since a fall even from such a height can be fraught with consequences for a hamster. Also, do not forget that hamsters run very quickly and crawl into any crack, it will be very difficult to catch him, and therefore it is better to keep him over a bucket or box. Or at least close the door to the room and cover all the places where the hamster could crawl.

Remember that babies can only be held in your arms a month after their birth, otherwise you can kill their smell, and then their mother will not take care of them. This is all you need to know to correctly determine the gender of your hamster.

Each of the above differences may have certain exceptions, for example, due to the characteristics of the breed or disease, and therefore several methods must be used simultaneously. If, at the end of the examination, you have not been able to reliably find out who is in front of you - a male or a female, then you can ask for help from a veterinarian or simply a more experienced breeder than you.

For information on how to determine the sex of a hamster, see below.

Preparing your pet for examination

How to bathe a hamster at home - detailed information

How to determine the sex of a hamster? First of all, you need to prepare for this process. It is recommended to choose a time when the animal is most relaxed and calm. In this case, the animal will not try to bite the owner or slip out of the hands.

You can even disturb the baby a little while he is in a sleepy state. It is necessary to pick up the animal as carefully and affectionately as possible. It is recommended to pet your pet to calm it down.

The hamster must be calm

Important! The procedure is simple and not painful, but the animals very often slip out of your hands and fall. To avoid injury, it is best to place a thick towel on your feet and hold your hands above it with your pet. So, even if the baby falls, there will be no injuries.

The hamster rests on an open palm. Using your thumb and index finger, gently pinch the skin between your shoulder blades. Such actions help to securely fix the rodent so that the animal can be examined. In addition, in this position the pet will not be able to bite the owner. At the final stage, you need to turn the hamster upside down.

Important! Pulling the skin is prohibited. Under no circumstances should you put too much pressure on the fold.

A little about the anatomy of males

When buying a hamster at a pet store, try to immediately determine its gender. This is difficult to do in young animals, because they have not yet reached puberty. That is, the hamster’s eggs have not yet fully formed. Therefore, you will have to judge not by the presence of bulges under the tail, but by other parameters.

To determine the gender, you will have to lay the homa on its back and estimate the distance between the anus and the genital opening: in boys it is 2 times larger than in girls.

Why are we saying this? And besides, there were various incidents with the gender of these animals, sometimes tragic. For example, the owners bought an animal, they were sure that it was a girl. But suddenly bloating appeared in her lower abdomen. The owners thought that these were some kind of ulcers - and squeezed out the whole thing. Naturally, the hamster died a few hours later.

Remember a few important points:

1. Determine the gender when purchasing an animal.
2. Puberty in small rodents begins at the age of 1-2 months.
3. First, tubercles appear on the male’s tummy, usually in the amount of 2 pieces. One tubercle may also appear - this means that the testicles do not descend into the scrotum at the same time. This is a completely normal phenomenon and occurs quite often.
4. By 3 months, the testicles of a Syrian hamster acquire an impressive size; in Djungarians this happens a little earlier.
5. Don’t be alarmed if your hamsters have thinning fur on their genitals – this is completely normal.

That is, to the question “why are the hamster’s testicles swollen?” Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of these furry animals will help you answer.

The photo shows that the Syrian hamster has begun puberty:

What is the difference between Djungarians and Syrian hamsters?

According to unofficial data, about 95% of domestic hamsters are representatives of the Dzungarian or Syrian golden breed. They differ from each other in appearance and habits.

Experienced breeders know that Djungarian hamsters are 2 times smaller than their Syrian counterparts, and also highlight a number of characteristics in each breed.

Did you know? In Vietnam, the law prohibits keeping hamsters at home, as these animals can carry some dangerous diseases.

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Let's look at them in more detail in the table.

At what age is it easier to recognize?

Small hamsters are almost impossible to distinguish by gender. Determining sex becomes possible after the rodents are four weeks old.

Let the cubs develop normally in their first month, get used to an active lifestyle, and run in a wheel.

To make it easier to determine the sex of your pet in the future, do not allow it to become obese in the first weeks of life. To burn off all the energy and calories, a hamster must run several kilometers a day. Babies can be placed in separate cages at the age of 35–40 days. During this period, it is recommended to determine the sex of rodents.

If further offspring are not planned, then it is important to separate boys and girls into separate cages. Therefore, it is better to seat the family in individual dwellings

In addition, it is important to provide each hamster with a certain cage area, and a small structure is not suitable for keeping five individuals at once

Therefore, it is better to seat the family in individual dwellings

In addition, it is important to provide each hamster with a certain cage area, and a small structure is not suitable for keeping five individuals at once

Do not allow your Djungarian hamster to be raised in a jar. Some people think there is enough space for him there. In fact, in such a small area, the hamster will constantly lack vigorous activity, which means that it will not live very long. Do not forget that dwarfs reproduce with enviable regularity, and therefore do not leave two individuals of different sexes in the same cage, even for a short time, if you do not need offspring. This applies not only to brothers and sisters, but also to parents and children.

By the way, hamsters do not care about moral problems, but hamsters that are the result of the love of two relatives may turn out to be defective, and the more often the owner receives offspring from relatives from generation to generation, the worse the genetics will be, and the weaker the babies will be born while won't die out at all. Sometimes female rodents, having acquired inferior offspring, simply eat their own cubs

In this regard, it is very important to know the gender of your pets.

Basic rules for examining hamsters

To distinguish the sex of a Djungarian hamster, you need to know the basic rules for examining it. Improper inspection can result in injury or severe stress to your hamster.

Before starting the inspection, you must wait for the right moment. Hamsters have sharp teeth, so if the timing is wrong, your pet can bite hard. The best time to find out the sex of a hamster is immediately after sleep. During this period, the animal is as relaxed as possible and can be examined. It is contraindicated to look at the hamster during periods of increased activity (during play) or immediately after eating (you can provoke vomiting).

After choosing the right moment, the animal should be stroked and caressed so that it does not feel danger and is relaxed. During the procedure, it is necessary to place something under the examination site. If the pet moves and cannot be restrained, it may fall onto something soft. A towel folded several times is suitable as a bedding.

It is necessary to take the animal for examination by the fold of skin, which is located on the back in the area of ​​the shoulder blades. You cannot lift the hamster by it, as you can injure him. Gently grasping this fold and supporting it under the belly with your free hand, the animal is turned over and placed on its back. During the examination procedure, the pet must be supported under the back at all times.

Determining the sex of small hamsters is much more difficult than in adults. Therefore, it is recommended that two people examine the baby together. One person holds the pet, the second examines its genitals.

After determining the sex of the animal, you can treat it to something tasty to relieve stress.

IF WE HAVE A GOLDEN OR STRIPED HAMster IN FRONT OF US?

Signs of a male

In four-week-old males, the testicles are already visible at the very base of the tail. Stroke the animal so that it relaxes and does not struggle, and lightly press on the abdomen so that the testes (testicles) become visible. But the most important thing is distance. The distance from the penis to the anus in adult males is from 1 to 1.5 cm. And in babies it’s about 0.5 cm.

Also, in males, the navel is usually clearly palpable in the center of the abdomen - this is a gland characteristic of hamsters, with the help of which they mark their territory. It feels like a small growth.

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Sometimes male Djungarian hamsters have a small congenital defect: the gonads do not descend into the scrotum, but remain in the abdominal cavity, in this case it is clear that the urethra and anus are located at a slight distance from each other.

In Djungarian babies, you can tactilely detect small swellings in the groin - these are maturing testicles.

Take a close look at your pet. When you look at an adult hamster from above, you can see that the edge of its back is slightly pointed and points upward - this is a clear sign of a male. Because females have a slightly rounder back.

Signs of a female

Assess the size of your pet compared to others: usually females are larger than males. But if there are no other hamsters nearby, it is worth trying a more accurate method. In female “jungarians” the distance between the genitals and the anus is much smaller than in males: approximately 3 mm, almost close.

A female can also be identified by two rows of tiny nipples that stretch from the chest to the bottom of the abdomen - there are usually eight of them, each intended for the planned calf. But the navel of females, unlike males, is almost invisible. In front of you is a female, and if upon examination you see one hole, but a large one, there may be two of them, but due to the too small size and small age of the animal, they visually merge into one.

Video: gender determination

If we have a dwarf breed in front of us

You can see small white spots on the Dzungarian's fur coat, because the Djungarian (or Dzungarian) hamster is a steppe animal; in natural conditions it is often forced to hide from predators by burying itself in the snow. The Djungarian's face is simply touching: big intelligent eyes, ears that twitch warily, listening to all the sounds around him, funny moving cheeks.

He himself is all round, the natural color of these animals is dark gray, with a light belly, a darkish spot on the top of the head and a stripe on the back. There are pearl and blue jungarians.

Dwarf hamsters are a little more difficult because their testicles are not visible. Therefore, in the case of this breed, it is worth focusing on the distance between the genitals and the anus. Our task is made easier by the fact that in females this area is not covered with fur. A male's abdomen will be slightly moist, since the glands on their abdomen are more active than those of females.

How to recognize a female?

One way to distinguish hamsters is to trust the seller. But this method is not always reliable, so it is better to know for yourself what signs to recognize a female. There are differences in external, behavioral and genital organs.

You can distinguish Djungarian hamsters by gender, taking into account the external features of the females:

1. Females have shorter fur;
2. The belly is not so covered with fur;
3. If you compare a female and a male, then the female individual will be larger in size;
4. It is very difficult to find the navel, it is almost invisible.

You can determine the sex of a Syrian hamster by its behavior. In most cases, females are more mobile, active and playful. It's rare to find a calm little hamster girl. But this sign is not reliable.

The most accurate way to identify a female is by her genitals. If you examine the belly, you can see the anus and vagina on the lower abdomen uncovered by fur. You can make sure that this is really a vagina using a ruler. It is necessary to measure the distance from the anus to the genital opening. It is about 3 mm.

Another reliable sign of a female is the nipples. She has 8 of them and they are located in 2 rows.

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Possible reasons for eating baby hamsters

Offspring with health problems

In the wild, in order for the entire viable hamster species to survive, weak offspring are destroyed, which will interfere with the rodents' ability to escape from danger.

Domestic hamsters, which have long been tamed by people, remain true to their natural instincts, developed over centuries, which have saved them for a long time in the wild.

Born sick and weak, hamsters are usually eaten by their mothers. Injuries received by hamsters before or after birth equally make newborn babies weak and are immediately classified as non-viable. Such cubs, with almost one hundred percent probability, will be destroyed.

Important! If you notice a sick or even dead hamster in the cage, do not remove it; the female herself decides what to do with it. Your unnecessary interference may cause the death of all remaining offspring

This is due to foreign odors. Not being able to smell herself, the mother may start to panic and kill the rest of the newborn hamsters. Don't worry, these rodents eat everything, including meat. No matter how shocking it may sound, the female herself will “clean up” her nest.

If this does not happen within several days, then use gloves to remove the dead cub. This will at least somehow protect other hamsters from your smell.

Unpreparedness to become a mother

Often, the first pregnancy of a female hamster can cause severe anxiety, anxiety and drive the young mother into a stressful situation.

The female is not ready for pregnancy, nor for giving birth and caring for her babies. This reason can provoke the killing of unwanted offspring. The subsequent gestation of offspring and their birth usually do not cause such a reaction in the female.

Weight of cubs

Many or seemingly large numbers of newborn babies. Having become a mother for the first time, doubts overcome both people and animals. Can I cope, do I have enough milk? Your female, who was very small herself, gave birth. I lost a lot of energy and vitality. And then numerous newborn offspring squeal nearby and ask for food. The hamster may panic and think that she won’t be able to feed everyone, and it will be difficult to cope with such a horde of babies. Therefore, this is where natural instinct kicks in; several individuals of the offspring can be eaten.

In order not to provoke the occurrence of such a situation, the owner needs to improve living conditions and improve the hamster’s nutrition as much as possible. She now needs nutrients and minerals, as well as vitamins. Feed her special food for pregnant females, vegetables and fruits. Don't forget about clean water.

Male living with offspring

After the process of mating a female with a male, they must immediately be separated into different cells. This is due to the fact that the male is completely devoid of any parental instincts. He will not even think about whether to leave his offspring or not, he will destroy them.

Some owners think that the hamster is jealous of the offspring of the female and receives little attention from her. In fact, such passions do not need to be attributed to them. Let us remember that the hamster is a loner by nature. And the struggle for territory is ongoing all the time. Here in the cage there is a whole brood of competitors, which are easier to deal with while they have not yet grown.

Methods

Hamsters have many signs by which you can recognize whether the person in front of you is a boy or a girl.

Size. Female hamsters are always larger than males. Specific numbers may vary depending on the breed (dwarf hamsters are almost 3 times smaller than normal ones)

It is worth remembering that to determine sex by size, hamsters must be the same age (this is especially important in the first months of life).

Back shape. Hamsters can be identified by the shape of their backs

In males, the back tapers towards the tail and the back is slightly raised. In girls, on the contrary, the back is rounder and thicker than the front.

Sexual characteristics Another way to recognize a male is to pay attention to his butt. In males, you will see two almond-shaped testicles. Like many animals, the hamster's testicles are half immersed in his abdominal cavity, and therefore they do not hang, like in humans, but rather stick out. It is worth noting that in dwarf breeds it can be quite difficult to see them due to their small size. If, upon examination, you see that your male pet’s testicles are too large or, on the contrary, you cannot find them, then these are clear signs of illness.

• Behavior. As mentioned earlier, hamsters' behavior may differ depending on their gender. Females are much more active and aggressive than males. However, it is worth noting that this method is the least reliable, since the behavior of hamsters can be influenced not only by their gender.
• Touch your belly. In females, the abdomen should be dry and smooth. In males, the abdomen is almost always wet due to the fluid secreted by the gonads.
• Nipples. In females, several pairs of nipples can be seen on the abdomen. In most breeds they are covered with fur until the female becomes pregnant. To see them, you will have to part the fur on her belly.
• The distance between the genitals and the anus. This is perhaps the most noticeable difference between a girl and a boy hamster. In females this distance is minimal (a few millimeters maximum), while in males it can be from 1 to 2 centimeters, depending on the breed.
• Wool length. Some types of hamsters (for example, Djungarian or Syrian) may differ in fur length. Male Djungarians have a much longer coat and look more luxuriant than females. And female Syrian hamsters have virtually no fur on their bellies.
• Presence of a gonad. Males can also be identified by a gonad on their abdomen. It looks like a small navel or pimple and is located just above the genitals. It is quite small and can most often be found only by touch, but in dwarf breeds it is quite easy to notice. Separately, it is worth noting Syrian hamsters; instead of one gland on their stomach, they have two on the edges of their back.

All these differences will help you understand where the boy is and where the girl is. However, only if we are talking about adult hamsters that are already at least 2-3 months old. In younger individuals, the sexual characteristics are too small to be seen normally, and the size and shape of the back are still almost the same.

But there is still a way to distinguish babies from each other. Newborn hamsters have two pink spots on their butts that are not covered with hair (this is their genitals and anus). In girls, these spots practically merge, but in boys, one of them is located directly under the tail, and the second is almost in the center of the abdomen.

Determination by behavior and size

It's not hard to tell a boy from a girl

Experienced specialists know how to determine the sex of a Djungarian hamster. To do this, they pay attention to the behavior of the pet. It is believed that female girls are more aggressive compared to boys. You should also pay attention to the fact that they are more energetic and are always on the move. While males lead a more calm and sleeping lifestyle. Also, Djungariki girls look much smarter than Djungariki girls.