Q&A for How to Breed Hamsters

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How old do the hamsters have to be when you sell them ?

Community Answer

Once you can determine their gender (3 or 4 weeks), it's time to think about selling them. However, you should find homes beforehand, just so that you are prepared.

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Question

Is there a specific time of year good for breeding?

Community Answer

Usually, hamsters are in mating season all year round Avoid breeding them during winter, however, as the female will feel that it is too cold for her pups to thrive.

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Question

How many babies do hamsters have?

Hamster_Paws

Community Answer

The average is 4-5, although they can have as few as 2 or as many as 12.

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Question

Do I need a license, or can I just start breeding them?

Community Answer

If you plan on just selling/giving them to your friends, then you don't need a license. If you plan on selling them to other people or to a pet store, then you will need a license.

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Question

What kind of materials do I need for the nest?

Community Answer

Use some torn up toilet paper, tissues, or paper towels. Never use polyester stuffing, like the kind you'd use for a teddy bear, as it can wrap around a hamsters limbs and cause damage; it also can't be digested if the hamster eats it.

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Question

Is it alright to breed two different species of hamsters?

Hamster_Paws

Community Answer

Breeding two different species is a terrible idea. Not only will they possibly fight to the death, the babies could come out with serious health issues.

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Question

Can a Syrian breed with a Chinese hamster?

Community Answer

No. Always breed the same species of hamster.

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Question

What type of hamsters are best for mating?

Community Answer

Dwarf hamsters are a good choice, as they are more social with each other. But Syrian hamsters are more social towards people.

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Question

Can I just put the male and the female in the same cage and separate with cardboard until they're ready?

Community Answer

They will chew right through that cardboard, so unless they're ready, this isn't a good idea.

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Question

When the babies are born and are being taken to their nest, is the plastic house needed as a nest or is it better for the nest to be made in the open?

Community Answer

A plastic house is fine. If you don't give them the option, they may kill their babies.

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Question

Will hamsters die of being scared of fireworks?

Community Answer

No, they won't die. If they do become scared, they may cry or act jumpy. Try taking them into a quieter area or comforting them.

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Question

What does it mean if my dwarf hamster only had one baby?

Community Answer

It doesn't mean anything, it's uncommon but it does happen sometimes. There's nothing to worry about.

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Question

Why are my hamsters fighting?

Hamster_Paws

Community Answer

This is most likely because they are different species or because the female is not in heat. Separate them if possible to avoid injuries.

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Question

What if the female is older than the male?

Community Answer

If they are within a few months of each other, there wouldn't be any problems. It's best to breed between six months and fourteen months of age as that is when they are healthiest. As long as they are of age, healthy, and happy, there should be no problem with breeding them.

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Question

How do I know if she will eat her babies?

Community Answer

The female will most likely eat her babies if you disturb her or the babies. While she is caring for them, you may only refill her food and water. Do not worry about the cage for 3 weeks.

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Question

Can they breed and not have babies?

Hamster_Paws

Community Answer

This is possible, although it doesn't happen too much.

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Question

Is it okay if I use newspaper shreds instead of toilet paper?

Community Answer

It's not a great idea; newspaper contains ink that contains chemicals that could be harmful to your hamsters.

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Question

Can you get siblings to mate?

Community Answer

It is possible, but it does increase the offspring's susceptibility to genetic disorders.

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Question

How do I determine whether the hamster babies are male or female?

Community Answer

At 4 weeks, you can separate the mom from the babies. Flip them over and look between their hind legs. If it's a boy, it will have a dot; if it's a girl, it will have a vaginal opening.

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Question

What should I do if I don't know if my hamster is pregnant?

Community Answer

Check with a veterinarian.

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Question

Why do male hamsters fight?

Community Answer

Male hamsters like to prove their dominance, so they will fight each other to protect their territory, their females, etc.

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Question

Could you breed the mother with one of her offspring?

Lulucatchoo

Community Answer

You could, but the result wouldn't be very good. Inter-family breeding is never a good idea. There's a much larger chance that there will be a genetic defect or something like that.

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Question

Can a dwarf and a teddy bear hamster be breed together?

Community Answer

No, because these two hamsters would never meet in the wild. You should never breed hamsters unless you know what you are doing. It could be deadly to the mother or the pups.

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Question

Why is it that people under 16, like me, are too young to breed hamsters? Are we immature? Not gentle enough?

Community Answer

It's more like there's a possibility that you can't produce the things needed.

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Question

What if the mother has been in the cage her whole life and the father just arrived?

SUnnYY13

Community Answer

Try taking them out and putting them in a different cage and see if they get along. Usually, dwarf hamsters can be kept together if they are the same species, like robos with robos and winter whites with winter whites. However, unless you want babies right away, keep them separated.

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Question

When can the babies be separated from the mother?

Community Answer

You can separate them after three and a half weeks.

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Question

How do you know a hamster is pregnant?

Community Answer

There will be bags on her side called saddle bags, which means she's pregnant.

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Question

Do the male and the female hamsters have to look a like and be the same species?

Community Answer

It is essential that they are the same species, otherwise they will fight to the death. But they don't have to look alike; the less alike in coloration they are, the larger variety of pups you'll have. If you want them to look like the mother or father, similar-looking parents will get you more similar offspring.

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Question

Are Djungarian social and will the father hamster always eat the babies?

Luny Lovegood

Community Answer

No, they are not very social and yes, most of the time the father will usually eat the babies. Sad, but true.

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Question

What do newborn hamsters look like?

Community Answer

Newborn hamsters really just look like pink blobs with legs. (They are born hairless.)

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