How to determine the gender of a hamster?

Anyone who decides to have a hamster at home should definitely learn to distinguish between the sex of the animal. Despite the fact that there are quite a few differences between a male and a female, sometimes it can be quite difficult to do, especially if this is your first hamster. Do not worry, this article will help you learn how to correctly determine the gender of these pets.

As often happens, not all pet shop sellers really understand what they are selling. Therefore, it is much more reliable to determine the sex of the animal yourself. It is important to distinguish the gender of hamsters if you intend to buy several individuals at once. If you plan to breed these animals, then you need at least one boy and one girl.

If you want to buy several hamsters, but are not going to breed them, then you, on the contrary, need same-sex individualsbecause hamsters, like all rodents, breed very quickly. At the same time, it is better to buy girls' hamsters, because two adult males locked in the same cage can fight and cripple each other, and the females are much more calm in this regard.

If hamsters from birth live in the same cage, then later they will behave more calmly.

To be able to determine the gender of a hamster is also important when buying one individual. Sex greatly affects character and behavior. So, male hamsters use a smell to attract females, and therefore they will smell very strongly. You will have to take care of their cleanliness and wash the cage more often.

On the other hand, females are much more active, and since a hamster is a nocturnal animal, this can be a serious problem, especially if you live in a small house.In addition, boys get along much better with people, they are easier on hands and, on the whole, much more communicative.

Do not forget about the nickname for your pet. If you incorrectly determine the gender, then you can greatly miss the name. It is unlikely that the pet will be offended by this, but your child may be upset when the truth is revealed.

Hamsters have many signs that can be recognized, a boy in front of you or a girl.

• The size. Females of hamsters are always larger than males. Specific numbers may vary depending on the breed (dwarf hamsters are almost 3 times smaller than usual). It is worth remembering that to determine sex by size, hamsters must be of the same age (this is especially important in the first months of life).
• Back shape. Hamsters can be distinguished by the shape of their backs. In males, the back narrows to the tail and the back is slightly raised. In girls, on the contrary, the back is rounder and thicker than the front.
• Sexual signs. Another way to get to know the male is to pay attention to his ass. In males, you will see two almond-shaped testicles there. Like many animals, the hamster's testicles are half immersed in its abdominal cavity, and therefore they do not hang, as in humans, but rather stick out. It is worth noting that in dwarf breeds it can be quite difficult to make out due to their small size. If upon examination you will see that the testicles of the pet boy are too large or, conversely, you will not find them, then these are clear signs of the disease.

• Behavior. As mentioned earlier, the behavior of hamsters may vary depending on gender. Females are much more mobile and aggressive than males. However, it is worth noting that this method is the least reliable, since the behavior of hamsters can be affected not only by their gender.
• Touch your stomach. In females, the abdomen should be dry and smooth. In males, the abdomen is almost always wet due to the fluid secreted by the sex glands.
• Nipples In females on the stomach, you can see several pairs of nipples. In most breeds, they are covered with wool until the female becomes pregnant. To see them, you have to spread the wool on her abdomen.
• The distance between the genitals and the anus. This is perhaps the most noticeable difference between a girl hamster and a boy. In females this distance is minimal (a maximum of several millimeters), while in males it can be from 1 to 2 centimeters, depending on the breed.
• The length of the coat. Some types of hamsters (for example, Dzungarian or Syrian) may vary in length of coat. In males-dzhungariki, the fur coat is much longer and looks more magnificent than in females. And the female Syrian hamsters have virtually no hair on their stomachs.
• The presence of the genital gland. The males can also be given the gonads on their belly. It looks like a small navel or pimple and is located just above the genitals. It is quite small and you can find it most often only by touch, but in dwarf rocks it is quite easy to notice it. Separately, it is worth noting the Syrian hamsters, they instead of one gland on their stomach have two along the edges of their backs.

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 who already have at least 2-3 months of age. In younger individuals, the sexual characteristics are too insignificant to be properly examined, and the size and shape of the back are almost the same.

But still there is a way to distinguish babies from each other. Newborn hamsters on the pope have two pink spots 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.

When you determine the gender of a hamster, you should follow certain rules so as not to harm him.First of all, you should remember that for your pet this procedure can be quite a lot of stress. If your hamster is not used to being picked up, he may start to break free and even bite you. Therefore, you should prepare it lightly. To begin with, wait until the pet is as calm as possible (it is best to conduct an examination in the middle of the day, at which time hamsters are most calm). Let him eat something tasty, stroke it lightly and only after that pick it up.

It is also worth preparing yourself. When picking up a hamster, make sure that your hands are clean and odorless. If they smell like something tasty, the hamster may bite your finger. It is best to wash your hands and preferably without soap. And do not forget to wipe them well.

You need to keep the hamster very carefully, but at the same time so that it does not break out. Taking the hamster in your hand, you should grip his chest slightly in the ring of the thumb and forefinger, and use the rest to support his body (if necessary, use the other hand). In no case do not let the bottom of the hamster hang from your hand, it can be very harmful for him. Inspection should be carried out carefully and accurately, but quickly, do not hold the hamster in your hands for too long.

It is worth remembering that hamsters are not cats or dogs, their body is arranged in a completely different way. They can not be taken by the scruff or put on your back. In the best case, you just hurt the hamster, and in the worst, you will harm his health.

Always be prepared for the hamster to break out. It is best to carry out the procedure for determining the sex on your knees, laying something soft at the bottom, since for a hamster falling from even such a height can be fraught with consequences. Also, do not forget that hamsters run very fast and climb into any slot, it will be very difficult to catch it, and therefore it is better to keep it above 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 be picked up only 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 in order to correctly determine the gender of a 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 still couldn’t reliably find out who is male or female in front of you, then you can ask for help from a veterinarian or just a more experienced breeder than you.

On how to determine the gender of a hamster, see further.