How to determine the sex of the hamster?

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

As it often happens, not all sellers of pet stores really understand what they sell. Therefore, it is much safer to determine the sex of the animal yourself. It is important to distinguish the sex of hamsters, if you are going 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 one cage, can fight and maim each other, and females are much more calm in this regard.

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

Being able to determine the sex of a hamster is also important when buying one individual. Gender greatly influences character and behavior. So, male hamsters use the smell to attract females, and therefore it will smell very much from them. You will have to take care of their cleanliness and often wash the cage.

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 better with people, they are easier to get on with and generally 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 by which you can recognize a boy in front of you or a girl.

• The size. Females hamsters are always larger than males. Specific figures may vary depending on the breed (dwarf hamsters are almost 3 times less than normal). It is worth remembering that hamsters should be of the same age to determine sex by size (this is especially important in the first months of life).
• Backrest shape. Hamsters can be distinguished by the shape of the back. In males, the back tapers to the tail and the back is slightly raised. In girls, on the contrary, the back is more round and thicker than the front.
• Sexual signs. Another way to get to know a male is to pay attention to his ass. In males you will see there two almond-shaped eggs. Like many animals, a hamster's testicles are half submerged in its abdominal cavity, and therefore they do not hang like in humans, but rather stick out. It is worth noting that in dwarf rocks, it can be quite difficult to see them because of their small size. If, on examination, you see that the pet-boy's testicles are too large or, on the contrary, you do not find them, then these are obvious signs of illness.

• Behavior. As stated earlier, hamster behavior may differ by gender. Females are much more mobile and aggressive than males. However, it is worth noting that this method is the least reliable, since not only their sex can influence the behavior of hamsters.
• Feel the belly. In females, the belly 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 fur until the female becomes pregnant. To see them, you have to push the wool on her belly.
• The distance between the genitals and the anus. This is perhaps the most noticeable difference between a hamster girl and a boy. In females, this distance is minimal (maximum a few millimeters), while in males it can be from 1 to 2 centimeters, depending on the breed.
• The length of the coat. Some species of hamster (for example, Jungar or Syrian) may differ in the length of the coat. In males-jungars, the fur coat is much longer and looks more lush than in females. And females of Syrian hamsters practically have no belly fur.
• The presence of the gonad. Males can also issue a gonad in their abdomen. It looks like a small navel or pimple and is just above the genitals. It is rather small and most often it can only be found by touch, but in dwarf species it is quite easy to notice. Separately, it is worth noting the Syrian hamsters, instead of one gland on the stomach, they have two along the edges of the 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, who already have at least 2-3 months old. In younger individuals, sexual characteristics are too small to be considered normally, and the size and shape of the back is almost the same.

But still there is a way to distinguish the little ones from each other. Newborn hamsters on the priest have two pink spots not covered with hair (this is their sexual organ and anus). In girls, these spots practically merge, but in boys one of them is right under the tail, and the second is almost in the center of the abdomen.

When you determine the sex 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 stressful. If your hamster is not used to being picked up, he may start to pull out and even bite you. So you should prepare it a little. To get started, wait until the pet is as calm as possible (it is best to conduct an inspection in the middle of the day, at which time the hamsters are the most calm). Give him something to eat, stroke it lightly and only then take it in your hands.

It is also worth preparing yourself. When picking up a hamster, watch to keep your hands clean and odorless. If they smell something tasty, the hamster can bite your finger. It is best to pre-wash your hands and preferably without soap. And do not forget to wipe them thoroughly.

Keep the hamster must be very careful, but at the same time so that he did not escape. When taking a hamster in your hand, you should lightly pinch his chest in a ring of thumb and index finger, and use the rest to support his body (use your other hand if necessary). Do not let the bottom of the hamster hang from your arm; this can be very harmful for him. Inspection should be carried out carefully and carefully, but quickly, do not hold the hamster in his arms for too long.

It is worth remembering that hamsters are not cats or dogs, their body is completely different. They can not be taken by the collar or lay on his back.At best, you just hurt the hamster, and at worst, harm his health.

Always be prepared for the fact that the hamster still breaks out. It is best to carry out the procedure for determining the floor on your knees, laying something soft underneath, since for a hamster a fall even from that 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 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 You can take babies on your hands 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 to correctly determine the sex of a hamster.

Each of these differences may have certain exceptions, for example, due to the nature of the breed or disease, and therefore you need to use several methods at the same time. If at the end of the inspection you haven’t been able to reliably find out who is in front of you - male or female, then you can ask for help from a veterinarian or simply a more experienced breeder than you.

How to determine the sex of the hamster, see below.