Curious

[kyrilliondaemon]

All the lineage would do is help you be sure of the ham's genotype (e.g does it carry a specific recessive gene) which means you can do a more accurate punnet square instead of needing a few possibilities because of unknown genes.

Then the breeders punnet squares should only need to include the genes they know their ham carries (and the ones said ham might carry).

[Angelhamster]

Originally Posted by Van Diemen

Are European ones a lot bigger then Angel?

I know nothing! haha

I have never seen one live but have read they are guinipig size. If you do a YouTube search you can find some vids of them in the wild.

They are not normally kept as pets and are supposed to be protected in EU countries at least.

[radiocricket]

As far as "dangerous" there's really not any dangerous combinations out there. The most problematic one is breeding two Whitebellied hamsters together and getting Anophthalic Whites but experienced breeders know where this gene is in their lines and how to identify if an unknown hamster has the gene.

The other combinations to avoid are for ethical reasons. Breeding Silver Grey to Light Grey gets you a grey hamster that would be "unusable" to other breeders. It couldn't be shown, it just becomes a genetic mess. Any of the Greys, Dilute and Extreme Dilute should never be crossed. Dark Eared White should be kept out of the SG line as one wouldn't be able to distinguish between a Flesh Eared White and a Red Eyed White. Breeders should be able to identify all the pups in their litters and if you start mixing up the genes, it becomes impossible to do so and well, what kind of reputation as a breeder do you get if you can't identify the pups you're producing?!

-Janice

[kyrilliondaemon]

Good point. I was saying "dangerous" as in "bad for whatever reason" but thinking about it I could've tried to word stuff better.

Thanks for explaining things way better than I had

[Van Diemen]

Wow!

Thanks guys amazing stuff! I want to learn more! haha.

Thank you for such detailed responses Radio you've made think of another question so I shall I make a new post soon haha

[Kissa]

... Basically everything radiocricket just said

For instance, I would love to have baby Robos. I could quite easily go out today, buy another Robo from the pet shop, shove her and Darla together, and get a pregnant hamster. (Or a massive fight on my hands ) Yay, cute baby hamsters, right?

Well, Robo genetics are nowhere near as complex as Syrian genetics, there's only seven or eight documented mutations I believe, and no lethal combo, but even so... doing what I described is so ethically wrong. Hypothetically, I could have no knowledge of hamster gestation, how to look after mum and babies, plus as far as I can tell, most backyard breeders don't know how to look after one ham properly (too small cages/wheels etc), never mind knowing how to breed safely and ethically.

As for European hamsters, they look kind of like golden Syrians, but more brown than golden, and with a black tummy! I was so bemused when I first saw a picture I hadn't even heard of European hamsters, and I knew it must be a type of hamster but it was like no hamster I'd ever seen before

[Van Diemen]

Just looked up the European ham. I WANTY!!!!

[Kissa]

unfortunately they're not available as pets

[Angelhamster]

A member of this forum "Feldhamster" has them living close to where she lives in Vienna.

I didn't know they existed until i joined this forum - they are facinating animals and cute with it !

[Van Diemen]

Nooooo why not!! haha.

How come no royal person yonks ago demanded one as a pet? lol

That's how most things got domesticated right? A royal abroad saw a strange animal and demanded it to be sent back home to waltz about the palace lol. Such a fail haha.