Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Breeding Hamsters

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-05-2013, 02:24 PM   #1
hamstercaves
Newborn Pup
 
hamstercaves's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 4
Lightbulb Does breeding affect a hamster's happiness?

Okay, so I have a beautiful long haired male that I adore with all my life and want to make him live not only the happiest but the richest life he could possibly have.
Mating is something that I assume happens to all hamsters several times in the wild. I was wondering if not ever mating could somehow refrain the hamster from living in upmost happiness?

I mean, I know they are solitary creatures. And perhaps this is just my social nature speaking. But wouldn't it perhaps be a little sad for the hamster in its later years to never have met any other living thing of the same species?

This question goes for both genders though.

I had been wondering for a while and can't seem to find much information on it out there. Maybe experienced hamster owners/breeders have a word on this.
hamstercaves is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2013, 02:41 PM   #2
kyrilliondaemon
Retired Moderator
 
kyrilliondaemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aberystwyth
Posts: 16,105
Default Re: Does breeding affect a hamster's happiness?

No... You don't need to mate a ham to make it really happy. Its nice for them to do but they won't really think about it unless you give them the opportunity. The solitary species don't want company and if they meet a member of the opposite sex at the wrong time they will attack it, they'll be happier having never mated than being beaten up by an aggressive hamster.
Plus breeding is complicated and difficult so should never be undertaken lightly.
__________________
kyrilliondaemon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2013, 03:01 PM   #3
hamstercaves
Newborn Pup
 
hamstercaves's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 4
Default Re: Does breeding affect a hamster's happiness?

I'm not necessarily suggesting I would breed him, but I'm just thinking of how it may or may not affect them.
Thanks though
__________________
http://i.imgur.com/RGK8dCn.png
tupac napoleon forever my darling
hamstercaves is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2013, 03:30 PM   #4
souffle
Moderator
 
souffle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
Posts: 28,184
Default Re: Does breeding affect a hamster's happiness?

I think maybe you are giving your hamster human emotions and ways of thinking that they don't actually have as far as I am aware.
A hamster seeking a mate does so by acting on instinct. It smells a female and it seeks it out to mate. If it never encounters the smell it won't worry about mating!
They won't react unless the stimulus appears so as long as their other needs are being met with food, water and some stimulation with things to do and space to exercise theysimply carry on as normal with daily activities.
Should you have a hamster of the opposite sex they will certainly try and get to it, following instincts but in my experience of keeping both sexes they soon get used to it and it does not upset their normal routine of sleeping and eating.
They don't experience sadness and happiness in the same way as we do I don't think. I'm not sure I've explained that very well but you have to remember they are hamsters and we are people and we don't think the same way
souffle is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
breeding, question

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:49 PM.