Considering Breeding ... Opinions?

[GreySyrian]

Thanks for such a detailed reply Nancy's Hamsters!

I've decided to look for a pedigree female as don't want to risk it with the pet shop ham as I think overall apart from being pretty she hasn't got many desirable features as she is quiet small and has bit me the odd time so wouldn't want her temperament to pass on to pups.

Have sent out a few messages to breeders and will be attending a show in a fortnight hopefully

Colour wise I really have developed a soft spot for banded/torts but most of all for dominant spots ... What colour would the mother need to be on order for any of these colour to show in a litter?

[velma]

I think that's a good decision. It will give you time to learn all you need to know and get chatting to people that can advise you. Also, a good boom to have as a resource is Hamsterlopdeia. You can pick up second hand copies on Amazon for a few quick (not sure if it's still in print). Some of the advice is now a bit dated (such as cage size) but there's a good genetics section and a good a-z of ailments. A good book to have on your shelf.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Well dominant Spot is obviously Dominant so your mate for your Boy would need to be a Dominant Spot. There are a few show breeders who raise Dominant Spot but since it is a very difficult pattern to master for top winning show winners not many end up in the show ring. Also note that Tortoiseshell and Dominant Spot equal a very hard to tell it is a Tort hamster.

For a great example meet Frieda who is almost 2 years old, but was more like 1 1/2 years old in this photo. I collected Frieda cause I needed Ds to work towards this years goals. Yes she is a pet store buy. She is a good size gal and had the possiblity of being Heterozygous Polywhite which seems to now be in the commercial distributors lines as I have seen several Homo Polywhite Dominant spots showing up more and more.

I thought at first Frieda was just a Black Dominant Spot, but she acted so, well, Yellow! She would talk up a storm whenever I was near her, and was a bottle destroyer elite. She had the bullheadedness of a typical Yellow female and she was VERY high demand(also common traits seen often with the Yellow Gene).

She came to me with little unwanted guest in the way of Rodent Mites and the Vet advised me to use a rodent spray which caused her to become wet. Well while she was wet I held her in a dry towel to keep her from getting chilled and low and behold I noticed two cream yellow patches blended in with the Black and white spots. Yes she was indeed a Black Tort Dominant Spot and she was determined NEVER to become a Mom so she has become my pet hamster

Going by the fact when bought she was already full grown and by observing her ears becoming completely fur free I can say she will be at least 2 years in March(maybe older). She is still looking and acting healthy and very Yellow. She will actually awake whenever she hears me near no matter the time of day and will get up and run over to her bin mesh window and just start talking until I come over and say hi to her and give her a sunflower seed.
Attachment 35589

If you look very long and hard you may be able to SPOT the single yellow patch found on her elbow area in the big white patch of her shoulder.

Yellow is also not a color or gene I would advise for someone just starting to breed. Dominant Spot looks good on almost any color(except any Cream or cream based colors where it often produces and all white hamster who may or may not show it's coloring and spots as and adult.) So perhaps the Tort idea can be placed aside for now and you can focus on Dominant Spot pattern on Golden, Cinnamon, and Black?

Remember a good breeder is one who becomes a specialist in a color hamster and a pattern. You want to keep striving for a top winning hamster and on gaining a reputation that will bring future breeders and established breeders to want to obtain your pups. A long and often hard road but my oh my the joys when you can achieve that status

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by velma

I think that's a good decision. It will give you time to learn all you need to know and get chatting to people that can advise you. Also, a good boom to have as a resource is Hamsterlopdeia. You can pick up second hand copies on Amazon for a few quick (not sure if it's still in print). Some of the advice is now a bit dated (such as cage size) but there's a good genetics section and a good a-z of ailments. A good book to have on your shelf.

Will have a scout for it on ebay, thank you velma

Originally Posted by Nancy's Hamsters

Well dominant Spot is obviously Dominant so your mate for your Boy would need to be a Dominant Spot. There are a few show breeders who raise Dominant Spot but since it is a very difficult pattern to master for top winning show winners not many end up in the show ring. Also note that Tortoiseshell and Dominant Spot equal a very hard to tell it is a Tort hamster.

For a great example meet Frieda who is almost 2 years old, but was more like 1 1/2 years old in this photo. I collected Frieda cause I needed Ds to work towards this years goals. Yes she is a pet store buy. She is a good size gal and had the possiblity of being Heterozygous Polywhite which seems to now be in the commercial distributors lines as I have seen several Homo Polywhite Dominant spots showing up more and more.

I thought at first Frieda was just a Black Dominant Spot, but she acted so, well, Yellow! She would talk up a storm whenever I was near her, and was a bottle destroyer elite. She had the bullheadedness of a typical Yellow female and she was VERY high demand(also common traits seen often with the Yellow Gene).

She came to me with little unwanted guest in the way of Rodent Mites and the Vet advised me to use a rodent spray which caused her to become wet. Well while she was wet I held her in a dry towel to keep her from getting chilled and low and behold I noticed two cream yellow patches blended in with the Black and white spots. Yes she was indeed a Black Tort Dominant Spot and she was determined NEVER to become a Mom so she has become my pet hamster

Going by the fact when bought she was already full grown and by observing her ears becoming completely fur free I can say she will be at least 2 years in March(maybe older). She is still looking and acting healthy and very Yellow. She will actually awake whenever she hears me near no matter the time of day and will get up and run over to her bin mesh window and just start talking until I come over and say hi to her and give her a sunflower seed.
Attachment 35589

If you look very long and hard you may be able to SPOT the single yellow patch found on her elbow area in the big white patch of her shoulder.

Yellow is also not a color or gene I would advise for someone just starting to breed. Dominant Spot looks good on almost any color(except any Cream or cream based colors where it often produces and all white hamster who may or may not show it's coloring and spots as and adult.) So perhaps the Tort idea can be placed aside for now and you can focus on Dominant Spot pattern on Golden, Cinnamon, and Black?

Remember a good breeder is one who becomes a specialist in a color hamster and a pattern. You want to keep striving for a top winning hamster and on gaining a reputation that will bring future breeders and established breeders to want to obtain your pups. A long and often hard road but my oh my the joys when you can achieve that status

Out of all the colours dominant spots really do hold top spot for me! Thank you again Nancy. Frieda is stunning!

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Remember Dominant Spot is not a color but a pattern

[Pebbles82]

I bought Hamsterlopaedia on Amazon second hand

Hamsterlopaedia: Amazon.co.uk: Chris Logsdail, Pete Logsdail, Kate Hovers: 9781860542466: Books

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I bought Hamsterlopaedia on Amazon second hand

Hamsterlopaedia: Amazon.co.uk: Chris Logsdail, Pete Logsdail, Kate Hovers: 9781860542466: Books

Thank you Serendipity

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Hamsterlopedia is about the only "All about Hamsters" book I found useful in all areas of owning a Hamster. Their Syrian color section is very good for any UK colors But the health section is the best. Now all I have to do is relocate where the little girl I used to sit for put it

[GreySyrian]

Supplies for baby cages arrived! Fingers crossed I'll be able to get a suitable female next Saturday but even then babies are a long way off as won't breed her till she's settled/use to me/mature enough.


*Will be adding toys/houses- Not just basics! Just in case anyone was worried

Question: Can I drill holes instead of mesh? I know there's a risk of chewing but have seen some bin cage with them- any tips on this? (or should I do a separate post in housing?)

[Nancy's Hamsters]

I'd be a bit concerned of insufficient ventilation with just drilled holes to be honest. Pups wee a lot and the bedding gets wet very fast, and that combined with insufficient ventilation could spell disaster