Oh Oh Shadow has got awfully fat...

nooboo · 11-06-2005, 12:56 PM

We just got in, and now I am worrying... we have one rather fat Shadow. She reminds rather of another podgy hamster that gave us a surprise... it would only be 9 days though, am I worrying over nothing?? I have a few pictures of her I will put up to see what you think

It looks like Dave will be back on the sofa

nooboo · 11-06-2005, 01:13 PM

what do you think? she need a diet or do i have to send dave to the sofa??

i am sure she wasnt on heat though...

(oh and dave wants complementing on his handleing skills in the pictures

)

nooboo · 11-06-2005, 01:51 PM

a few more pictures simply because she was being cute!

souffle · 11-07-2005, 08:57 AM

She does indeed look pregnant nooboo but I am not sure what she was like before. I would play safe and give her extra protein and prepare her cage for a litter just in case. If she was in season and mated she may still have attacked si after the dirty deed was done as they will not mate indefinatly and it was HER territory he was in. She may be carrying a large litter if she is much heavier and fatter than normal. A couple of ways to check. Weigh her daily to see if she is gaining weight quickly, and present her to si on neutral territory to see if she is coming into season. If she does not stand to mate over 4 night she is probably pregnant. The second suggestion I do not think you should try at this time as it may stress her out and she will abort. You could have tried it on the five days following the suspected mating but then si was not up to it. Make sure she is in a suitable breeding cage, preferably a tank type not a rotastack and in a quiet place away from the others and hopefully you will help her raise a full litter if she is pregnant. Ask around for homes now just in case. Dave you have a lot to answer for.

nooboo · 11-07-2005, 11:21 AM

i have tried to be angry with him, but he has been doing great of late, more activly helping with them all, and he is being fantastic with her, went out and got baby food and coked her up scrambled egg... all without being asked!!

she looks bigger today, so i dont know wether to be happy or not. he wanted a litter from her, and i feel he has got what he wanted, though i know he didnt do it deliberatly, she is his hamster and he w,uldnt put her in danger (he is quite protective in his own way)

souffle · 11-07-2005, 12:05 PM

What will be will be and there is no point in being angry now. If the babies do come make the best of it and don't plan to keep them all. Accidental matings between related hamsters can result in problems and Si is father to both. Move her to a breeding tank all clean and with a nest area 3-4 days before you expect the babies. Enjoy it this time and don't worry... you have had the experience with Ponder so you can only be a better 'Nanny' this time. Keep us posted

**babyboos** · 11-07-2005, 03:51 PM

She looks a lot more than 9 days pregnant and that may explain why she went so mental with Si as a hamster once mated is even more territorial and defensive than a non-pregnant female I find. I'd get ready for some babies before the end of the week...

flogging_molly · 11-07-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

what do you think? she needs a diet or do I have to send Dave to the sofa??

she looks pregnant - send Dave to the sofa.

Quote:

She looks a lot more than 9 days pregnant

I agree she does look quite pregnant - however it could just be a big litter - hope Dave's prepared for lots of tiny mouths to feed

**babyboos** · 11-07-2005, 04:22 PM

nooboo check her nipples and see how obvious and swollen they are. Treat her as pregnant if you can see them through her belly fur and err on the side of caution and get her ready now - is she still in her tub?

nooboo · 11-07-2005, 07:10 PM

she is in her tub all cleaned out, and being nasty to us (i say us she went for dave)

seems she wants some her time

taken out her wheel too for now. i hope thats right, and she has some baby food and protein to eat