Litter size and genetics.

[BeccasHams]

Was doing a bit of reading on litter size and genetics along with inheritance. Just wondering for those who breed actively, do you notice litter size being similar among a line of your hamsters? Do you find introducing a hamster with a history of large litters to one with smaller ones to increase litter size over time? Also do you find certian genetic codes for colour patterns to play a part in litter size probability?

Anything else you may have to add woukd be sweet too.

[WinnieTheHam]

The line Myrcella is from usually had around 8 I think, And Myrcella had 10, her sister had 9, so I think that it is inherited. Her mum had 8 pups. I can't answer the other questions because I'm new to breeding and have only had one litter so far, but hopefully someone else will come and answer those for you. I'm interested to know myself

[Kissa]

Originally Posted by BeccasHams

Also do you find certian genetic codes for colour patterns to play a part in litter size probability?

I can't answer most of the questions, but I can say that the dominant spot gene in Syrians is homozygous lethal, which means that all offspring that get two copies of the gene (one from each parent) die in the womb before they're born, which may make litters from a dom spot x dom spot pairing smaller than expected Don't think there's anything like that with other patterns (hamsters that are homozygous for the white belly gene, the only other pattern that kind of counts, are born fine, just born as eyeless whites).

[WinnieTheHam]

That's the same with Silver grey I think Kissa.

[Kissa]

Light grey is the lethal one, not silver grey, but yeah

[WinnieTheHam]

Oh yeah, completely forgot about light grey. (That's why I said I think haha)

[Kissa]

Yeah, it's easy to forget about light grey as it's pretty much extinct as far as I know! I remember it (in this context anyway) because I've also heard it called lethal grey

[WinnieTheHam]

I just remember it as 'the lighter grey one'', haha, which is why I thought silver grey, because as you said light grey is pretty much extinct.

[Hekomi]

It does seem to be rather hereditary. Of course not all will follow the pattern, but from what I've seen it follows the 'mother' more than the father. Which makes sense! The amount of viable eggs, etc. etc.

We tend to have smaller litters and hit those mostly on the nose.

[leedsgurl]

We have generally had litters of between a 8 and 11, however we have had a litter of just 2 babies, and also a litter of 17, so there will always be exceptions