Poll: Your Favourite Breed? - Page 5

lisab · 08-09-2011, 02:59 PM

Its called a hybrid for a reason

My fave are syrians

I do have chinese and have had ww and campbells they all have different qualitys, but syrians are just to lovely

MzWiz0915 · 08-10-2011, 03:59 PM

I love them all, and have only had Syrians and Robos as pets. But I have to choose Syrians. After my Gloria I will always be partial to Syrians. She was a perfect, affectionate, sweet little diva (and still sorely missed!). I do love my Robos though!

cutehammies · 08-16-2011, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

I don't have a favourite, but I had to point out...its species

Oooh why? I'm interested! I've kept thinking about it but you'll have to explain why its species and not breed cos I'm abut dumb! Can I change the thread title? Oh well everyone knows what I mean!

I didnt know whether or not to include hybrids. In the end, I decided that as they are a result of bad breeding, I wouldn't include them. Just for the off chance that they popped out tops and I didn't want to encourage people who might not realise about the danger to the mother hamster to go out and get a hybrid.

laurajane · 08-16-2011, 02:10 AM

i have only ever had long haired male syrians and so i had to go for syrian! lol. i just love their fluffy butts!!

xx

fluffymunchkins · 08-16-2011, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutehammies

Oooh why? I'm interested! I've kept thinking about it but you'll have to explain why its species and not breed cos I'm abut dumb! Can I change the thread title? Oh well everyone knows what I mean!

I didnt know whether or not to include hybrids. In the end, I decided that as they are a result of bad breeding, I wouldn't include them. Just for the off chance that they popped out tops and I didn't want to encourage people who might not realise about the danger to the mother hamster to go out and get a hybrid.

I can't give you a full scientific explanation

But to explain it the best way I can, dogs have different breeds because their genetics are all the same so they belong to the same species. So you can breed them together (e.g.labradoodle).
But hamsters have different species because their genetics are different. So you can't breed a syrian and a roborovski together.
The only exception is winter whites and campbells which come under the same species 'russian' dwarfs as their genetics are so similar. Making it possible for them to breed.

You can contact a mod to get it changed if you really wanted, but its not a big deal, just me being picky

You were right not to include hybrids, as its not a seperate species, just a mix of two. But also very sensible as not to encourage others that don;t know of the dangers of hybrids.

ETA - just found this on wiki
"The Djungarian hamster is a species of Phodopus. The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster is made as a separate species within the Phodopus sungorus species with respect to subspecies"

cutehammies · 10-14-2011, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

But to explain it the best way I can, dogs have different breeds because their genetics are all the same so they belong to the same species. So you can breed them together (e.g.labradoodle).
But hamsters have different species because their genetics are different. So you can't breed a syrian and a roborovski together.

Ah I see thank you that was the PERFECT explanation! The dog illustration really helped! Ha that makes sense. Now I know

Demecat · 10-14-2011, 03:09 AM

Syrian hands down.

I have only handled one dwarf that hasn't bit me. I hate the fact that they are hard to hold onto when it comes to examining them and it is harder to medically treat a dwarf.

And on a side note, I have cats, because a syrian is bigger (bigger teeth too) should the horror of horror happen and it escapes, it has more chance of survival against my cats.

Christmas_hamster · 10-14-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demecat

Syrian hands down.

I have only handled one dwarf that hasn't bit me. I hate the fact that they are hard to hold onto when it comes to examining them and it is harder to medically treat a dwarf.

And on a side note, I have cats, because a syrian is bigger (bigger teeth too) should the horror of horror happen and it escapes, it has more chance of survival against my cats.

I'd say the faster, smaller (less to grab) would have a better chance of escape lol.

Dwarfs get their bad rep as 'biters' from people not understanding their issues with cage territorial-ness. If provided a large enough cage most dwarfs aren't the biting monsters they have been dubbed to be.

**Pompompoms** · 10-14-2011, 03:48 PM

I had no idea dwarfs have a reputation as biters. I've had 26 robos here in total, and only one mucher!

**Hamtastic** · 10-14-2011, 06:10 PM

Out of 5 dwarf hamsters I have, only one is partially nibbly, and she doesn't ever bite angrily either--normally doesn't break my skin. None of them except for her ever nibble me in their cages either (only if I dipped my hand into a bag of sunflower seeds).

I can't believe how overwhelmingly syrian hamsters won this poll! I'm a complete dwarf fan