Male or Female: Which would be your first choice?

[Jen250]

I went with a male for my first hamster because I read they are more laid back. Though Hubble is definitely energetic! He can get pretty hyper so I can't imagine what females are like. My next hamster, though, will be a rescue, and I'll adopt whoever needs adopting.

[BexieID]

The ham I had in my teens was a girl. I don't remember Spock being in heat every 4 days either! Maybe she was a boy? But I knew boys had 'big bums'!

Fluffy is deffo a boy! I had wanted to get a girl, but he needed a new home so got him. I think i'd try getting another boy if they are generally more laid back than girls. Be better with the kids.

Yes, I did buy 3 girl gerbils once from a pet shop and one ended up being a boy, after 7 wee babies!

[Fluffagrams]

I have had more males than females and despite what some people might say that there is no real difference in them, I have found that all of my boys have been more laid back than the girls with all of my girls being quite lively little things but I couldn't choose a hamster just based on sex alone. I'd want to know more about them and their character before I made a decision so if I was to be told that I'd have to pick one based on gender alone, I'd have to say that I'd wait until I was abe to find out more.

I filled out a rehoming form for a breeder a couple of months ago and it asked about preferences for sex and whilst I wrote that I'd prefer a boy as it'd be nice to have one of each, I'd be just as happy with another female.

[RubyDG]

Originally Posted by Nancy's Hamsters

I selected Male on your poll and here's why:
Thinking on Just a pet and not for breeding I will always suggest to a new hamster owner to get a male. Not because most males are laid back and a bit less wild(I have some Melanistic Yellow boys here who can give a Black Eyed Cream female a look of a saint and the boys the personality of the wildest of Females) , but because with a male you eliminate many issues associated with a female.

Like:
No worries of Pyometra and needing costly spaying to save her life.
No fears of and unplanned and unexpected litter of pups to deal with(if store bought)
No having to deal with mood swings from her being in heat

Just to state a few reasons for a pet hamster I suggest a male. Though many a pet buyer for younger children(7 years old and up), Many parents find the males manhood bits, too obvious and prefer a female.

Of course the first thing to consider is which of the two stated hamsters fits in best with the buyer. If I have someone coming with all intentions of buying a male but a female fits the personalities of the new buyer I often attempt to sway them over to the Hamster who will better fit in with the family.

Interesting thread! I voted male too, mostly for the reason's Nancy listed above. Plus I have enough mood swings of my own without dealing with another females! . While I don't think I'd walk away from owning a particular hamster simply because it was female I think I will probably always have a preference for males.

[katmick]

I love both for different reasons and genuinely can't decide which sex would I choose when it comes to Syrians.Males are definitely more laid back then females but females are so much fun they have real adventurous spirits.I think it is because females are totally on their own when raising their pups so they need to be brave and knowledgeable about their environment so they are always on the go...to search for mate,to patrol their territory,to protect their babies...so busy...just imagine to be in heat every 4 days and looking for a mate...
Anyway,I love both sexes in Syrians and that's why I will always keep both (in separate cages of course).I am not a breeder.
I only ever had female dwarfs,so I can't comment on males..I just know that in nature male dwarfs participate in parenting duties,unlike Syrians who are solitary.xx