eye colour

[humbug]

So do black and white hamsters have black eyes or red or does it vary?

[POLAR WHITES]

a black hamster should have black eyes

[jemmalg]

In Syrians, eye colour will match the standard for the "main" colour of the hamster, so as Polar says, black and white hams are base black, so should have black eyes. However when you put a pattern in there, such as banding or dominant spotting, or if they are carrying the Wh (white belly) gene, their eyes can have a reddish glow to them in certain lights.

[Thin Lizzy]

Twinkle's a honey colour and has black eyes (she was more ginger when I got her - she's 4 months).
Archie's light brownish and had black eyes ( he was a chestnut colour when I got him, but that's faded - he is 19 months)

[humbug]

OK here is a pic, u can see red eyes and he is black and white. Hope he is OK.

[humbug]

OK here is a pic, u can see red eyes and he is black and white. Hope he is OK.

[souffle]

The red looks to be a flashback from the flash. This often happens with banded animals and very often banded who carry the white belly gene. (hamsters carrying this if mated to another carrier could produce eyeless white babies) This is probably a good example of the white band pattern hiding the white belly gene in him

[humbug]

Thank you that is very interesting. I will research it some more. So long as he is OK though.

[POLAR WHITES]

he carries the gene but it wont affect him, only like soufflé said if he is bred to another white bellied the pups could be born 50/50 eyeless whites

[humbug]

He is just a pet and I only have him so no chance of him having fun with a lady hamster. He is so lovely though. I love him.