Finding unrelated hamsters

[Mollz]

After reading many topics on several forums about litters and breeding hamsters, I have been wondering for ages about how people go about finding unrelated hamsters.
I understand that you can do so after the hamster is with you by looking at his or her pedigree, but how do you manage it before hand?

It has been puzzling me for ages - so I thought I might as well go ahead and ask

The other thing I wondered about was when people say checking the hamster's history - do they mean checking that they are unrelated in previous generations, or that they don't carry harmful reccessive genes? How do you know for sure that they don't have these reccessive genes, as I hear that it is possible for the wh gene to be hidden on a single hair (it is obvious that roan hamsters have it, and I've heard that you can shine light into their eyes and tell by a red glow as well).

Sorry for asking lots of questions, but I know that this is the best place to learn

[Holly]

If you definitely want a hamster that is totally unrelated to one you currently have I think it would be best to ask the breeder beforehand and tell them your hamster's ancestors. A great many of the top show breeders have inter-related hamsters - I have found several of mine are related from a couple of generations back and from breeders at opposite ends of the country! This isn't necessarily a problem as many breeders practice "line-breeding" (ie breeding a more distantly related hamsters like grandfather to grand-daughter etc) in order to "fix" certain good features/characteristics. Such distantly related hamsters aren't such a problem as classical inbreeding where brothers and sisters have accidental litters.

Checking a hamster's genetic history does mean checking for harmful dominant/recessives genes, for example the Wh gene. This causes white bellies in agouti hamsters and roaning in self colours. It's dominant gene so if the hamster doesn't display it, then they don't have it - which is fine in theory - a white bellied golden or a sable roan obviously carry one dose of this gene (they cant carry a double dose or they would be an anapthalmic white). The problems arise if you've a white hamster or a banded hamster...or a dominant spot - you can't necessarily tell if they carry the gene as they are already white. This is where checking the history of their ancestors colours would come in.

There are other genetic things (like the lethal light-grey gene - a double dose of which causes approximately a quarter of the litter to die in utero) and it's a fascinating (and complicated)subject!

[Mollz]

Yeah sorry, I meant the reccesive/dominant harmful genes, not just recessive.

I find all of this very interesting, and have been trying to find some good sources of information on it, genetics and how breeders actually go about breeding etc.

[Holly]

I have found it pretty difficult to find reading materials on hamster genetics - Hamsterlopaedia has a brilliant introduction to the subject as I'm sure you know.

You may also know about this site:

http://www.hometown.aol.com/theriverrd/genetics.htm

As I say a very kind person gave me some excellent reading materials but I don't think this is in circulation anymore - although I was talking to Pete (Towy Vale) at Kingswinford and he is trying to eventually get some genetics and colour breeding stuff onto a disc for club members.

[Mollz]

Thank you.
Yes I have seen that website before and have read many others. I still have not got round to buying HamsterIopedia - but will do if it has some good info in it (I know its meant to be good).

It definately would be useful to have a library of information - or just a list of good websites and books really. I know all the basics, it's just trying to find more detailed or knowledgable sources to read as well that's hard.

[Holly]

Hamsterlopaedia is absolutely brilliant, Mollz - I've got a few good books but if I could only keep one of them Hamsterlopaedia would be the one