Can someone quiz me?

Edgar_Furrybutt · 05-08-2012, 05:13 PM

The fastest way for me to learn is through trial and error, not reading. Obviously breeding hamsters to learn errors isn't advisable, so can you guys help me by posting two pics of hamsters and let ME tell you whether that pairing would be advisable or not, and why or why not?

You guys would be a tremendous help to me.

cathface · 05-08-2012, 05:57 PM

this sounds interesting! okay, so what would be your opinion if I wanted to mate one of these:

with one of these?:

and why do you say that?

Edgar_Furrybutt · 05-08-2012, 06:10 PM

Ok, I know light gray is lethal. I can't find anything on albinos in Syrians, but I know in Campbells it's recessive. I'm guessing it's okay because albino is recessive and you're not breeding a light gray with another light gray? But wait, doesn't the light gray have a white belly and is the albino considered to have a white belly?

Just found out that white is self, so the white belly isn't an issue.

Vicki S · 05-09-2012, 01:05 AM

Ok i thought i would join in and put my two in

ok so if i wanted to breed this

with this?

Vicki

lisab · 05-09-2012, 03:08 AM

With out any genetic or health background and of course having a reason to mate (not just putting a with b) Theres a lot more to think about than just having two pictures and saying would it work imo.

vanilla-yazoo · 05-09-2012, 03:44 AM

i have to agree with lisa here, unless you will try and work out what colour combinations they could have, again you would need more then a photo for that.

I have a handful of pedigrees, nancys and terrys are up online, maybe looking at them, trying to work out the colours the litter would have had, the probabilitys of lh-sh, and other things, what patterns are carried ect ect. I know it never goes by the rules in real life, but learning what to excpect may help?

maybe picture the situations that COULD happen, like a 20 litter, how would you find homes, how with that number will you sustain mum to keep them healthy, what about seporation, or if a baby boy was in with mum too long and you had a 2nd large litter, what if the mother passed just after birth, or a week in, could you hand feed the babys? nutrition for the mum, what to feed, how to feed, how to keep away from the nest. what genetic proplems are there and what colours carry them, what breedings are a no no. identifying colours (im getting better at this!) watched multiple litters grow (online or with a friend) speak to other breeders, get their feel for it, and how they keep in controll of the numbers. is there a colour/type/goal other then just to breed? are the babys to go to any future breeding or showing homes, how are the parents for type and colour? have you shown the parents and seen if they can compete. where will you get healthy unrelated hamsters with pedigrees from, multiple breeders who could supply you with? any back up plans? what will you cage them in? what age to split? what signs of sickness? what would you do with a pup that survived with WhWh, what would you do with a pup missing limbs.

sorry for the essay! but its the type of things you must feel sure about, before going into breeding, I feel itl be better to help your skills prepare then just show you random colours

radiocricket · 05-09-2012, 06:06 AM

If you want to take the approach of being quizzed, then you should task yourself first with being able to identify the different colors and patterns of hamsters. Start by looking at known colors and combination colors and get familiar with the standards (what the colors ideally look like) and then start identifying hamsters. Look at your own hamsters, in the pet stores and on line. Just do a simple Google search on Syrian hamsters and see if you can identify the color and pattern in every photo. If you're having trouble with any of them, or want a double check on the harder ones, then ask here.

The next step would be to then work out the genotype of all these hamsters. Genotypes are important when working with Syrians.

As for if the pairing above would be okay, it wouldn't be. First of all, there is no Albino gene in Syrians. (Had you really researched into the different color mutations, you would have discovered this already- I suggest you just stick with reliable resources- NHC website, Pet Website, California Hamster Association website). That hamster is a Flesh Eared White. Flesh Eared Whites can most definitely mask the Whitebellied gene, more so than any other color out there! The other hamster is not a Light Grey, it is a combination color. However, you can stop right there as you'd never ethically breed any of the Greys to DEW, ED and/or Dilute (or mix any of the Greys).

-Janice

HollyHamster · 05-09-2012, 10:07 AM

Hmmm, if only there were a virtual hamster breeding program, or game or whatnot.

Vicki S · 05-09-2012, 03:36 PM

Quick question but would you not be better to start off knowing what colours can be bred together before going into genetics? As I know everyone learns in different ways

As in my hairdressing course visual and
learns pick it up quicker and animal management it was those who learnt through reading it picked it up.

Vicki

**kyrilliondaemon** · 05-09-2012, 03:42 PM

I think you'd be better off learning genetics first really. The problems are caused by faulty genes so you need to know what carries those genes. Having an understanding of genetics will let you understand the implications of the risky genes a lot better than if you learn "breeding this and this is bad" because the genes are the problem - not the colours.

To word it better - Understanding is essential. Without an understanding of genetics you're memorising. If you memorise rather than understand you're basically completely and utterly stuffed if a new mutation gives a new gene to be working with.