bit of a dilemma with dwarf hammy...UPDATE

ami_j · 04-21-2008, 07:54 AM

right this is a bit of a long winded story so bare with me. me and a friend went into pah and there were two "male" dwarf hamsters in the adoption centre they said they were about 6 weeks old. i asked the person serving if they were campbells, winter whites or a bit of both and he said a bit of both

anyway three weeks on friday ago my "male" hamsters produced me a litter of babies. i found them after the babies were born and realised that the male would of remated the female

but hoped that she wouldnt take. the male died a week ago, just found him dead with the babies. all three of them are fine their eyes are open etc. however the mum is looking big and i reckon that shes pregnant again. now what do i do about her current babies. i wanted the two girls to stay with her and the male to live with dad (looks like i will have to hope for a male in this next litter to keep him with now the dad died)
do i leave the existing babies in? do i take them out? if i take them out will i be able to put the girls back in with mum to live with her and any other girls she may have this time round? im not bothered how many she has cos i will keep them all. just not sure what to do im used to breeding syrians, dwarves have me stumped though. hope someone can help me

Bunsey · 04-21-2008, 08:21 AM

i think that if you take the babies out and split them into sex groups, you'll probably be able to re-introduce the girls at a later date.

Depending on numbers, you might want to just sell this litter and keep the females out of the next litter with mum.

souffle · 04-21-2008, 08:38 AM

I would take them as they will compete for the milk that the newborns need. They should be well able to feed and sustain themselves now and mum will need her strength to raise a back to back litter.

ami_j · 04-21-2008, 08:53 AM

would you take them out now? when is mum likely to be due? i couldnt sell them im too set on keeping the lil guys they are gorgeous. when are they sexually mature? dont want the male to be on his own but i dont want another inbred litter. he will be going back with his brothers if i get a brother for him. ive also got an older lone male would the young males go and live with him? how would you go about introducing them? gah syrians are so much easier to understand lol

Bunsey · 04-21-2008, 09:16 AM

i wouldn't remove them until 3.5 weeks, unless she looks like she's ready to pop. it's tricky. when that happened to me, i didn't get them all out in time and 2 were still in there when she gave birth

ami_j · 04-21-2008, 09:36 AM

it says the gestation is 16- 18 days so shes due soon

they will be three weeks on friday but she will of had them by then wont she?

Bunsey · 04-21-2008, 11:27 AM

oh right, i was thinking it was 21 days like robos. probably take them out then... hmmm... see what other people think! i don't wana say the wrong thing!

ami_j · 04-21-2008, 11:30 AM

would they hurt the new pups?gah i hate this situation want to do right for all of them

Bunsey · 04-21-2008, 11:44 AM

i'm pretty sure they wouldn't hurt the new pups, but they would still be trying to get milk from mum when she was trying to feed the new ones.

souffle · 04-21-2008, 11:45 AM

It might be worth sending a PM to littlemissdwarfhamster who has much experience in breeding dwarf species and seeking her advice on this situation ami-j. They are still quite young to separate. I thought they were already 3 weeks but now I see they are not till Friday

feed mum and pups really well to build her and them up. I am sure you are alraedy doing this though.