Introducing a 3 weeks old male to a 7 weeks old female - Page 3

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-21-2013, 01:22 PM

My question is why not breed another species of hamster? I personally don't care how healthy a "specimen" is I'd still not breed if I had the slightest doubt it might not be a purebred. Its not fair on the hamsters and nomatter where you live breeding more hybrids, even if they are healthier, won't help solve the problem of hybrid breeding.
You can't breed pure hamsters from hybrids and unfortunately if you can't get purebred campbells then I'd really advise against breeding campbells.

Sn0wy · 03-21-2013, 01:28 PM

By the way, I'd like to clarify that here Winter Whites presents only in wild color, nobody has intentionally created new colors by hybridization, so identification mistakes of the two species is more difficult. I think hybridization would come only because of wrong identification of the species and identification is easier due to obvious color differences.

evel_lin · 03-21-2013, 01:35 PM

The issue can be that people aren't aware that Campbells and Winter Whites are different species so see no problem breeding them together. I think your idea to raise healthy pure bred hamsters is a great one, but to do that you need to research as I'm sure you're doing and also make sure that the hamsters you start with are pure bred. There are some really sad neurological issues that can crop up in hybrids and they can remain hidden for several generations. I'm sure you would want to bring healthy animals into this world rather than risk creating some with problems

shiny · 03-21-2013, 01:48 PM

Hey Sn0wy,

I think your idea to breed pure bred lines rather than hybrids that can have problems is good. However, I think it will be very difficult for you to find suitable animals for breeding if most are already hybrid. I don't think you can very easily breed out the hybridisation once it's there.

If you can find newly-imported pure-bred animals and start from there, that would be your best bet I think. Which country are you in?

Best wishes, shiny

Sn0wy · 03-21-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evel_lin

The issue can be that people aren't aware that Campbells and Winter Whites are different species so see no problem breeding them together. I think your idea to raise healthy pure bred hamsters is a great one, but to do that you need to research as I'm sure you're doing and also make sure that the hamsters you start with are pure bred. There are some really sad neurological issues that can crop up in hybrids and they can remain hidden for several generations. I'm sure you would want to bring healthy animals into this world rather than risk creating some with problems

Exactly, someone has asked me why I want to breed. I'm interested in animal well being, nothing more. Honestly, I don't think that hybridization is a common problem where I live, because both species are popularly known, but overcrowding, bad diet and bad hygiene are critical among commercial breeders. If I can give, to the people who love hamsters, health and ethically bred animals, making all my efforts to avoid breeding a hamster with any sign of hybridization in past lines, I think that I'm doing something for all those animals who are suffering right now.
But ok, after all, maybe I must wait to the time when I have enough money to ship hamsters from another country, bred by breeders who can guarantee purelines.

Sn0wy · 03-21-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiny

Hey Sn0wy,

I think your idea to breed pure bred lines rather than hybrids that can have problems is good. However, I think it will be very difficult for you to find suitable animals for breeding if most are already hybrid. I don't think you can very easily breed out the hybridisation once it's there.

If you can find newly-imported pure-bred animals and start from there, that would be your best bet I think. Which country are you in?

Best wishes, shiny

Hey, I'm from Chile

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-21-2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0wy

Exactly, someone has asked me why I want to breed. I'm interested in animal well being, nothing more. Honestly, I don't think that hybridization is a common problem where I live, because both species are popularly known, but overcrowding, bad diet and bad hygiene are critical among commercial breeders. If I can give, to the people who love hamsters, health and ethically bred animals, making all my efforts to avoid breeding a hamster with any sign of hybridization in past lines, I think that I'm doing something for all those animals who are suffering right now.
But ok, after all, maybe I must wait to the time when I have enough money to ship hamsters from another country, bred by breeders who can guarantee purelines.

I mean this in the best of possible ways, but I don't see how you could help by risking breeding more hybrids. Surely when hybridization is at the least a potential problem, risking breeding more hybrids isn't a good idea? Unless you can prove your hamsters are purebred then I really think you'd be making the situation worse and potentially adding to the suffering hams rather than making a positive change.
I'm sorry to be so negative but hybridisation often doesn't show any physical signs but just because there're no physical signs you can't guarantee there aren't any hidden signs or potential problems.
I know you think breeding some well-kept hamsters might help, but if you want to be a good breeder you really would be better starting with the best possible stock - and at least in my opinion hybrids can't really be the best possible stock.

Sn0wy · 03-21-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

I mean this in the best of possible ways, but I don't see how you could help by risking breeding more hybrids. Surely when hybridization is at the least a potential problem, risking breeding more hybrids isn't a good idea? Unless you can prove your hamsters are purebred then I really think you'd be making the situation worse and potentially adding to the suffering hams rather than making a positive change.
I'm sorry to be so negative but hybridisation often doesn't show any physical signs but just because there're no physical signs you can't guarantee there aren't any hidden signs or potential problems.
I know you think breeding some well-kept hamsters might help, but if you want to be a good breeder you really would be better starting with the best possible stock - and at least in my opinion hybrids can't really be the best possible stock.

Ok, I get your point. Just wondering, is there a way to prove a hamster is purebred?

Biscotti · 03-21-2013, 02:15 PM

Hi Sno0wy, sorry about my previous post, it's not my intent to come off rude. I'm not accusing you of saying that CHA promote breeding hybrids, I just want to make a clarification for other readers as you only quoted the article partially and didn't link to the original page.

I can see that you have very good intentions from your posts and can definitely understand your frustration with commercial breeding mills. Purebred Campbells and WWs are also very rare where I am, so I sympathize with you in how hard it is to acquire good foundation breeding stocks. Perhaps you can contact some breeders in the US or the UK for advice or the possibility of shipping some hamsters to you?

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-21-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0wy

Ok, I get your point. Just wondering, is there a way to prove a hamster is purebred?

Unfortunately not, its a bit of a minefield for anyone who wants to start breeding. Least theres no way that I know of, I suppose a thorough genetic test might prove it but I suspect they'd cost a fortune lol
I don't want to wreck your plans but am just very, very strongly against anyone knowingly risking breeding hybrids.