New Arrival - Colour?

[Rainbow]

I'm assuming that she's a campbells, but she could of course be a hybrid.

I saw her in the adoption section at P@H last week, she'd been handed in for not getting along with other hamsters but she'd also been treated for some respiratory issues. When I went back today, she was still there and I decided I couldn't leave her to be kept on wood shavings with owners who may not have a clue. I've medicated a lot of rodents so her coming home with me felt right

So, meet Ivy.



She's lovely, she had a little nibble of me but could barely feel it. Really inquisitive, I've never had a hamster be so interested the second I got them home. She was taking food out of my hand right away and happily eating. She's going to be naughty, I think!

(I've never had a flying saucer before - I hope she likes it )

[spyro87]

AW she's just beautiful! and well done on your rescue

I'm sorry, I can't tell you if she's a hybrid or a campbells. but I can tell you she's gorgeous

[Rainbow]

Thank you, she is so gorgeous. Her colouring is just a curiosity really, I've never seen one like her before!

[kyrilliondaemon]

She'll be a hybrid, I had an email from a well known pet store explaining why all the russians they sell are hybrids but think I deleted it a while ago. If she was handed in to P@H shes almost definetly going to be a pet shop ham and there aren't that many people who breed true Campbells instead of hybrids

I'm not at all sure on colours but I'm not great on Campbells colours and hybrids have more that're confined to just the hybrids too

[Rainbow]

Yes, I thought as much. I had a WW hybrid a few years ago (Rainbow, my username sake - she changed to the most amazing marbled colour!). It'd be interesting to know why they only sell hybirds, I can't imagine it's a good reason.

She'll almost definitely be a petshop ham, I did look for a breeder around me area a few years ago and there's not a lot, of good ones at least.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Edited my earlier post incase the mods objected to me naming the store I've had the email from, but when I got an answer it was that all Campbells and Winter Whites are hybrids. They're not (what exactly did the bloke think wild caught ones are for a start?) but apparently thats what at least one pet shop representative says...

Depending on where you are there may be a show nearish you if you ever wanted a breeder ham in future

[souffle]

What a cute hammy - she has black eyes but a Campbells colour and a WW shape. I would say she is closest to what was called a Mandarin which is an Argente Campbells crossed with a WW normal. The pet store suppliers cross them as they get 'interesting colour combinations' which is what the pet market wants. They don't care about the health and longevity of the animals they breed because they leave them at 5-6 weeks. They also don't really care much if they lose mothers during birth when the pups cannot be delivered due to the wrong head shape for their body and that the pups may develop diabetes, glaucoma, neurological problems etc due to their hybridness because it's off their hands. That's why P&H hamsters are labelled as Russian so they have no liability of misslabelling.
That said though not every hamster will get sick and I hope your lovely one does very well

[Silver]

I would say a version of Manderin too because the orange tinge to the fur is very like Mandy my passed Manderin hybrid.

Someone once told me that this colouration of manderin was called manderin pearl!

Ivy is Gorgeous! looking forwards to seeing more of her

This was my manderin girl:

Click picture

[Rainbow]

Sadly that doesn't surprise me, I knew there were some issues with hybirds already but didn't realise they were just the norm. That's sad. I'd have never actually bought her, I don't agree with pet shops but the adoption centre at least gives the money to a charity.

My last hammy was a hybrid and lived till 3, which I know is very lucky!

[Silver]

Don't feel bad about it, enjoy Ivy.

It's not her or your fault

Mandy lived 2 years 3 months if that helps any.

xxx