Can you pair up winter whites?

[NaomiR]

I was just thinking as males are sterile, would it be possible to pair mine up with my pearl female or would they fight just like all ww's do???

[NaomiR]

sorry I should just add that only pearl ww's are believed to be sterile

[internet_nobody]

They aren't sterile

Also, adults really don't like intros!

[NaomiR]

they're NOT??? I just read they are, I'll try to find it again - here it is

http://www.britishhamsterassociation...l/perlmale.htm

I totally agree with I_N. I've never heard of anyone successfully introducing adult WWs (but maybe someone on here will come along and say they have). Also, Mika is a potentially a hybrid rather than pure WW so a intro could be bad news if it did result in any offspring.

WWs live quite happily on their own....my adorable little Poppy is testament to that.

[souffle]

I think that is quite an old article. When pearls first appeared it seemed the males became sterile at a few months of age but I believe that is not the case anymore as the colour has progressed. I expect someone more experienced will be able to enlighten you more.

[internet_nobody]

That's it in a nutshell, Souffle.

[NaomiR]

Silly really because both my ww's are perfectly happy and content on their own, I just thought if there was a chance they *could* live together it might be nice.

BUT fighting would definately NOT be nice, nor would (more) hybrid babies so that's put paid to that idea.

Thanks for all the info, just goes to show you can't believe everything you read

[souffle]

I spoke to LMDH at the show on Saturday and they most definitly are not sterile anymore. Our Pearl Kipton's dad was 16months when he sired him and we hope to breed Kipton at over a year and she say's that should not be a problem.

[littlemissdwarfhamster]

I have paired up adults, but it does depend on the female - she really has to like the male. I find they are difficult to pair between 5-10 months but younger/older it is possible. I have never managed to pair same sex after they are adult.

But males are not sterile. Their ability to mate does usually decline with age. I have paired up many an ex-show hamster with another and they have lived together fine without any problem or babies. But they get paired at about a year old. But the otherside is that I have had both males and female breed well past a year. The oldest breeding male was nearly 2 before he stopped and the oldest female was 16 month (and that was a suprise/accident - wouldnt breed then at that age on purpose).

If you dont have the room for babies, then dont pair them up!!