Becoming a Hamster Judge?

[Hekomi]

THOSE HAMSTERS LOOK MASSIVE.

Are those the 300g hams?

I do wonder how it works here, I imagine something similar.

[souffle]

Different colours and lines do tend to be larger. Creams for example are normally the largest on the table and yes there would be some tipping 300g. Hamster colours that are recognised as being smaller are generally Dark greys.

[Hekomi]

I had no idea that size was so interwoven with colour! Would that be because creams are easy to get and breed? And dark greys can't be inbred because of the possible kinked tail, thusly meaning you have to bring in other genes? Or just coincidence?

[souffle]

Creams have been around for the longest and they are much more common than they used to be so there is a much greater chance of getting nice large animals to selectively breed from. Dark greys are much less common and do carry the health risk of kinky tail. Rex hamsters are often smaller as well. Rex is also not that common and can suffer with eye problems associated with the curly fur around the eyes turning in so again less choice as you would not breed from lines with eye problems.

[Hekomi]

Makes sense! Thanks for the explanation Souffle. I wish we had more hamster events going on where I am, but North America is so spread out it'd be tricky.

[PinkDelilah]

Thats so cool Souffle! I wish there where more hamster shows in america I also wish my hammy was a big thing like those lol!

[Artisans_uk]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Those are beautiful big hammies Souffle! And I though Nutmeg was big! Ted E's a peanut!

Hehe, DrKMcK, I had exactly the same thought about the size of the hammies that Souffle had the pleasure of handling. My dwarfs would think that they were seeing photos for an invasion plan of giants if they had seen those pictures!!