New hamster! Help!

[hrl20100]

So I went to a petshop today... and now I have another hamster.
I felt so sorry for him (or her!) he was kept with another syrian hamster and they look around 14 weeks old. Surely they should be separated by then?! Anyway, he was in a tiny tank (smaller than the tanks at petsathome, I was fuming) and he had no water in his waterbowl (no bottle). I could see a bit of old looking food in the corner and his bedding and substrate were both filthy.

He looked so sad! He was sat with his head up against the glass. Normally when I see hamsters in petshops, they are always trying to make a desperate attempt to chew their way out. Not him... he looked like he had given up, he was just looking out of the glass

They had no wheel, no saucer, no nothing to exercise on. They had one wooden chew block thing with a hole in it. And they didnt seem interested by it (I know if I had given it to Flump she wouldn't have used it!)

Basically, he won his way out of that awful place.

Oh! Another thing! The awful woman who served me, just ripped the bedding off of his cagemate who was sleeping. Saying 'oh would you like to see this one?' and he got so frightened, he leapt up onto his hind legs and started screeching in fear! Broke my heart! She just laughed, said 'oh what a silly thing' and carried on moving his bedding off of him. She made me so angry! She didn't health check him, check to see if he was male or female, or ask me any questions about my set up for him or give me any advice like I thought they should have done!

I complained about their guinea pigs too, as two of them looked as if they had serious breathing problems, probably a URI due to being housed directly next to and below lots of cages of birds. Bad breeding of course comes into play, but the birds didn't help with their dusty dust-baths and seed mix being thrown about.

Anyway!!!
This is my newest addition...
A (I believe) golden syrian hamster!


Is it a boy or a girl? I have tried to get some photos, but as of right now I can't see any manly parts. He is absolutely terrified at the moment and I don't want to pick him up to try and get better photos.
Normally in petsathome I can see the parts of hamsters and rats, its strange that if he is a boy, why I can't see them yet. Unless he hasn't dropped yet? Bit late though if he's 14 weeks old? Thats a guess by the way, I have no idea how old he is, I forgot to ask!




So sorry for the terrible photos!
Think these are the worst photos I have ever posted on this forum!

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Congrats on a adorable Umbrous Golden baby umm can't say 100% but in the last pic I think a boy. If he is truly 14 weeks old he is very tiny. Using the bars as a gauge he is only about 2 and 3/4 inches long. I have 7 week old pups here who would make him look like a dwarf hamster. With all that white on his belly, and chest I wouldn't doubt he is Wh too. That doesn't matter though as he'll be a spectacular pet and look forward to watching him/her grow and grow

[Samuel Bryan]

Hello there,

The conditions that the hamsters were kept in sound horrendous in your description and i am very pleased that it is in a better home now

I believe that by the photos you have posted and my knowledge that it is a female however it could be too early on to tell that much and it is difficult to see with the bars in the way.

I hope that this helped you,

Samuelbryan

[LucyCaitlyn]

Lots of luck with your new rescue baby.
Looking forward to hearing more.

[Coco61]

What a lovely new addition for you Hannah! Well done for rescuing him because that is what it sounds like to be honest. My boy Mocho is an umbrous golden and if you go to his thread (about Jarvis and Mocho) you can see the two photos posted of him at 8 weeks old when I bought him home from the breeder. You can compare the colour and development of his manly bits!
The thread is on page one of the Syrian hamster section.

[souffle]

What a lovely hammy. As has been said he is an Umbrous Golden so he has the sooty look over his golden coat. I agree with Nancy and would go towards a male in the last pic but it is hard to tell. He looks younger than 14 weeks to me as he still has the 'baby face' I'd say 7-10 weeks myself.
He looks bright and curious and I'm sure will soon settle down and tame nicely.

[Josie]

So pleased that this little animal is now in a safer environment that it was in previously, well done for rescuing this little hammie

[flowerfairy]

Awwww congratulations. He looks lovely. (Or she does).

[hrl20100]

I think he might be a male, but I see no male parts like I thought I would do? The hamsters I see in petathome, all have manly parts that are clearly visible!

I think he is still pretty young, maybe not 14 weeks afterall! He is smaller than Flump.
I'll go with 10 weeks

I almost managed to feed him a treat today! He took it then dropped it because I let go too early I think, or he dropped it, one or the other. He is still very fearful though I daren't try and hold him just yet! I'm not good at taming hamsters, I get very nervous! I've only been bitten badly once, but I get so scared they'll fly off of my hands and onto the floor!

[hrl20100]

I need naming ideas too please!