What exacly is she?

Vierville · 11-21-2019, 05:25 AM

Hello. This is my one little girl, Nanuk, Countess of Argouges.

We got her as a rescue and were told she is a Winter White hybrid. I just wanted to check if anyone can confirm this by looking at her markings please?

Thank you so much!

P.S. apologies for the blurry photos, she doesn't stay still!

Fluffagrams · 11-21-2019, 05:34 AM

Her markings are more consistent with that of a Winter White (probably a Sapphire Pearl) but her head shape is narrow and lacks the characteristic Winter White 'Roman nose' which could be due to her Campbell ancestors.

Some Hybrids can lean very much towards one species or the other but others are a real mixed bag of traits from both species.

Vierville · 11-21-2019, 05:45 AM

Thank you. I've attached another photo of her head, taken a few months ago.

She's a lovely, highly energetic little girl and we are truly honoured to have her to look after

Charlie Dunn · 11-21-2019, 05:45 AM

Sorry I can’t help with your question but I just wanted to say she is lovely!!! Hope she has settled into her new home. X

alpacassei · 11-21-2019, 05:56 AM

Definitely a hybrid! She’s got that classic mixed WW/CB appearance, honestly unless you get a russian dwarf from a registered pedigree breeder 99% of the time it’ll be a hybrid.

Fluffagrams · 11-21-2019, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vierville

Thank you. I've attached another photo of her head, taken a few months ago.

She's a lovely, highly energetic little girl and we are truly honoured to have her to look after

Ah from that angle, you can see some of the Roman nose that I previously said she was lacking so my apologies for that.

With a hamster with unknown parentage (and that includes rescues and pet shops) they've almost definitely going to be a Hybrid of some sort but as I said they can sometimes appear to be very much like their purebred cousins, it just depends on what is in their ancestry.

Hybrids can make lovely pets though and don't necessarily live shorter lives... my sister's Hybrid was two and a half when she died for example.

Vierville · 11-21-2019, 07:58 AM

Thank you Charlie Dunn, alpacassei and Fluffagrams.

She is a very active climber so we have had to get her a special cage that is lower than the others but has two complete levels so she has lots and lots of floor space but not too much of a drop if she falls while swinging from her bars!

Ria P · 11-22-2019, 12:44 PM

Do the light coloured Hybrids go darker in the winter?

Does Nanuk (love the name) change colour slightly?

I'm wondering because Percy looks very similar to Nanuk and seems to be getting a bit darker.

Vierville · 11-22-2019, 01:40 PM

We got Nanuk when she was around 6 months old this past June. Being in the southern hemisphere it was the middle of our winter and she was almost completely white with only a very light gray stripe down her back.

It is now summer here and her gray markings have become a little darker and she has some very light gray markings on her head.

Would love to see pics of your Percy!

Ria P · 11-22-2019, 01:58 PM

I have read about some dwarves changing colour but i have forgotten which species and what season so it may be that they go darker in the summer which wouldn't add up with Percy.
Sorry, i'm confusing myself now.

Here's today's photo of Percy. Excuse his set up but he is diabetic so had to swap his things over to plastic to avoid mould/bacteria and can't use wood.

I think they look quite similar in body shape, relatively narrow head and pointy ears. Also, his eyes are a little almond shaped and not the typical hamster button eyes of my Syrian and Robo.

Unfortunately Percy doesn't have Nanuk's temperament.
He is quite crazy.....but lovable nevertheless.