winter white/campbells

[Dichroic]

I was surprised as heck today to peek (from the top of the tank) when mama was drinking and find tiny little eyes looking up at me! Looks like one is about half the size of the other, but both are equally active (and hoppy!) and seem to have all of their parts. I think they're girls. I'm not really sure why they look wet in the pictures, my hands must have been sweaty, every time they'd fluff their head fuzz they'd look worse! LOL. They're so light colored that I tried a bunch of different backgrounds to keep them from washing out (the tiny skillet did seem to do a good job, as odd as it sounds), here are the best pics I got:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4131.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4136.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4103.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4109.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4110.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4114.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4116.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4117.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_4119.jpg

Enjoy!

[Dichroic]

So once I'm sure they are girls, is it ok to leave them in with mama hammy as a permanent arrangement? Can girls co-exist happily? If I'm wrong and they're boys, can they stay with daddy hammy? Is it ok to keep hamsters alone with no cagemate? Better if they're alone?

[kyrilliondaemon]

Er... Dwarf hamsters can coexist happily but trios are not really advised.
If the youngsters are the same sex I'd probably separate them from the parents and let them live as a pair together. It gives them company but avoids the nightmare that keeping a trio can be. If they're different sexes then introduce the male to Dad at around 4 weeks of age and they may be able to live together. The female may also be able to live with Mum but there's never any guarantee, even if the two youngsters stay together they may fall out later in life.

As the youngsters are hybrids with the same levels of hybridisation they'd probably be better as a pair than if mixed with hams with different levels of hybridisation.

One note though - You got the parents from pet shops right? Please don't breed them again. Pet shop "campbells" "russians" and "winter whites" are nearly all hybrids. Please don't breed them.

[Dichroic]

If you look at my earlier posts, Kyrillion, you'll see that I've corrected that mistake already and don't plan to make it again I'm just interested in making sure these four live out a happy life and are not bred again. I'd heard different things about what kinds of pairings were ok, I thought it would be best to get a clear answer from the experts here

[kyrilliondaemon]

I meant breeding the parents with anything. I know you won't breed them with each other, but since they're from pet shops they're probably hybrids themselves so shouldn't be bred with other "campbells" or "winter whites" either. Wasn't sure if you still wanted to try that or not.

I'm glad you do just want the four hams to live out their lives happily though

[Dichroic]

No--I said on the previous page that I was no longer interested in breeding hamsters at all, since I haven't found any local hamsteries and I had underestimated the skill required to properly pair and breed hamsters, and that these would not be bred again, to ANY other hamster, nor will there be other hamsters breeding in my home.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Ah ok, must've missed that one.

[obscura]

Originally Posted by Michelle89

I know absaloutly nothing on breeding apart from you should never cross breed and never breed unless you know what your doing.

Agreed! I read a lot of warnings about cross breeding Campbell's and WW's, yet so many people have "hybrid" hamsters.

Glad you've decided not to breed more hammies Hope the babies are healthy and live happy lives!

Those little ones are sooo adorable! Very pretty color!

[GemmasMom]

Such cute little muchkins!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxx and I have a mom and 4 daughters from 2 litters living together. they are hybrids as well. I don't know much about colonies, as they were already living together when I got them from the shelter. Whatever you decide, just be prepared to separate at any given moment!