So I plan on getting a male and female Russian dwarf hamster next week and was thinking about letting them mate for one time I've been doing tons of research and I'm ready for anything I actually plan giving my housemate a hamster as well but what are you're thoughts
Russian Dwarf Hamster Breeding
- Thread starter Ray199483
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It's really best not to, rather adopt through a rescue. Finding really good homes for the pups is going to be very difficult. People buy unwanted hamsters for snake food and you have no control over what happens to them. Your pups could end up having short, horrible lives. There is no way you can keep the pups as you may have eight to ten hamsters, needing a cage each. That is what will probably happen as in captivity they will not be able to share a cage without fighting seriously enough to kill their cage mate. Hamsters can breed again at four weeks and your females could very realistically get pregnant, not only bearing another twelve young within a couple of months, but also dying from the complications of being pregnant too young. Males with females on heat where they can smell them will fight with each other, even if the female is in a different cage, or even in another room. Breeding will make you hate hamsters! It is much better to get a single hamster and take good care of him or her. Robos are not social hamsters in captivity. A good rescue will help you set up a nice cage that complies with recommended requirements for space, safety and enrichment. Many people will tell your that pocket sized pets are easy to keep, but the opposite is often true. And then the vets bills for multi animal homes are not cheap at all. But a vet bill for a household of thirty hamsters, yikes! It is not legal to neglect pets, and rescues and welfare often have to step in when things are out of control. Please don't breed 
the results are realistically going to be a nightmare.
the results are realistically going to be a nightmare.
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I really wouldn’t recommend it.
Breeding hybrids is complicated due the the different genetics from two species.
This can lead to complications in pregnancy & females can sometimes die giving birth as the pups can be too big for them to pass naturally.
Taking care of mother & pups can be difficult too, if you disturb the mother before the pups have opened their eyes there is always the chance she may cull them.
Unless you are quite experienced sexing pups soon enough can be tricky & you could end up with multiple litters.
If it’s something you’re thinking of doing for the experience then I would say don’t.
Just get one or two hamsters, caged separately if you do get two & just enjoy them as pets.
Breeding hybrids is complicated due the the different genetics from two species.
This can lead to complications in pregnancy & females can sometimes die giving birth as the pups can be too big for them to pass naturally.
Taking care of mother & pups can be difficult too, if you disturb the mother before the pups have opened their eyes there is always the chance she may cull them.
Unless you are quite experienced sexing pups soon enough can be tricky & you could end up with multiple litters.
If it’s something you’re thinking of doing for the experience then I would say don’t.
Just get one or two hamsters, caged separately if you do get two & just enjoy them as pets.
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The forum doesn't support breeding at all, unless you're a member of an ethical hamster association, such as the National Hamster Council in the Uk or the California Hamster Association in the US, and have a mentor who is a verified ethical breeder.
All dwarf hamsters will be hybrids - unless you get pedigree dwarf hamsters from an ethical breeder and these are extremely rare to find. There are no Campbells breeders in the US and I think only one or two in the UK, and not that many Winter White breeders either.
Breeding hybrid dwarf hamsters has far too many risks for the hamsters, as elusive says. Sadly it happens in rodent mills, which is where the hamsters in pet shops usually come from, and what you don't see is all the ones that didn't make it to the pet shop - either dying in giving birth or born with defects.
The two species should never have been bred together, as if the Mother is more one species than the other, the babies could be too big for her to give birth to and that is a horribly painful way to die.
Which country are you in? If you want a hamster for your housemate as well, why not just adopt two hamsters? They cost so little to buy and there are a lot of litters needing homes in rodent rescues.
Just to clarify, there are two species of Russian dwarf hamsters - Winter Whites, and Campbells. But all hamsters you will find will be hybrids of these two species that have been interbred for decades, partly by accident and partly due to bad breeding practices. Unless you find one from an ethical breeder who is part of a verified hamster association (where they have standards) and the hamster has a pedigree ancestry certificate.
Even if you did find two pedigree Russian Dwarfs that were either both Campbells or both Winter Whites, you would still need a breeding mentor as there are so many risks involved to both Mother and babies.
Ethical breeders breed to keep the species in tact and to keep certain lines for health, temperament etc. They also don't breed for profit (usually at a loss).
It's great that you want a hamster for yourself and your house mate though - adopting is best. If you let us know which country/region you're in we can let you know the nearest rodent rescue. The one near me is always inundated with litters of dwarf hamsters that have been rescued.
All dwarf hamsters will be hybrids - unless you get pedigree dwarf hamsters from an ethical breeder and these are extremely rare to find. There are no Campbells breeders in the US and I think only one or two in the UK, and not that many Winter White breeders either.
Breeding hybrid dwarf hamsters has far too many risks for the hamsters, as elusive says. Sadly it happens in rodent mills, which is where the hamsters in pet shops usually come from, and what you don't see is all the ones that didn't make it to the pet shop - either dying in giving birth or born with defects.
The two species should never have been bred together, as if the Mother is more one species than the other, the babies could be too big for her to give birth to and that is a horribly painful way to die.
Which country are you in? If you want a hamster for your housemate as well, why not just adopt two hamsters? They cost so little to buy and there are a lot of litters needing homes in rodent rescues.
Just to clarify, there are two species of Russian dwarf hamsters - Winter Whites, and Campbells. But all hamsters you will find will be hybrids of these two species that have been interbred for decades, partly by accident and partly due to bad breeding practices. Unless you find one from an ethical breeder who is part of a verified hamster association (where they have standards) and the hamster has a pedigree ancestry certificate.
Even if you did find two pedigree Russian Dwarfs that were either both Campbells or both Winter Whites, you would still need a breeding mentor as there are so many risks involved to both Mother and babies.
Ethical breeders breed to keep the species in tact and to keep certain lines for health, temperament etc. They also don't breed for profit (usually at a loss).
It's great that you want a hamster for yourself and your house mate though - adopting is best. If you let us know which country/region you're in we can let you know the nearest rodent rescue. The one near me is always inundated with litters of dwarf hamsters that have been rescued.
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