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137 results for “male hamster”
How to tell male and female Syrian hamsters apart?
Tell by genital traits: males have two round testicles and a larger rear; females have none and a smaller rear, are often larger/stronger, have nipples on the belly, and a genital opening closer to the anus.
How to tell a male from a female Syrian hamster?
Check genital distance and testicles in males, nipples and a scent gland in males; females are rounder when adult.
I’m not sure if my hamster is male or female — there’s a lump behind its bottom that looks like a tumor, but it’s only on one side
From the photo, your hamster is most likely male and the swelling is due to being in heat, when the testicles enlarge and the rear appears red and swollen. Intact males also become more active, emit a distinctive odor, and mark their surroundings to attract females. If you don't plan to breed, keep males and females in separate cages.
What Causes Skin Abscesses in Hamsters
Hamster skin abscesses are usually bacterial — from fight wounds, foreign-object punctures, spoiled or sharp food in the cheek pouches, flea/mite scratching, or a blocked scent gland in males. Treatment is draining plus oral antibiotics at a vet (never neomycin or antibiotic ointments — they can kill); clean the pouch with saline for mild pouch cases. Act before the abscess ruptures, since worsening can be fatal.
What to Do with Newborn Hamster Pups
Hamsters breed far more often than cats or dogs thanks to a high conception rate. After birth, keep the mother undisturbed and warm, separate the father at once, and boost the dam's protein and calcium; handle pups only with care since your scent can trigger rejection. For orphaned litters, bottle-feed goat's milk formula every 2–3 hours.
What to Know Before Getting a Hamster
Before keeping a hamster, learn its basics: it is solitary (one per cage to avoid fights), comes in types like dwarf, robo, and teddy differing by coat, has a scent gland that may need cleaning in heat, is nocturnal so use a quiet wheel or keep it from bedrooms, and needs a clean cage and no strong smells nearby. Lifespan is only 2–3 years, so commit fully.
An Introduction to Common Dwarf Hamsters
The dwarf (three-line) hamster is common in pet shops; wild ones show three clear back lines with black fur around ears and eyes. Types include the Silver Fox (light coat, visible or invisible back line), Pudding (orange-striped, yellow or cream), Violet (lilac in sunlight, faint line), Milk Tea (milk-tea coat, weak, inbred), Robo (tiny, white whiskers, shy but non-biting and often co-habitable, needs sand baths), and Teddy Bear (golden-brown, variable coat, sheds seasonally). Dwarf hamsters are docile and good for beginners.
Little Secrets of the Hamster Body
Hamsters have poor but wide-angle, night-capable vision and very keen hearing, continuously growing teeth that need chew toys, cheek pouches that hoard food (and can inflame if not cleaned), and a male-only scent gland that needs regular cleaning to avoid blockage.
Ten Taboos of Keeping Hamsters
Ten rules for safe hamster care: no human food or raw water, sand baths not water, one hamster per cage, no strong sunlight, proper chew toys and bedding, and enough space with basic gear. Following them prevents illness and injury.
How to Extend a Hamster’s Lifespan
A hamster lives only two to three years, and illness shortens that further, so extend its life with a clean, safe home, age-appropriate soft and nutritious food, controlled weight, and protection from fights and cage injuries.