Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Hold the hamster
• Method 2 of 3: Search for sex differences in adult animals
• Method 3 of 3: Search for gender differences in young animals
• Tips
• Warnings

Have you ever wondered if your hamster is a boy or a girl, but can't figure it out? It can be very important to find out, especially if you have more than one hamster and you don't want them to reproduce. Determining the gender of a hamster can be done in a few steps, including figuring out what to look for. Your hamster may not like it when you turn it around to find out its gender, but the process will soon be over and afterwards you will know if you have a cute little boy or girl.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Hold the hamster

1. Wait for the right time to examine the hamster. To determine gender, you will need to look at the back and bottom of your hamster. Your best bet is to wait until the hamster is alert and relaxed enough to examine it. Catching a sleeping or stressed hamster is a good way to get bitten.
   • Try to give your hamster a snack and some attention. Hamsters don't like to be turned upside down (which is exactly what you will be doing) so it will make this process a lot easier if you pet your hamster and put it at ease.
2. Consider working over a large container or box lined with a towel. This will give the hamster a soft place to land if it can wiggle free. It will also hold your hamster at the same time, preventing it from falling and running away immediately.
3. Grab the hamster by the scruff of the neck. To hold the pet safely, approach the hamster calmly and do not let it startle you. Place the palm of one hand over the hamster, with your thumb and index finger directly above the shoulder blades. Gently grab the loose skin, just above the shoulders, between your thumb and forefinger, to check the head and make sure the hamster can't bite you.
   • Do not pull on the skin and do not try to lift the animal by the scruff only.
4. Pick up the hamster and turn it over. Use the rest of the hand to support the animal's body. Using your free hand to support the weight of the hamster, lift the hamster and turn it over so that its body rests in the palm of the hand you are using to hold the scruff of the neck. At this point, his entire body must be supported.

Method 2 of 3: Search for sex differences in adult animals

1. Assess the size of the hamster. Males are generally larger than females. If you don't have another hamster to compare it to, this will not help you determine the sex of your hamster. But if you have other hamsters, you can compare them. While this is not a definitive test, it will give you a fair idea of ​​whether your hamster is male or female.
   • If you look at an older male hamster from above, you can see that its back is more pointed and raised, while female hamsters have a rounder back.
2. Look at the bottom of the hamster, close to where the tail is attached. Hamsters usually reach sexual maturity at around 35 days old, and in adult hamsters, gender differences are often quite easy to see. Males have distinct testicles that form a bump on their rear and take the shape of an almond, while females have fairly blunt backs.
3. Examine your pet's belly for nipples, assessing the area just below the tail. If you see testicles, it is male. If you don't see testicles and can see clear nipples, it's a female. Females have six prominent pairs of nipples.
   • In dwarf hamster species, the male also has a very distinct scent gland. In the adult male, this gland usually has a distinct yellow color and is located at the level of the navel. This is in the center of the abdomen, roughly where you would expect a belly button.
   • If you can't tell if you have a male or female hamster, it may be that the animal is not yet sexually mature.

Method 3 of 3: Search for gender differences in young animals

1. Find the two openings on the bottom of the hamster. These look like little pink circles and may appear slightly raised around the edges. The anus is just below the tail, and the urogenital opening, the site of the urethra and genital organs, is above the anus towards the center of the abdomen.
2. View the distance between the anus and the genitourinary opening. Sex differences are more difficult to see in very young hamsters, but it is possible to determine sex in a young animal by looking at the distance between the anus and the genitourinary opening. In females, the openings are very close together. In fact, you may have difficulty distinguishing them because the genitourinary opening, which in this case is the vulva, and the anus appear almost like a single opening or structure. In males, the openings are further apart, so there is a very clear division between the anus and the genitourinary opening.
   • You can also see small swellings in the crotch area if you have a male. These are the growing testicles.
3. Check the hamster again at another time if you are still unsure. If you can only find one opening, especially if it looks quite large, you can expect to be dealing with a female, but check the animal more often or ask a veterinarian experienced with exotics, in case you have the second opening missed. This opening can be very subtle in a very young male, especially if the animal you are working with is a dwarf hamster.
   • The most common hamster, the Syrian hamster, is solitary and should be kept separate in their own cages, so it is not very important to determine sex early. Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, are kept in same-sex groups. If you have young animals in a group of a sex, you will often need to recheck them until the sex is clear. This will help you avoid pregnancy accidents in your group.

Tips

• Keep in mind that hamsters are prey animals and sensitive to stress. It may be tempting to calm a tense animal by petting or talking to it, as you would a puppy or kitten, but it is better for the hamster if you leave it alone in its cage after handling .
• The more hamsters you can examine, the better you will be at determining sex, even in very young animals.
• If your hamster suddenly puts on a lot, there is a good chance that she is pregnant. You will have to learn how to care for baby hamsters, but at least now you know for sure what the gender is!
• Separate male and female hamsters. Once you have determined the sex of your hamster, you must separate male and female hamsters if you do not want to breed them. If you don't, it is almost certain that your female hamster will get pregnant. In fact, it is often best to keep all hamsters in their own cage. Some breeds, such as Syrian hamsters, tend to fight with other adult hamsters.
• If you have hamsters for the first time, make sure you don't have any pieces of food in your hand or you could get bitten. It is best to supervise younger children when handling these pets. It is good to wash your hands before handling a hamster.

Warnings

• Hamsters don't like to be turned upside down, so be wary of your hamster putting his or her claws in your hand and trying to bite you.