My dwarf hamsters gave birth to a litter last weekend. I've been hearing mixed things about weather or not to leave the male hamster in the tank with the female and the babies. He's proven to be a very good father and helps keep them warm but I know there are other reprocussions of leaving him in such as him getting her pregnant again too soon. So, what should I do? Leave him in or take him out? I just don't want to upset the female because they seem to "love" eachother and have bonded very strongly. What would you do?
2006-12-15 01:51:04 · 11 answers · asked by Ang S 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I would leave him in, unless he does something very unfatherly, and perhaps dangerous. While syrian (also known as Teddy Bear) hamsters cannot safely live together, dwarfs that have been together nearly their whole life CAN. Also, the male is a great help to the female. Yes, they can get pregnant within 24 hours of the first litter being born. However, after that, it should not be possible until the first litter is weaned. I would definitely leave them together. Just think, in the wild, they would be together, right?!
P.S. Hamsters do too have feelings
P.S.2 The female is just as likely to eat them as the male, and if "Minky" woke up in the morning and they were gone, there's a good chance it was the female.
Congratulations on the hamster pups! (strange that they're called that, huh?)
2006-12-15 03:41:05 · answer #1 · answered by Reflector 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No no no no no!! Take him out right now!! Before you even finish reading this post!!
Male hamsters EAT baby hamsters. If he hasn't done it yet, that's GREAT, but you still need to take him out and put him in a different cage IMMEDIATELY. Mothers will sometimes eat their babies if the babies are sick and will not live, but that's a part of nature and that's fine. But the MALE hamsters eating the babies can be avoided! The male should always always always be taken out of the cage so the mother can tend to her children.
And trust me, it won't upset the female. Hamsters have great personalities, but they don't have emotions like humans do. A hamster who was a class pet when I was in high school last year had her babies eaten by the male and she couldn't have cared less. Hamsters are often HAPPIER when they live alone because hamsters are very solitary creatures. She doesn't have the capability to feel sadness or emotion if the male leaves.
So I hope you already took the male out before you finished reading this. If not, do it now! Or there might not be any babies left to save!
Good luck, hun! :)
2006-12-15 03:17:12 · answer #2 · answered by Stina 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I'd take him out too just to be safe. Just because he's been good so far doesn't mean he always will. Your female probably is pregnant again; the same happens with rabbits. XD
With females eating their own babies... that could end up that way because of major stress to the mother. Having a second litter right after another is too much for one mother. In the wild they would not have enough resources to survive and so the mother kills the second litter to spare them a slow death of starvation. So, if she does have a second litter; you'll have to realize that something like that can happen, or just separate the older babies somehow.
Good luck.
2006-12-15 03:25:08 · answer #3 · answered by StickyBird 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The male will just get in the way and get the female all worked up. (As any male usually does.) If the female gets too worked up or stressed she will harm the babies. Besides, you don't want a constantly pregnant female? How much fun is that for her!? Besides, what about all the babies - what are you doing with all the baby hamsters?
2006-12-15 06:57:30 · answer #4 · answered by laylaface2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once had two male hamsters I bought from a pet shop. A few weeks later they had babies and the pet shop told me that i must have 2 females and one was pregnant from being in the pet shop. So i let them together with the babies...a couple weeks later... MORE babies! I still let them together (sooo stupid)...and in the morning: NO BABIES! Only half babies and it was very sad. I say seperate them and keep them seperated. And don't leave the babies in there too long or the mom will eat them too!
2006-12-15 02:36:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard a lot of mixed things as well. One of the main things to be concerned about is her getting pregnant again (if she is not already). Dwarf hamsters are the only breed of hamsters where the father actually participates in the care for the babies. The best advice I could give you would be to go to your local pet store and ask them. They have the trained knowledge to help you out.
Good Luck!
2006-12-15 01:59:11 · answer #6 · answered by Kami S 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Never ever no unless you want to have to pick up the remains of the babies yuck!!! he will kill them asap because they are a threat to him once mated keep them female/male seperated
2006-12-15 05:03:21 · answer #7 · answered by Magpie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him out because he will eat the babies and he will get the girl hamster pregnant.
2006-12-15 02:48:55 · answer #8 · answered by natasha k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to tell you, your female is already pregnant again.
Backbreeding her like this has potentially serious consequences. If you don't have the slightest knowledge about breeding, why are you?
2006-12-15 02:11:37 · answer #9 · answered by Lotus Effect 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is safe to leave them together. If you are worried about pregnancy then when the babies are ready to wean, seperate dad and sons from mom and daughters.
2006-12-15 01:57:47 · answer #10 · answered by Rescue Wench 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋