How to tell when a hamster is pregnant?

How to tell your hamster is pregnant because we just got her?

• We just our daughter a new black bear hamster 5/5/12 for her birthday and she is fat but no nipples are showing .I have had hamsters before when I was younger and my daughter but they where males . I have never had a female before so unsure what else to look for if she is pregnant . how long are they pregnant for ? and how many babies can she have ? She is still young and bigger then our other black bear hamster already so that is why I am thinking she maybe having babies . Should my daughter not be holding her as much because I saw she can get moody as she gets closer to have the babies if she is . She also fills her cheeks fuller then I have ever seen a hamster do .

• Answer:

  Don't worry, it might be difficult for you to tell because you don't have a pregnant hamster to compare her with to see if she really is pregnant. Hmm, or maybe he? You can still see nipples if your hamster is pregnant, so I don't think your hammy is a girl. Maybe the fur is covering them, but who knows, it's different for all hamsters. It is very tricky to determine the sex of a hamster. In Syrian Hamsters (Black Bear), it is more easy to know their sex than Dwarf Hamsters due to their size. A male hamster will have testicles and by time these will become more noticeable. The easiest way to know the gender of your hamster, is to look at the distance between the two openings at the rear. If the hamster is still not tamed and is afraid of you then, you can use the 'transparent box / bowl' technique. Put the hamster in the transparent box / bowl and have a peek from under the box / bowl. Alternitavely you can pick the hamster by the scruff and look at that area. Handing hamsters by the scruff has to be done very rarely since too much handling from the scruff can lead to hamster glaucoma. The above procedures can be used for Syrian, Dwarf Campbell, Dwarf Winter White and Chinese Hamsters. In the case of Roborovski Hamsters, it is best to look at its rear area by scooping the hamster softly but firmly and holding it gently, to check the distance between the two openings at the rear. Another alternative for knowing the sex of Roborovski Hamsters is by using the 'transparent box / bowl technique as described above. In male hamsters, the anus and the penis (which is kept tucked up inside a small opening) are further apart. Mature male hamsters possess large, prominent testicles just under their tails. In females the anus and the vaginal opening are much closer together in comparison to the male hamster. Female hamsters will have nipples and if the coat is short these can be noticed. The picture on the right shows a female hamster. A small tip on how you can identify the sex of your hamster is, that a male hamster will have a very small 'pink dot', while a female hamster does not. Your hamster might be obese. Being obese in a hamster can actually cause them discomfort. It might not be obesity though, because Syrian hamsters are quite large. But, Hamster's obesity takes place when the hamster is overweight due to an incorrect diet and so the hamster’s health is affected. The hamster will appear enlarged and the hamster will also become lazy due to the effort needed for moving. The solution for hamster obesity is to replace any sugary treats with vegetables. Increase exercise (like for example more usage of the hamster ball for the hamster to exercise) so that the animal will lose weight and will get fitter. You can also introduce more play outside the cage; for example hamster running in the room, but make sure that you always keep an eye on the hamster while it is running in the room. Please read this article about a healthy hamster diet: http://www.hamsterific.com/Nutrition.cfm