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It’s not always easy to distinguish a male hamster from a female one. If you only have a single hamster at home, it doesn’t matter much since their behavior is similar. However, it becomes crucial if you plan to breed them. This guide provides clear instructions to help you quickly identify your hamster’s sex.
Knowing your hamster’s sex is also useful for understanding its physiology and behavior. Females go through heat cycles, which can affect their mood. You should be prepared for this unless you decide on spaying the female or neutering the male.
Recognizing a hamster’s genital organs at first glance is not always easy, especially for beginners.
Sexing at Birth
You don’t need to wait long to know a hamster’s sex—it can be done right after birth. To do this, gently turn the hamster over by holding its chest between your thumb and index finger. However, this technique can be risky if you’re inexperienced. It’s better to ask a professional for help.
When observing the belly, the distance between the anus and the genital opening is greater in males (about 6 mm at birth) than in females (about 1 mm). This difference becomes more obvious once the hamster reaches adulthood.
Sexing in Adulthood
The same technique used at birth applies here, but the visibility is much clearer in adult hamsters. The distance between the anus and genital opening is far greater in males than in females.
In females, the anus, urethra, and vulva are clearly visible. You can also see rows of pink nipples on the belly, usually noticeable after four weeks of age.
In males, testicles become visible between five and nine weeks, as they descend from the abdomen. Before this stage, they remain inside the abdomen.
Another method is to observe the rump shape, though this depends on the species. For dwarf hamsters, females have a rounder rump than males. For Chinese or golden hamsters, it’s the opposite—the female has a longer rump than the male.
A Male and Female Together?
If you intend to breed your hamsters, sexing them is essential. If you don’t want a litter (which can be up to 12 babies!), you must separate males and females before they reach sexual maturity. Otherwise, you risk an unexpected pregnancy.
There are several techniques to tell the sex of your hamster:
- At birth, observe the distance between the anus and the genitals. Professionals are best to avoid injury.
- By 4 weeks, females show rows of pink nipples.
- By 5–9 weeks, males develop visible testicles.
The rump shape varies by species: rounder in dwarf females, longer in Chinese and golden females.