Meet My SECOND New Dwarf!

[Die Fledermaus]

I am searching for a tankmate for Snowball, the dwarf I recently got, so. . .

I went today to a larger pet store I well know just south of NYC's City Hall; conditions there have always appeared good. They had "Short Haired Hamsters" (whatever that means) and I could not identify the breed nor get it ID'd by the assistant manager. Next time I go in that area I will have my camera with me and I will post what I see.

They also had a tank of "female dwarf hamsters"; the assist. manager was fairly sure they were RCs, as was I. (But what do I know about dwarfs? Not much).

We both carefully studied the rather androgynous "hammie bits" to try to verify gender. We both were not certain but odds were 60-40 female. He was also fairly sure they only get Russians.

The dwarf was and is extremely cute, and came from a tank that had two others in it. she has walked on my hand without biting, and was surprisingly receptive to scruffing, so maybe that is a good sign vis a vis temperment.

They are all perfectly happy in big Sterilite bins, where this one (yet unnamed - any suggestions?) is right now.

So, here are the photos:





So I hope this is an RC. If it is that brings up the next question:MALE OR FEMALE? Below are the links to photos of the dwarf's "bits". What do you think about the gender?

BITS

MORE BITS

STILL MORE BITS

MORE STILL

LAST BUNCH OF BITS

Anyway, male or female, the dwarf is staying.

[Die Fledermaus]

A little help with sexing that dwarf, please.

I used to think sexing Syrians was hard. I knew this day would come, when I'd have to ID some dwarf bits.

[jeannie]

It's really hard for me to tell in a photo, but it looks a little like that hamster has balls. It's pretty hard to sex dwarfs. I've even had vets have problems with it.

It is an RC - that much I *can* tell you.

[dosergirl]

I'm also bad at this ...because it's so hard but this is helpful...

russiandwarfhamsters.tripod.com/hams/id19.html

By the way, both new dwarfs are adorable

[Hamsters82]

Aww...your dwarf is so cute! I'm not good at sexing hammies, if you're not totally sure I would go to the vet & find out. Yeah, it is a Campbells.

On your other thread I posted a site about hammie colors if you ever want to go to it.

[Die Fledermaus]

I'll bookmark that site.

I am so convinced she is a female I will try introductions tomorrow after I get back from the parade. Have to fire up my bagpipes. . .

I also have to give this one a name now. An hour ago I rechecked yet again VERY closely: the identification of the anus was obvious - owing to a tad of poop coming out as I scruffed her! There was no other opening "north" of that one that was visible, and that was against white fur, so it should have been easy to see. an hour or so before that I was at my local pet store with the manager I know checking the male dwarfs: four hands on one tiny hamster resulted in an extremely good view of his bits - and they were obviously male and clearly different from the dwarf I have, that despite the very slight bulge in mine. Again, the difference was obvious, so much so intros tomorrow, as I said. We shall see how it goes. . .

[calvinator1]

They're both very cute - though this one reminds me of some of the Beatrix Potter drawings. So maybe Mopsy?

[jeannie]

So would that make it Poppy, Mopsy and Cottontail?

[jeannie]

Another thing I should point out is that not all dwarfs of the same sex look the same. T-Rex looked like a girl, and the vet thought he was a girl, until he was under anasthesia and he relaxed and his balls dropped and something popped out.

I hope you don't end up with another litter (fingers crossed).

[Die Fledermaus]

Jeannie said:

Another thing I should point out is that not all dwarfs of the same sex look the same. T-Rex looked like a girl, and the vet thought he was a girl, until he was under anasthesia and he relaxed and his balls dropped and something popped out.

Sheez. Do you have to be so explicit!? ;D

That reminds me. . . I once had a friend in grade school. He had one testicle (as I prefer to call them!) that never descended. His nickname was The Lone Testicle. (No joke). I think he told us; we never put him under anesthesia to check.
He was very popular with the girls, not owing to having one testicle descended. Not at that age.

And there is nothing more I can do with these dwarfs; they have been CLOSELY examined, and are not going to a vet to be examined under anesthesia while we both wait for something to potentially pop out. If it ever does.

A litter of dwarfs is not comparable to a litter of Syrians, for many obvious reasons. So I am not worried; I just want to avoid fighting and injury.

[Die Fledermaus]

Jeannie said:

So would that make it Poppy, Mopsy and Cottontail?

Some one suggested Snowbell, to go along with Snowball.

- - - - - - - - -

(See a post I will put on the Dwarf breeding forum in about five minutes).

[Die Fledermaus]

HE'S A MALE!!!!

The probing Q-tip reveals all! I definitely found a second nearly hidden opening in Snowbell, that after finally managing a perfect scruff - one where he can neither bite me nor squirm.

Okaaay, tomorrow, some new males; Snowball will live alone (if that is OK - ?). Two males added to Snowbell in the 20 gallon is OK? Or will an odd number bully?

Yes, Snowbell, will be his name.

[jeannie]

I had a sneaking suspicion he was a male. I'm really glad you figured it out. Unwanted dwarf breeding can easily get out of control since they are so hard to sex. They could end up taking over your apartment!

I don't know for certain about 2 vs. 3, but it would seem that 2 was more stable.

[Die Fledermaus]

I wasn't going to put Snowbell in until I probed with a Q-Tip. The damn thing was inside, sort of like a crocodile's bits. Whoa, was I surprised. You would never have known without actual probing. That very slight bulge made me suspicious enough to keep looking.

Anyway, today I got a really pretty and calm dwarf who I can handle with the greatest and safest of ease, and definite male. Maybe later tonight this third one, named Jerry (after the deceased labrador of my friend here), will get introduced.
She had never seen a dwarf before and when I showed him to her she was smitten.

I'd have gotten a wheel for each but they were out of 5.5 Comfort Wheels. They should have a ton of space in a 20 gallon, the one Ebony is currently in - I think she hates it being too big and too exposed making her ancy.

Pictures eventually. I am too tired, too busy - and out of batteries!

If they fail to get along I will find a way to split the tank into two sections with a divider of some kind.

BTW, when I reached in the petstore tank with five in there two of them went at my gloved hand like piranha!


Oh yes, I MAY rename Snowbell as it is too similar, upon reflection, to Snowball. Will let you all know.

[Die Fledermaus]

Here is the summary - a synopsis to date.

Snowball is the female, and first dwarf here. An albino.

Tadelesh ("lucky" in Gaeliic) was named that as I got him the day before St. Patrick's Day. He will usually be called Tad. He is a white mottled male.

Jerry is the third dwarf, male, a lovely tan color. He was named by a neighbor who lost a beloved labrador retreiver in December, and her name was Jerry. I will post photos of him tomorrow.

All three are very calm in my hand and non-bitey, that despite horror stories I heard about dwarfs that made me loathe to get them.

When I tried introductions tonight with all the tricks, including a screen divider, Jerry started running back and forth like mad, and then climbed straight up the divider screen to the top, jumped off, and attacked Tad! All noisy hell broke loose! So I separated them, and may give up on that idea. They all seem happy in their little houses separate from each other. They are all cute, and move amazingly fast for their size in their 5.5 inch Comfort Wheels.

So, they have settled in, each alone, and I can relax, and stop studying dwarf bits.