Before we explain the results or our project, we would like to provide you with some information about hamsters so that you better understand why our results did not exactly match the expected ratios of our predictions.
Syrian hamsters, scientifically known as Mesocricetus auratus, include golden, fancy, teddy bear and standard hamsters. In order to breed hamsters, the female must be placed in the male's cage; because the female is territorial, she will attack the male if he is placed in her cage rather than she in his cage. The female should be placed in the male's cage for four consecutive days; on one of these days, she will enter estrus and allow the male to mate with her.
Ten days after the female becomes pregnant, she will begin to show as her belly begins to swell. The average gestation period is 16-18 days. A few days before the female gives birth, her cage should be cleaned and sufficiently bedded. An average of 4-10 babies are born. The nest should not be disturbed or the mother will eat the babies.
Our P generation female gave birth to eleven babies. The average birth rate is 4-10 offspring. Two appeared to be dead upon birth and later we discovered that four were possibly eaten. Often, the mother stuffs the babies into her cheek pouches until the danger passes; however, the babies suffocate when she does this. In addition, a mother is more likely to eat her babies if she herself is under the age of four months. At 3 weeks, the babies should be separated from their mother. At the age of 6 weeks, the males should be separated from the females.
Throughout, the project we maintained a journal detailing when the hamsters mated, how they developed and how we cared for them. The following links will bring you to additional information about our project.
To find more information about hamsters, visit:
HAMSTER LAND