Winter White Dwarf Hamsters' Genetics

This is a quick and short article about WWs' genetics. It is important to know that this works only in case of pure Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters and can not be implied in cases of hybrids/puddings, moscows, marbeleds, mushrooms, mandarins  or any other unsubstantiated WW hamster colours. So here it is:

There are three known WW genes: Agouti (A), Sapphire (S) and Pearl (Pe). There are also claimed to be other pure genes as Marbeled/Merle (Me), Mandarin (Ma) and Imperial (Im), but those are believed to be either result of hybridizing (Me,Ma) or extinct (Im). I am gonna work with only the basic 3. There is the difference between colour and pattern; coulour means which colour hamster's fur will be and pattern is the factor that causes the amount of colouring showing up (or lack of coulouring in case of some Pearls).

1) AGOUTI: Agouti (a.k.a. Wild) is a colour of wild animal, and is the dominant gene for Winter Whites. My past hamster Bella used to be Agouti coloured. Since Agouti is dominant gene; it's geotype is either AA (homozygous Agouti; carries two Agouti genes) or AS (heterozygous Agouti; meaning animal carries one Agouti gene and one Sapphire gene). No matter AA or AS; the animal will always be Agouti coloured.

Bella, an Agouti Winter White 

2) SAPPHIRE: Sapphire is the other colouring gene in Winter White that makes hamster's fur grey/blueish. This colour mutation doesn't occur in wilderness and was produced in captivity by selective breeding. It is basically a mutation that occured once and was spread by breeding Sapphires to Sapphires or Sapphire carriers (AS). The genotype is SS (homozygous Sapphire, since heterozygous AS would be an Agouti coloured Sapphire carrier). Since Sapphire is recessive gene, it's maybe more tricky to work with then Agouti.

Sheldon (dad) and Aiden (son), two of my Sapphire Winter Whites

3) PEARL: Most considere Pearl to be the rearest colour that WWs come in. Wrong and wrong. First off, many don't understand that Pearl (Pe) is a mutated gene that actually masks hamster into their white winter coat year round. As stated previously; WWs come only in Agouti or Sapphire colours, and wether they are gonna show it or not is thanks to Pearl gene. Pearl gene is dominant, as opposed to a non-pearl state (non-pearl is not a gene, as it's only possible pattern in the wilderness, and is marked as either pe or - in genotypes). So, considering all that, your Pearl hamster could be either PePe (homozygous Pearl, means all it's offspring will turn out Pearl) or Pepe/Pe- heterozygous Pearl, carries one Pearl gene and lack the other one). Breeding Pearls is mostly done in Pearl-exclusive lines, as you may (will) lost the track of what colour Pearl masks. As of today, there is no way to tell Agouti Pearl from Sapphire Pearl without testing breedings. Pearls can be either pure white or so called dirty (displaying darker marks on the back or entire dorsal stripe, occasional darker spots on ears or between eyes). Number of Pe genes doesn't affect wether hamster will be pure white Pearl or dirty Pearl.

Sevan, my dirty Pearl (visable dosral stripe and darker spot on her head)

This is how far my knowledge in Winter Whites' genetics go. I could rambble about other (new) coulour variations, but those are not fully researched yet. I do think I read that Mandarin gene (Ma), causing a orange/creamish is domiant, but those hamster are breed mosty in Asia (and recently in wester Europe and USA) and some do breed their pets to get that coulours, but no matter if you know all the genetics or nothing, leave breeding to profesioal breeders that know what they are doing.

Super Pets' Silent Spinner (The background Story)

The last post was so so long ago.

Today, I am doing a review and sort of a background story for a Silent Spinner wheel I got Sheldon 2 months ago. I am late, sorry.

So, I went to a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina with my class in May, and while we were staying in Sarajevo, a friend suggested to go visit some local pet shops. Sadly, we only came across one, and when we went to see animals. They didn't have any, we asked like "Do you sell animals?". They said they do, but not all the time, they did had some tanks on shelves, but there was no water or bedding inside. I was, of course "Do you sell hamster?", and they said only Syrians, occasionally; when litter arrives, which surprises me, since pet shops in Croatia overbreed and always have full stock. So after a big no-animals-whatsoever dissapointment I went to check on hamster stuff they are selling, not expectinmg to see anything mayor. But then when I got to the rodent shelf, I was happily surprised to a blue Silent Spinner in size medium. I asked if they do have more of it, but they said it's the last one left and new stock comes next week, but we were staying only 2 days. Too bad. I ended up paying 20 convertible marks, near 80 kuna, about some 10-11 $, which I believe is not too much to pay for a decent wheel. I couldn't wait to get home that night, and when I got home, first thing I did was replacing Sheldon's old bar wheel with Silent Spinner. I had no idea it was shaky, so we ended up not sleeping for half an hour that night since Shells decided to destroy that wheel. " Hell SILNET, should be called WAKES-YOU-UP-IN-THE-MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT Spinner", thought I and was disappointed with this product everyone else seems to love. The day after I did my research on noisy Silent Spinners and discovered it should be taped down to the cage floor. I did it, and sleeping the folowing night was as peaceful as sleeping in heaven would be. All in all, I fell in love with this hamster product, and I can't see a reason that Croatian pet shops don't sell it. I do have plans, however, about ordering these wheels for all of my hamsters as soon as I turn 18 and get to shop online.

Introducing Dwarf Hamsters

• A WEEK METHOD (My personal choice that works in more cases for me)

First, second and third day put A hamster in ball and put it it B hamster's cage (do this when both hamsters are awake). Leave ball in cage for about 10 minutes, making sure there is no way hamsters can hurt each other. After returning A hamster to it's cage, put B hamster in ball and place it in A hamster's cage for 10 minutes. 

Fourth, fifth and sixth day put A hamster in a ball and leave it in it's cage and release B hamster in A hamster's cage. Repeat this process vice versa.

Seventh day clean the cage (wash all plastic stuff and cage with 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water and change all bedding). Release hamsters to the cage at the same time. 

• AN "OPEN" AREA METHOD (Didn't work out for Bella and Peanut)

Ensure big enough "open" area (a.k.a. play pen) for your hamsters and make sure both get used to it.

Put a lot of toys (new toys that neither of hamsters used before) and some treats in to keep hamsters occupied and not letting them have much time to hurt one each other.

Release both hamsters to the area at the same time.