How to Determine a Hamster's Gender

If you have more than one hamster, or plan to breed hamsters, determining their gender is critical. Determining the gender of a hamster takes careful inspection, since hamsters are small and their genitalia is not so pronounced as with dogs, cats or even mice.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the gender of any newly purchased or recently weaned hamster as soon as possible. Hamsters mature as early as 1 month after birth and thus can rapidly overpopulate.

2. Grasp the hamster gently but firmly in your left hand. The hamster will become frightened if held with too much pressure, so do not squeeze too tightly.

3. Turn over the hamster so it is on its back.

4. Blow warm air onto the hamster to calm it while brushing back the fur along the rear. Warmth reassures the hamster and keeps it calm.

5. Hold the hamster by the scruff of its neck and look carefully at the area around the anus.

6. Look at the "vents," or openings, at the rear. A male will have more space between the openings of its rear and its penile opening. The female will have almost no space at all between the anus and the vaginal opening.

7. Check to see if the animal has a scrotal sac. If it does, then it is obviously a male. The more sexually mature the animal is, the more pronounced the scrotal sac will be.