I got a new hamster about fourteen days ago, she's a very beautiful girl called Timmy (petshop said she was a boy, so we called her Timmy, checked before we went, realised she was a girl- they said nothing would have happened, and stupid me trusted them). She is tame already, loves the kids, and seems like a perfect hamster after just two weeks! She tamed very quickly and easy,we waited a day for her to settle in, and then took it very slowly, and she seems perfect, like my other hamster George.
Anyway, she started making a nest. And had a slight bulge. I didn't know she was pregnant, she was still really sweet and gentle with us. Anyway, I cleaned her out a few minutes ago. I very gently tipped open the nest thing, she had about twelve hairless pink BABIES.
I've done some research about them, and I haven't touched or looked at them since now, but I'm terrified. 1) I don't want to find half eaten hamster babies (do they really kill their babies? is avoiding them until they're 2wks the only thing which will stop there, or can I do anything else?) and 2) I don't know what will happen to the babies.
I bought them from PetsAtHome (I normally adopt, but my friend had got a hamster from PetsAtHome and said the hamsters there were in great condition) and I was wondering if I could take them back when they are about 7wks old, but I'd like to choose the owner and make sure that they're alright.
When do hamsters start fighting, and when should I sell them? When do I start taming them? I know that I could keep three of them if really, really necessary but that would be really hard, and I want to sell them all if possible. Do I clean them out in the weeks I can't touch them? What if they start to smell? When do I separate the girls and boys- when can they start breeding with each other? I know about hamsters, I've had more than twenty five in my lifetime, and the youngest hamster I've ever had was 10wks. I'm generally good at taming hamsters, and caring for them, but I've never had baby hamsters before. I'm 33wks pregnant with twins- I really don't need this hassle and hopefully they'll be out of here by 7wks- I won't sell them too early, but please tell me they can be sold before 7wks. Please, please help me.