Syrian hamster male or female?

[JustNotFunAnymore]

Dd2 lost her female Syrian in December. I've posted about it here. It was awful and we miss her a lot.
The place we got her from is brilliant and been great about me messaging them and discussing a new hamster when they get one with the right temperament. They've messaged tonight saying that they have some nice males in. They aren't old enough to leave yet but will send photos if I want.

I had hamsters as a child but they were mostly female as I recall.


Can anyone give me any advice and tips either way? We will wait as long as it takes. We aren't in any rush

[sananbaz]

I've had many hamsters over the years - best temperament has always been light fawn coloured males - sometimes called champagne colour. May be coincidence, but they were always the best natured in my experience.

[2021willbetheyear]

We have a lovely natured male. Don’t know about females.

[Heyha]

I would always choose a male Syrian tbh, I can't articulate why but my memory is saying boys are more chilled and curious. Had a few over the years, funny little things

[BettyOBarley]

I've read that males are supposed to be the best temperament. Was researching about taming hamsters at the time as we have a very jumpy bitey female!

[user1471530109]

I'd read males have the best temperament. Dd lost her 2 yr old female Syrian in December too. We miss her but she was a bit of sod. She would allow you to pick her up, she drew blood many times and even but my boob through the bars once. We spent a fortune on the biggest cage, lots of reading in how to take her. She just didn't want to be handled. She did get a bit better as she got older. Bless her 🐹. The hamsters we babysit are all makes and v laid back.

[sananbaz]

Just checked and the ones I would recommend are called cream!

[user1471530109]

Wouldn't let you pick her up that should say. I built her a playpen. She jumped over the top instantly! She definitely didn't follow the rules.

[jackjackjacks]

I've got a male Syrian. Over two years old now. Sweet little thing he is, we've handled him lots from the day we got him and he sits at his cage door waiting for a cuddle now.

[JustNotFunAnymore]

Thanks everyone. The pet shop messaged again last night and she's going to send some photos today. If we want we can reserve one or go along when they are ready. She said they are lovely and they handle them a lot which I know from last time.
Our little girl was so sweet and we miss her so much. Maybe having a male will help with not comparing the two?

Do they not smell more though?

[JustNotFunAnymore]

So they've sent the photos through! I'm a little bit in love with them all!
Dd is back and forth through the photos and loves the colours but said that it depends on who is the nicest!
I think we will go today and put a deposit down and peep at them.
Thank you for helping 🥰

[Chlordiazepoxide]

Oh let us see a pic! I need some hamster cuteness!

[JustNotFunAnymore]

So cute

[JustNotFunAnymore]

I like this one 🥰

[bakereld]

Females are definitely harder to tame and more restless than males.

That being said, I still have two females and they are lovely now.

My teddy bear coloured one was quite hard to tame, and was extremely jumpy and bitey at first. She took a fair few weeks of taming to be handled.

My black Syrian is completely different, she is so laid back, and was ready to be handled within a few days of having her, never jumped and bit me, and was itching to come out of her cage and play.

I think it's pot luck with the temperament you get, but males are on the whole more laid back than females.

[JustNotFunAnymore]

Well we are home. She was allowed to look at them all properly. The owners daughter saw us and had been the one replying to my messages. She was super helpful and opened all the glass so that dd could get a bit of a feel for them. She was torn between three by the end but one came up to the front of the cage and climbed up to sniff at her. He let her stroke his back and didn't react to that. He seems very sweet so fingers crossed he will be coming home in the next week or two. They want to make sure they are nice and strong when they leave. Dd is thrilled and keeps hugging me and saying thank you. She's such a sweet kid.

Thanks all for the replies. I will let you know once a name is decided upon and the date we can go any get him.

[JustNotFunAnymore]

Oh and it's the little pale one in this huddle

[user127819]

Males on average tend to be calmer and easier to please than females so if you're used to females, you should do ok with this one. There are always exceptions of course!

In my experience there is no difference in general smell between males and females but the females can smell during heat (about every four days). Some people are more sensitive to the heat smell than others. It does bother me a bit so I prefer males.

[onlychildandhamster]

Also females generally require a bigger space to be happy. The minimum for a male syrian is 80 by 50 cm but the minimum for a female syrian is 100 cm by 50 cm. thats just a guide though, my male syrian is far happier in his 100 by 54 cm cage but i have heard of females who require no less than a detolf (163 cm by 43 cm) to not bar bite/climb cage bars. They are often referred to as little madams!