Gestation of Angora Hamsters

An Angora hamster (also called a teddy bear hamster) is a type of Syrian hamster, the most common pet hamster and a solitary animal. The word "Angora" refers to the coat type. They live approximately 2 to 4 years, during which time the female comes into season (also known as heat) every four days. This occurs after reaching the age of 4 weeks. The gestation period is very short -- only about 16 days -- after which the female is ready to mate again.

  1. Sexual Maturity

    • Female Syrian hamsters achieve sexual maturity at 4 weeks. At that age, she will come into heat for the first time and every four days from that point; however, she is not mature enough at that age to care for young. The female must be physically mature, which occurs at 4 to 6 months, and reach her full size and weight of approximately 3.5 oz. before attempting to mate her. Mating after full maturity will ensure she has a successful gestation and can care for the young.

    Signs of Heat

    • Many female mammals indicate the signs of heat in the same way -- by lifting their rump in the air and lowering their front end. This is true of the Syrian hamster as well. When a female comes into heat, she will exhibit signs call "standing." She stands completely still with her rump in the air and her tail straight up.

    Mating

    • Mate hamsters on neutral ground so neither the male or female feels the need to defend their territory. Mating generally occurs within about 20 minutes. If the female is ready to mate, she will stand for the male; however, if she is not ready, or if she has had enough of the male's attention, she will attack him. Supervision is essential during mating. If a fight begins, separate them immediately to prevent harm to either animal.

    Gestation

    • Syrian hamsters gestate for 16 days. If the female is pregnant, she will exhibit signs by nest building. Leave the female alone for at least 14 days after mating to prevent agitating her. It is best to wait at least 16 days after a mating attempt to determine if she is pregnant. Mating her prior to the end of this period may cause problems with a pregnancy. A female will come into heat again immediately after giving birth, so take care that the female does not have the opportunity to mate again until the current babies are at least 4 weeks old.