How to Tell Male & Female Dwarf Hamsters Apart

At a glance, you can't identify whether a dwarf hamster is male or female. You have to handle the hamster and take a closer look. Dwarf hamsters, with their small size, sometimes take some time to develop before their distinctive features become noticeable. In addition, male hamsters can retract their testicles up into their abdomen, making it more difficult to determine their sex. However, identifying male and female dwarf hamsters become easier with time and practice.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the dwarf hamster on one hand, hold the nape of its neck with the other hand and turn it over. If you worry about the hamster acting aggressively, place it in a transparent container such as a box or a bowl. Lift the container up and look at it from the bottom of the container.

    • 2

      Inspect the bottom area of the hamster where it has its anus and penis or vagina. A male hamster has an elongated bottom with two separate openings. The bottom part of a female hamster has a rounder shape and two openings located very close to each other, sometimes seeming to appear as one opening.

    • 3

      Look at the part of the body close to the belly button. A male dwarf hamster has a prominent scent gland in the area, while a female dwarf hamster's scent gland is usually not noticeable. The scent gland protrudes from the area, sometimes has no hair and often secretes a greasy to waxy yellow substance.

    • 4

      Observe the belly area of the hamster. A male hamster has no nipples, while a female hamster has four pairs of nipples along both sides of her belly. Some females don't have obvious nipples, but the presence of nipples tells you that the hamster is definitely female.