05-20-2008, 12:57 AM
ka jot, the problem with hamsters is that they only have a lifespan of 2-3 years, and are only fertile for less than a year. If you have a good line or lines (as I do), you will want to preserve it... that means breeding them. It's not like dogs or cats where the animals live 10-20 years.
It's true that there's a pet overpopulation problem generally, but... is that primarily due to breeders? I'd say no. In fact most breeders are responsible and do not do unnecessary crosses. (Though it's true, most are breeding for profit -- I am not doing that, obviously.) Most of the overpopulation problems (at least in dogs and cats) I think are due to irresponsible non-breeders not getting their animals spayed or neutered, and having unexpected pregnancies, or intentionally having pregnancies because "it's cute". The aim for most responsible breeders is to breed toward a specific goal-- and they should only be doing crosses which progress toward that goal. Here's an example of the breeder's code for hamsters: http://groups.msn.com/InternetHamsterAss...scode.msnw
P.S. ... remember also, I've done my share of "rescues" from the pet store... so I'm even taking animals that I myself have not produced.
It's true that there's a pet overpopulation problem generally, but... is that primarily due to breeders? I'd say no. In fact most breeders are responsible and do not do unnecessary crosses. (Though it's true, most are breeding for profit -- I am not doing that, obviously.) Most of the overpopulation problems (at least in dogs and cats) I think are due to irresponsible non-breeders not getting their animals spayed or neutered, and having unexpected pregnancies, or intentionally having pregnancies because "it's cute". The aim for most responsible breeders is to breed toward a specific goal-- and they should only be doing crosses which progress toward that goal. Here's an example of the breeder's code for hamsters: http://groups.msn.com/InternetHamsterAss...scode.msnw
P.S. ... remember also, I've done my share of "rescues" from the pet store... so I'm even taking animals that I myself have not produced.