this post needs serious updating.......
not getting the previous babies sorted fast enough meaning the boys from the first litter, resulted in this second litter (these are only two of 4 babies).
meet Alexander
Alexander, Sapphire, and Panda. Misha isnt in this one, but i promise to get a picture of him and a better one of Panda.
Sapphire caused a stir, being a blue dwarfie, but all were so cute/pretty:
this post update comes with a sad note. these little ones were born february 12th (my maternal grandmothers birthday, so easy to remember). Alexander showed signs of diabetes at the very young age of 6 weeks. Mischa was also suspected of having diabetes. long story short versions, i lost both within exactly two weeks of each other; Alexander on june 4th; Mischa on june 18th. Panda seems ok but i worry about him. Sapphire i strongly suspect is also diabetic, and was sick with some unexplained illness a couple months ago. i thought she was the only girl in the litter, until recently. a few days ago i discovered 6 new babies, i believe they are Pearls (the tiny one in the last picture of message #4). Pearl was the runt of the first litter, but caught up to the others after a diet change. there was some time i thought id lose her as well.
my main worry is more problems with diabetes; theres a genetic link, and some other relatives of theirs i believe to be diabetic; doing well but they showed signs later. i think its better if they develop it later in life, because the juvenille onset is harder to handle. Alexander and Mischa were two very sweet boys, and their loss is still felt. im hoping i can eventually have Sapphire and Panda together again. Sapphire lived with the girls for quite a few months before the babies arrived, and this is the only litter. im hoping these 6 remain healthy. id change Sapphires name, but he knows his name very well (from me making sure he was ok, and checking on him often as a youngster. Panda is the only fiesty one in this litter. their dad is one of the two bigger babies in the picture with Pearl; at least one of those boys is diabetic, im sure).
btw, this is a perfect example to not purposely inbreed hamsters, and to not randomly breed dwarf hamsters (or any small animal). the exitement of a birth can too quickly result in loss. i feel guilty for not being more alert in separating them, i feel guilty for babies born and developing such a serious illness, then losing them. Alexander and Mischa seemed to be thriving on a diabetic diet, until i lost both to some weird illness which may or may not have been related to their diabetes. both suffered bloat symptoms before rapidly declining. i can only hope the 6 newest arrivals dont develop this disease, at the very least, that they dont develop it so very young.
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