Mice and hamsters can’t breed. They are both rodents but different species, which means that they cannot mate and make babies. Both have a distinct smell, so they wouldn’t be attracted to each other anyway. Some hamsters would even kill each other, so they won’t get along with other rodents.
This article will give you all the information you need about cross-breeding in rodents. I will tell you how mice and hamsters identify each other and how cross-breeding works exactly.
Why Different Rodent Species Can’t Mate?
Mice, hamsters, and other rodents do not like each other. They want to live separately and leave each other alone. We also discussed how hamsters, unlike other rodents, are not social and should not be put in a cage together either way. However, that depends on the hamster species—some get along if you introduce them when they’re young.
Different Genes
Even different hamster species can’t successfully mate most of the time. Different genes don’t allow for species to make viable babies. The males from certain animal species can fertilize a female from another species, but the baby won’t survive.
This means that even if mice and hamsters liked each other enough to mate, they would not be able to breed together because they are genetically different.
Other Animals
Some animal species can, in fact, breed with each other and create hybrid babies. Those mixed babies will come out infertile and thus won’t be able to procreate any further, even with animals of their own species. You can have different mutations within a species, which means you can have animals from a single species with slightly different genetics.
When it’s a possibility, breeding different species with one another is a great way to bring out the characteristics of both species and create a hybrid animal that is a perfect mix of particular strengths and weaknesses. In some situations, it’s a horrible idea to have animals with genetic differences breed.
That is the case with certain dog breeds. Some breeds have serious health complications because of mutations, like breathing problems in pugs and back/joint issues in Dachshunds.
Some hybrid animals that did turn out well are the savanna cat (serval cat and domestic cat), cama (llama and camel), mule (donkey and horse), and the beautiful tigon (male lion and female tiger). For more beautiful hybrid animals, you should check out this article.
Pregnancy
The mating and pregnancy processes of mice and hamsters are entirely different. The pregnancy of mice lasts around four days longer than that of hamsters.
Hamsters are pregnant for about 16 days, which is an incredibly short time. Mice are pregnant for about 20 days, so it takes longer for more mice babies to develop.
Hamsters, on average, can birth more babies than mice. Mice babies also drink milk from their mom for longer. Hamster babies switch to more solid foods after about a week.
Artificial Insemination
As we’ve discussed right before this, mice and hamsters cannot breed. This is not just because they aren’t attracted to each other and wouldn’t mate. It is also because it’s genetically impossible.
Artificial insemination would not be possible in this scenario.
Artificial insemination is sometimes used with other animal species to get females pregnant when the mating process is too complex or when animals are at risk of extinction. Sometimes it’s the safest way for a female to get pregnant, or it just goes faster. Artificial insemination is frequently used for livestock because of faster production.
Sometimes, artificial insemination is used to have some control over genetics and to create stronger and healthier animals. It is kind of interesting to imagine a mix between hamsters and mice, but sadly we don’t have any real-life examples.
Do Rodents Like Each Other?
Most of the time, they do not. Hamsters can be pretty aggressive towards each other, and it can sometimes end up in death for one of the hamsters. They are also aggressive with other rodents. Even rats and mice, which are social creatures, should not be put together in a closed environment.
How Do Rodents Identify One Another?
Different rodent species must be able to identify each other for their protection. So, how do they do that? Hamster sight is pretty bad, so while mice and rats might be able to recognize a hamster quickly, a hamster won’t do the same.
Sight
The eyesight of hamsters and mice isn’t great, but they do recognize one another and acknowledge that they are different species. The sight of hamsters is worse than that of other rodents, so they have to rely more on senses like smell and hearing to live life to the best of their abilities.
Even though they would be able to recognize each other visually, they are more prone to pick up on their scent or sounds from further away. They probably won’t come that close to each other willingly, but if you put a hamster and a mouse together in a cage, it will most definitely end up in a serious fight.
Scent
Hamsters, like other rodents, are quite territorial. To mark their territory, they secrete a substance from the sides of their backs. That’s why you see them constantly rub their backs against things. They leave behind the substance, which has a particular scent, as they go on their way.
This isn’t just a way to mark their territory but also for them to navigate their environment. After all, they can’t rely on their sight to guide them around.
Sound
Hamsters have fantastic hearing. They can hear sounds that fall outside of human audition. You should keep that in mind when choosing a place to put their cage. TVs, refrigerators, speakers, and ovens are some examples of sources of ultrasonic sounds.
Hamsters can often hear these, and it could cause them stress. Some plants even make an ultrasonic sound when being cut.
Both rats and mice use ultrasonic sounds to communicate with each other, so hamsters can pick up on that and are warned about their presence. Other animals that use ultrasonic sounds are bats and frogs. You won’t hear the sounds produced by these animals, but hamsters will.
If you want to learn more about where and how to keep your hamster safe and happy inside your house, you should check this article.
Final Thoughts
Mice and hamsters cannot mate. They may look alike, but they are different species. Their different genes don’t allow them to create viable babies.
Mice and hamsters aren’t attracted to each other, so they wouldn’t even try to mate. They can recognize each other by their excellent senses of sound and scent, and they will avoid one another.
When confronted, they will fight. A fight between the two would likely end up killing the mouse. Hamsters can be very aggressive, so don’t try to put them in a cage together.