Hera

In October 2024, a couple adopted a hamster from a pet store chain. They purposefully adopted a male but received quite the surprise when their hamster gave birth to 4 babies! The pet store did not sex their hamsters correctly which lead to a surprise pregnancy and new pet guardians scrambling to figure out how to care for all these extra hammies! They were living in the same habitat that could lead to another accidental litter but also fighting between the hamsters since they are solitary, territorial animals by nature. The couple did not receive outside aid or support and decided to reach out to hamster rescues for help with their care and eventual adoption. Luckily, we had space to offer mom and babies.

Our new hamster guests are Roborovski hamsters, often called “Robo hamsters”. Robo hamsters are a species of dwarf hamster so they will only grow 2-4 inches long while Syrian hamsters grow 6 inches! We were told they were all females, but since it can be hard to determine males and females in our little hamster friends, we separated all the hamsters into their own fun, enriching habitats! Plus, hamsters prefer to live in separate habitats once they are old enough to be away from mom. After a vet visit, we do believe one of the hammies is a male. They have been handled and socialized in their previous home, and we can’t wait for them to get to know us too! Welcome to mommy, Hera; her daughters, Calliope, Calypso, Pandora; and son, Orpheus!

Hera is the original hamster that was adopted out as a “male” but ended up being a female who was already pregnant! Estimated to be born in early October, 2024, Hera gave birth to 4 healthy babies in November 2024. She got a good checkup with our vet in April, 2025. We are excited to get to know her more and learn her personality!