The Hamster Code Returns
blowe@wpcusrgrp.org@wpcug.wpcusrgrp.org
The Hamster Code returns!
Thanks to the generous contributions of Dave Hopf (http://www.cnw.com/~ibis), I have made several additions and extensions to the Hamster Code. These include:
- A lot of new colours
- New patterns
- Information about the hamster's eyes
- Modifications to the hair codes
So, here is the Hamster Code, version 1.3. As always, the Hamster Code can be seen on the web at http://www.wpcusrgrp.org/~blowe/hcode.html.
Brian
THE HAMSTER CODE, version 1.3
-----------------------------
What is a code? On the usenet, a code is a list of attributes with modifiers to show their applicability to the person or thing being coded. There are geek codes, Jewish codes, cat (and probably dog) codes. The hamster community now has its own code, called (appropriately) the Hamster Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Elements in the Hamster Code:
Name
Breed
Gender and Fertility
Age
Colour, Pattern, and Eye Colour
H(hair)
W(weight)
S(size)
E(energy)
R(rhythm)
A(Agressiveness)
D(Dwelling)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME:
All hamsters have a name of some sort; many more than one. Since it's probably the most important thing about the hamsters we love, the name is first in the Hamster Code. The hamster's formal name is given first. If it has a nickname, it is placed in parentheses after the formal name. A colon (":") separates the name from the rest of the code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BREED:
Humans just love subdividing things into categories, and hamsters are no exception. The list of hamster breeds fortunately is not that extensive.
Regular pet breeds:
B - Siberian
C - Chinese
D - Dwarf
R - Russian
S - Syrian
TB - Teddy Bear
RD - Russian Dwarf
Other not-so-common breeds:
CO - Common
GR - Gray
ML - Mouselike
RL - Ratlike
ST - Striped
---------------------------------------------------------------------
GENDER AND FERTILITY:
Like all small rodents, hamsters are very good at making more hamsters.
X++ Female: I am a hamster factory
X+ Female, fertile
X Female, fertile but segregated to prevent babies
X- Female, too old or too young
X-- Female, neutered
Y++ Male, very active
Y+ Male, active
Y Male, active but segregated
Y- Male, too old or too young
Y-- Male, neutered
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AGE:
Sadly, hamsters are short lived animals. The age element of the Hamster Code is two numbers separated by a slash: the first number is the year in which the hamster was born, the second is the month.
If a hamster's birth date is uncertain, it can be coded as ?/x, where x is one of Y (young), A (adult), or O (old.)
An age of H/H means "Hamster Heaven," that is, the hamster has gone to the Great Wheel in the Sky.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COLOUR, PATTERN, AND EYE COLOUR:
For such a small animal, hamsters come in a surprising variety of colours and patterns. The colour element of the Hamster Code is intended to give an idea of a hamster's main colours and patterns. The colour is in uppercase letters and the pattern is in lower case and enclosed by parentheses.
COLOUR:
A - Albino
B - Blonde
CH - Chocolate
CI - Cinnamon
CR - Cream
D - Dove
F - Fawn
G - Gold
GY - Gray
H - Honey
K - Black
N - Brown
O - Orange
P - Pink
R - Red
RD - Ruddy
RO - Roan
RU - Rust
S - Silver
SA - Sable
T - Tortise Shell
W - White
X - Other
PATTERN:
(*) - single colour
(b) - banded
(d) - dorsal (striped)
(ds) - dominant spot
(f) - front
(pa) - panda
(pb) - piebald
(r) - roan
(s) - striped
(o) - other
EYE COLOUR:
/K - Black
/R - Red
/RU - Ruby
EYE MODIFIERS:
-- No eyes (either by accident or genetic defect)
- Blind
+ Reflective (indicates presence of white-bellied gene)
, Used to separate left eye and right eye if their attributes differ
If a hamster has only one colour, it is written as either as colour alone or
as colour(*), for example, a golden hamster with black eyes would be either
G/K or G(*)/K.
If a hamster has more than one colour, it is written as primary colour +
secondary colour(pattern). For example, a cream coloured hamster with a brown
band and ruby eyes (blind in the left eye) would be CR+N(b)/RU-,RU.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
H: HAIR
Hair is very important to a hamster: they usually keep their coats looking bright and shiny.
H-- No hair to speak of
H- Actually, it's FUR
H Normal length hair
H+ Extra long hair
H++ I have been mistaken for a tribble
Hair can have some special attributes:
(c) - curly
(s) - skirt
(t) - tuft
(w) - wavy
When a special attribute is used, it follows after the H and before the modifier; therefore, a hamster with long wavy hair would be H(w)+.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
W: WEIGHT
Hamster weights can vary from one end of the scale to the other.
W-- I'm so thin that you can count my bones.
W- I'm slim but healthy.
W I'm an average hamster, not too thin and not too fat.
W+ I'm a heavy hamster, but it's all muscle!
W++ The floors tremble when I walk
---------------------------------------------------------------------
S: SIZE
Even among animals as small as hamsters, their size can vary.
S-- I look like a baby hamster
S- I'm almost as small as a mouse
S Normal sized hamster
S+ I'm a big hamster
S++ I look like a furry tennis ball.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
E: ENERGY LEVEL
Does your hamster run around like mad, or sit and contemplate life?
E-- My human usually thinks I'm dead
E- I'll get up for food
E I sleep and run around (in that order)
E+ My gymnastics would make Nadia envious
E++ My human runs his stereo off my wheel
---------------------------------------------------------------------
R: RHYTHM (Sleep/Wake cycle)
Usually hamsters are nocturnal: they come out at night to run around. But some people have managed to fool their hamster into thinking day is night and night is day.
R-- I'm awake only in the wee small hours of the morning
R- I'm awake in the late evening and early night
R You can see me in the late afternoon and evening
R+ I'll wake up whenever you want to see me
R++ You mean hamsters actually sleep?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A: AGRESSIVENESS
Let's face it: hamsters are basically wild animals. They simply haven't been around humans long enough to be considered "domesticated." In fact, domestication may be the result of a genetic mutuation. People haven't needed to put hamsters to work for them, so there have not been many breeding programs designed to make them tamer.
A-- I'll let a two-year old boy handle me
A- You can play with me all day and I won't bite
A Handle me nice or I'll nip you
A+ If you're nice and gentle I probably won't bite you
A++ Even that cat is afraid of me
---------------------------------------------------------------------
D: DWELLING
Be it ever so humble, a hamster's home is its own private little castle.
D-- I'm kept in a dark shoebox
D- I have a small cage and would like to have a wheel
D I live in a standard wire cage with a wheel and water bottle
D+ I have a large aquarium with lots of bedding, a wheel, water and food
D++ My human singlehandedly keeps Habitrail in business
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamster code example:
ROSEBUD is the first hamster ever to have a hamster code. Here it is:
Rosebud: S X- 95/2 G(*)/K H(s) W S E+ R- A D
J. McGuire
Couple of questions:
What are your distinctions between Siberian/Dwarf/Russian/RussianDwarf?
Perhaps coding by species name/abbreviation might be more appropriate?
Shouldn't the Phodopus species have their own set of color codes, since
their wild-type pattern and available color morphs are quite a bit
different from those of the golden hamsters?
-- Jean
Wintertree Software | Remember to remove the spambot-blocker
http://www.io.com/~wtsoft | from my address before replying via email
"Honor is not a matter of doing what is right when it is easy and
convenient; even a cat will do that. Honor lies in doing what is right
when it is difficult and unpleasant."
blowe@wpcusrgrp.org@wpcug.wpcusrgrp.org
Hi Jean,
>What are your distinctions between Siberian/Dwarf/Russian/RussianDwarf?
At the moment, none. I'm still trying to get a handle on the genetics.
>Perhaps coding by species name/abbreviation might be more appropriate?
At this moment, I can't say. I don't know the breeds well enough. I'm
learning, though! :)
>Shouldn't the Phodopus species have their own set of color codes, since
>their wild-type pattern and available color morphs are quite a bit
>different from those of the golden hamsters?
That I can't say. Are the Phodopus available as pets?
Brian
J. McGuire
Lorraine Hill wrote:
>
> On 13 Jan 1997 00:03:16 GMT, bl...@wpcusrgrp.org@wpcug.wpcusrgrp.org
> wrote:
>
> >Hi Jean,
> >
> >>What are your distinctions between Siberian/Dwarf/Russian/RussianDwarf?
> >
> >At the moment, none. I'm still trying to get a handle on the genetics.
>
> Dwarf Campbells Russian
> These are the two different species of Dwarf Russian hamsters
The last time I took a good look through the literature, they seemed to
have labelled subspecies again. They certainly interbreed well enough,
with not only fertile offspring but *highly* fertile offspring.
> Dwarf Winter White Russian or Siberian Hamster = Phodopus Sungoris
> Sungoris
> Dwarf Campbell Russian = Phodopus Sungoris Campbelli
> Roborovski Hamster = Phodopus Roborovskii
...which may or may not all be one, or two, or three, or four (there's
another, I forget what) species. Or subspecies. Or political parties,
for all the taxonomists can figure out. <sigh>
BTW, I get the feeling that you folks over on the other side of the
Great Water have a much better selection of small rodents than we do.
Has that been your experience as well?
Lorraine Hill
>Hi Jean,
>
>>What are your distinctions between Siberian/Dwarf/Russian/RussianDwarf?
>
>At the moment, none. I'm still trying to get a handle on the genetics.
Dwarf Winter White Russian also known as Siberian Hamsters
Dwarf Campbells Russian
These are the two different species of Dwarf Russian hamsters
>
>>Perhaps coding by species name/abbreviation might be more appropriate?
>
>At this moment, I can't say. I don't know the breeds well enough. I'm
>learning, though! :)
>
>>Shouldn't the Phodopus species have their own set of color codes, since
>>their wild-type pattern and available color morphs are quite a bit
>>different from those of the golden hamsters?
>
>That I can't say. Are the Phodopus available as pets?
>
Dwarf Winter White Russian or Siberian Hamster = Phodopus Sungoris
Sungoris
Dwarf Campbell Russian = Phodopus Sungoris Campbelli
Roborovski Hamster = Phodopus Roborovskii
All are available as pets in the UK
>Brian
>
Lorraine
Heart of England Hamster Club
lorra...@ukonline.co.uk
http://www.acmepet.com/non-profit/hoehc.html
Lorraine Hill
On Mon, 13 Jan 1997 04:20:54 -0800, "J. McGuire"
<jmcg...@wtsoft.REMOVE.THIS.com> wrote:
>Lorraine Hill wrote:
>>
>> On 13 Jan 1997 00:03:16 GMT, bl...@wpcusrgrp.org@wpcug.wpcusrgrp.org
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi Jean,
>> >
>> >>What are your distinctions between Siberian/Dwarf/Russian/RussianDwarf?
>> >
>> >At the moment, none. I'm still trying to get a handle on the genetics.
>>
>> Dwarf Winter White Russian also known as Siberian Hamsters
>> Dwarf Campbells Russian
>> These are the two different species of Dwarf Russian hamsters
>
>The last time I took a good look through the literature, they seemed to
>have labelled subspecies again. They certainly interbreed well enough,
>with not only fertile offspring but *highly* fertile offspring.
>
>> Dwarf Winter White Russian or Siberian Hamster = Phodopus Sungoris
>> Sungoris
>> Dwarf Campbell Russian = Phodopus Sungoris Campbelli
>> Roborovski Hamster = Phodopus Roborovskii
>
>...which may or may not all be one, or two, or three, or four (there's
>another, I forget what) species. Or subspecies. Or political parties,
>for all the taxonomists can figure out. <sigh>
>
>BTW, I get the feeling that you folks over on the other side of the
>Great Water have a much better selection of small rodents than we do.
>Has that been your experience as well?
>
>-- Jean
>
> Wintertree Software | Remember to remove the spambot-blocker
>http://www.io.com/~wtsoft | from my address before replying via email
>
>"Honor is not a matter of doing what is right when it is easy and
>convenient; even a cat will do that. Honor lies in doing what is right
>when it is difficult and unpleasant."
Yes Winter White Russains and Campbells Russians will interbreed and
can produce fertile offspring. However, to interbreed the two species
is not generally recommended as it not considered to be in the
interest of either species.
I am not aware of a fourth Phodopus species.
In the UK we have a widespread hamster fancy and currently have
Syrians, Winter White Russians, Campbells Russians, Chinese and
Roborovski Hamsters. The Mouse-Like hamster is also present in the UK
but not within the hamster fancy as such. I think there may be plans
to import more though.
Varieties at present include:
SYRIAN
Colours:
Golden (Dark and normal), Cinnamon, Black Eyed Cream, Red Eyed Cream,
Flesh Eared White, Dark Eared White, Rust (rare), Dark Grey, Lilac,
Smoke Pearl, Beige (rare), Light Grey (rare), Blonde (rare), Black
Eyed Ivory, Red Eyed Ivory, Copper, Yellow, Honey, Sable, Mink, Blue
Mink, Tortoiseshell, Lilac Pearl, Chocolate (from Sable0, Black,
Silver Grey, Dove, Chocolate (from Black), Silver Sable and various
other colours not yet named derived from Black and Silver Grey.
Coat Types:
Long Haired, Short Haired, Rex, Satin
Patterns:
Roan/White Bellied, Banded, Dominant Spot
CAMPBELLS RUSSIAN
Colours:
Normal (grey), Argente, Albino
Pattern:
Mottled
Coat Types:
Satin
WINTER WHITE RUSSIAN
Colours:
Normal (grey), Sapphire
Pattern:
Pearl
CHINESE
Colour:
Normal
Pattern:
Dominant Spot
ROBOROVSKI
Only normal colour and coat type
I believe there are other colours available in the US such as Opal,
Chinchilla and Blue .. and I suspect there are plans to import these
into the UK at some point.
Carla & Steen
Lorraine Hill wrote:
>
<snip a lot>
> Yes Winter White Russains and Campbells Russians will interbreed and
> can produce fertile offspring. However, to interbreed the two species
> is not generally recommended as it not considered to be in the
> interest of either species.
<snip a lot>
--------------------------------------
OK, I realize I'm probably REALLY airing my ignorance by asking this
question, but why exactly is interbreeding these two species not
considered to be in the interest of either species? I guess I really
don't know enough about breeding to understand this issue.
Carla
Carla & Steen
Lorraine Hill
On Fri, 17 Jan 1997 21:58:40 -0600, Carla & Steen <gib...@btigate.com>
wrote:
Carla
A good question: Basically the Winter White Russian and Campbells
Russian are two difference species and sub-species with their own
colour mutations.
Firstly, breeders should consider that hybrids, although fertile could
decrease in fertility down the line as there are biological
differences between the two species/sub-species.
Another factor is that too much interbreeding could result in only
hybrids being in existence in the future (ie no pure Winter White or
Campbells stock). This has happened with several colour mutations (ie
in the UK there are very few pure normal coloured Campbells kept these
days as most carry the Albino or Argente gene - this in turn decreases
the chance of any colour mutations occurring or if any do occur
establishing exactly what and how the mutation occurred).
In the same way the Winter White and Campbells have different colour
mutations and if a colour mutation were to occur in the hybrid it
could not be a recognised colour of the Winter White or the Campbells
but only a mutation of Hybrids.
Once the two species are mated together, there is no way of producing
pure Winter White or pure Campbells from these hybrids.
Therefore interbreeding on a large scale could threaten the existence
of the Winter White and Campbells Russians, could decrease the chance
of colour mutations, could affect the recognition of new colour
mutations and if hybrids became sterile down the line could even
threaten the availability of dwarf hamsters on the pet market.
That is why I say it is not in the interests of either species.
R. Pappas
Carla & Steen wrote:
>
> Lorraine Hill wrote:
> >
> <snip a lot>
>
> > Yes Winter White Russains and Campbells Russians will interbreed and
> > can produce fertile offspring. However, to interbreed the two species
> > is not generally recommended as it not considered to be in the
> > interest of either species.
>
> <snip a lot>
> --------------------------------------
>
> OK, I realize I'm probably REALLY airing my ignorance by asking this
> question, but why exactly is interbreeding these two species not
> considered to be in the interest of either species? I guess I really
> don't know enough about breeding to understand this issue.
>
> Carla
I would believe that it is because it reduces the "integrity" of the
species and eventually it could lead to the (for lack of a better word)
pollution of the species. And it could lead to possible irradication
(sp) of either or both species. If we want to have two species it is
probally best to keep the pure. Does this make sense????
Rachael
This is just my best educated guess
R. Pappas
Carla & Steen wrote:
>
> Lorraine Hill wrote:
> >
> <snip a lot>
>
> > Yes Winter White Russains and Campbells Russians will interbreed and
> > can produce fertile offspring. However, to interbreed the two species
> > is not generally recommended as it not considered to be in the
> > interest of either species.
>
> <snip a lot>
> --------------------------------------
>
> OK, I realize I'm probably REALLY airing my ignorance by asking this
> question, but why exactly is interbreeding these two species not
> considered to be in the interest of either species? I guess I really
> don't know enough about breeding to understand this issue.
>
> Carla
There is nothing ingorant about asking questions. In fact quite the
opposite. Question everything you do not understand, an inquiring mind
is a happy one.
Rachael
os...@brokersys.com
On 1997-01-18 rpa...@vcss.k12.ca.us said:
>Newsgroups: alt.pets.hamsters
>Carla & Steen wrote:
>>I really don't know enough about breeding to understand this
>issue. >
>> Carla
>There is nothing ingorant about asking questions. In fact quite the
>opposite. Question everything you do not understand, an inquiring
>mind is a happy one.
>Rachael
Rachael,
here-here on that one. That's something everyone should keep in mind at all
times. I'm blind and am always happy to answer questions on my blindness.
You don't know how many times people have asked me "can I ask you a
personal question?" and that personal question turn out to be about my
blindness. They seem like they're afraid to ask questions, not realizing
that asking questions is the only way they're ever going to find out the
answers to things they're wondering about.
R. Pappas
> You don't know how many times people have asked me "can I ask you a
> personal question?" and that personal question turn out to be about my
> blindness. They seem like they're afraid to ask questions, not realizing
> that asking questions is the only way they're ever going to find out the
> answers to things they're wondering about.
Funny you should mention that? I was wondering how you read these
massages and how you reply. Do you have a voice emulator or something
along that line? If so do we all sound the same or can you assign a
voice to each or us?
Or am I way off on this??
Rachael