Syrian Hamster Problem

Question
I've got a 18month old Syrian hamster called Sally. She's lovely and is very kind and gentle toward everything and everyone. I'm getting some younger hamsters [with my sister] so that we can breed them soon. I am just wondering, is Sally too old to have her first litter?
Also, does the male and female have to be the same age for a litter?
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Emeita,

    Yes, Sally is too old. Females usually become sterile at around 12-14 months of age.
    No, the male and female do not have to be the same age. The female should be at least 4 months old before breeding her and the male should be at least 3 months old.
    A male that has not bred before may seem a little confused and try to mate from all sides but will usually get the idea before too long. Females that have not been mated before are not always tolerant of this confusion. In my experience, it is best to use a male that has mated before, when using a female that has not.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thank you for writing!