long long pregnancy

Question
hi my hamster is or was pregnant ...i am really confused right now cause the vet told she was pregnant and I saw she has all sintoms of pregnancy but...3 weeks had been passed since i put her with the male and nothing happens. She stills carrying food and stuff to her nest. im pretty sure she didnt ate them cause she stills fat and she havent given birth cause i dont see blood on the nest...i will really apreciate ur help!

Answer
Hi Julian!

It could have been that the first "pregnancy" the veterinarin confirmed (unless it was ultrasound confirmed) was a false, or "phantom" pregnancy.  Sometimes it happens that a female is bred, the breeding doesn't 'take' (it isn't successful), and yet the female's body still reacts as though it is pregnant, complete with all the signs and symptoms.  Usually these false pregnancies go away in a few days or a week, ocasionally they last for an entire gestation period - or longer!

It could also be that your female was indeed pregnant, and her body re-absorbed the babies before they were born.  This happens with hamsters when they are overcrowded, stressed, when there is damage done to the unborn babies form rough or excessive handling, or when there are not sufficient resources available for a female to raise a litter sucessfully.

Wait another week, and if nothing happens, wait until her next heat cycle and try to breed her again.

Good luck!

Feel free to write again if you have any more questions.