How do I know if hamster is pregnant?

Question
I have figured out the male and female... The female is taking food and bringing it to a different place in the cage and setting it there. Since it is doing that should I set the female in the bigger part of the cage so it has room when it gives birth, because it is laying at an end of a tunnel right now with lots of food that she brought with her. Please let me know. You guys help alot with these questions.

Thanks,
Cory
Followup To
Question -
Hi, I just got my hamsters... I don't know if they are males or females.. One of them is really long haired and I can't tell. My question is... When a female becomes pregnant, does it do anything unusual? So I could tell if it were pregnant? It is always laying in the same spot and if the other hamster lays in that spot the long haired one moves it so it can lay back in that spot, why is that?
Answer -
Hi Cory,

To tell whether your hamsters are male or female, here's a good webpage that will show you exactly how:

http://www.petwebsite.com/sexing.htm

As far as your pregnancy question, when a female hamster is pregnant she will begin hoarding her food and making a large nest in her cage.  Also, you'll notice weight gain.  If your hamsters are Syrian (the most common larger type), then you'll need to separate them, regardless of what sex they are.  Syrian hamsters are solitary and need to be kept in separate cages.  Also, if your hamster is indeed pregnant, the other hamster will threaten the safety of her offspring.  When your hamster moves to let the other one in its spot, it is showing how animals can assert dominance over each other.  In this case, the hamster who always lays in one spot is asserting his/her dominance.

I also recommend you visit this web page to learn more about pregnancy and what will happen if your hamster is pregnant:

http://www.petwebsite.com/breeds.htm

It is very informative and valuable.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly

Answer
Hi Cory,

Usually I don't recommend people move their hamsters' nests when they're pregnant, but in your case, since the hamster is at the end of a tunnel, you should move it.  Try to move it to a larger corner of a cage (not underneath a water bottle).  She'll most likely begin to nest there.  

Also, you did place the male hamster in another cage, right?  When the hamsters are born, he could possibly injure them or even cannibalize them.

Good luck with your hamsters, and if you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them.

Kelly