Can someone help me please???

[jayne]

Thanks everyone! I did think that one day i would need to split them up but just thought i could keep them together a bit longer if oyu know what i mean They have been with each since July so its not been to bad i suppose, they've managed to be happy for quite a while.

Babyboos - no, i hadnt cleaned the cage, infact i was due to tonight but instead i'll now be making a brand new home for one of them.

I'm not long back from the shops, ended up buying another Savic Rody but without the tubes as that one was too expensive and i dont even use the tubes I also bought another silent spinner and got them matching to the cages, so Sweet will have the current red one with the red silent spinner and i will buy a red house. Sour will have the new blue cage with the purple spinner and will put the current blue house in there for her

I am kind of hoping that it will be a good thing for Sour as she is the less dominant one she is still VERY timid and hides all the time. Maybe she will come out of her shell

I am assuming its best to add some of the current substrate into the new cage so it has both of their scent on it and to settle Sour ok in her new home? Any other tips and advice would be greatly appreicated

[babyboos]

How have they been since the battle?
I wonder if a complete change of tank may help heal the rift?
Try setting up the new cage and placing them both in it - less dominant hamster first, and see if they have a tussle - be ready to get in there first sign of conflict and get the blue cage ready for one to go back into if need be whilst observing them in the new red cage.

[souffle]

I think adding some of the old bedding etc to the new cage is a good idea. We always send baby hamsters to their new home with some of the old cage litter and it seems to help them settle. Personally, for your peace of mind I would do the separation now and let that be you decision. I don't think they mind being alone so much really and as you say it may help Sour become less timid. I am sure she will be thrilled with the new home and with lots of love and attention she will soon come round I expect.

[jayne]

Ok. So i set up the new cage, added a good bit of the substrate from the old cage into it and added in most of the toys and 2 hideouts into the new one too. I figured as this was brand new and would have no smell whatsoever, it would benefit from having most of the stuff with both of their scents on it I put both cages side by side and joined them by their wooden bridge and just left them to see who would go in first, Sour wandered on in herself and the blue one is now her new home :P I got my partner to hold Sweet and i rubbed them together as suggested. It was so sad to see them separate but i know its for the best.

Its not even been a day but i will keep an eye on them and see how they are settling in

Thanks for your concern and help

[souffle]

Sounds like Sour was made for that new home. Hope she is happy there and I am sure you will find them both more settled now they have their own penthouse suites

[jayne]

Hehe! I would like one of those penthouse suites also I will get round to posting some pics of their new homes, all colour coded and all that jazz :P

Well, only Sweet has come out so far, infact as i type she is attacking a fruit stick and pratically swinging from it Sour hasnt been out but i have checked on her and shes just curled up in her house. I think maybe as much as she was the less dominant one shes still used to having company and shes feeling a bit lonely but i'm sure she will get used to it in time. I'm just worried that she gets stressed out by it all and dont want her to get sick. I'm assuming the best thing to do is just give her loads of attention

I also suggested to my partner that we take it in turns to handle them, so one night i will have Sweet and he will have Sour, then the next night vice versa? I have logic behind my madness in the sense that i dont want to confuse them, especially Sour, by them both smelling each other and both myself and partner all in one night Does that make sense or am i being silly?

[jayne]

Update on Sweet and Sour

Just to let you know that all seems to be ok. Sweet is just her usual self, she's been out even more than before and happily runs on her wheel now she has no one to share it with. On the other hand, Sour has hardly been out and has been going mental with the bedding. The first night alone she had taken the roof off her little blue house and the bedding was all gathered up in one part of the cage and in her wheel Last night she had even more fun by gathering more of the bedding up and even more in her wheel. I have moved it out from her wheel as i want her to exercise and still be able to use it. She also doesnt seem to be drinking a lot of water going by the level left in her bottle in the morning. She is still extremely shy but i'm hoping to work on her and just give her lots of attention so she can overcome this.

So overall, Sweet should be fully tamed in no time but Sour could take a bit longer. I will keep you all updated on any progress or problems

[souffle]

Each hamster has its own unique character and temperament so just because they are litter mates and have always been together does not mean they will behave the same. I think you are now seeing the 'true' sweet and sour coming through. Even in our litter, all raised the same and given the same treatment, Red is a very laid back, placid little lady who does like to sleep in and does not wheel run a lot where as her sister Sonni is prone to 'furry fits' and runs a lot, is a very organised busy hamster and her brother Paws is kind of inbetweeny with a lovely boyish temperament. He is untidy, curious, pees anywhere, leaves his food everywhere but is fairly calm and enjoys everything in a sweet, innocent way! It will be interesting to see how sweet & sour develop now. They sound just fine and sour is get getting everything organised to her liking.

[SnuggleHam]

If I may ask... what is a "furry fit"? and what does it look like? lol

[souffle]

A 'furry fit' occurs when you walk into the room, put on the light say good evening hamsters and Sonni emerges from her nest igloo at the speed of light, races up three levels, climbs upside down round the bars of the top level, shoots back down again them retreats rapidly into the igloo. After the 'furry fit' she strolls out slowly and sits by the door waiting to come out
Hamsters You got to love them