Is one of my two dwarf hammys getting pushed around?

Hanhanboban · 03-08-2014, 03:58 PM

Hey everyone (:

I got my two new dwarf hammys a week ago, Gizmo is a little boy, very confident and loves to come say hello to everyone and climb onto their hands! Gimli unfortunately has unknown sex at the moment but I'm thinking the little one might be a boy too (I'm a beginner so I'm not good at sexing them).

Well Gimli doesn't come out much during the day, but loves the night. He isn't very confident and if we're lucky he will have a really quick sniff of your finger before running away, we have handled him before and held him but not for long, he's very quick! This is another reason it's been so hard to sex him.

Anyway, as I said Gizmo is very confident. They've been fine together, they help eachother out and sleep together in the cage. I've been hearing squeaking from them a night but nothing that sounds concerning, every now and then I see them rolling about together or scrabbling around but not for long, it's barely a minute before they stop and carry on about their business.

But today when I got the cage down to play with them, I added a second wheel in so they could both run at the same time if they wanted to, and Gizmo kept trying to push Gimli off and run when he just wanted to sit. He was chasing him round the cage and like climbing ontop of him and digging his nose right into him. He wasn't doing it for long but he did do it afew times, poor glimi is trying to mind his own business and Gizmo just buts in and Gimli curls up and just sits there.

I've only noticed this today and Gimli is still active and runs around and plays by himself but I'm worried Gizmo might be being nasty to him or pushing him around. Is this behaviour normal or should I be worried?

Thanks a lot in advance (:

Hannah x

**DrKMcK** · 03-08-2014, 04:35 PM

It sounds as if Gizmo is bullying Gimli. If this continues into tomorrow I would seriously consider separating them. It can, quite suddenly, turn into a real dangerous situation. Although it is so cute when they sleep together, or snuggle up, they will be just fine separately. Loneliness is a human emotion; hamsters usually live alone in the wild. Keep an eye on them. Listen for more intense squeaking. Now that you've noticed it, any bullying by Gizmo will let you know when it's time to separate. Poor Gimli

Hanhanboban · 03-08-2014, 06:33 PM

Could it be a possibility that we where wrong in thinking that Gimli was a boy, and in fact, she is a girl? I haven't seen what looks like sex (tho I can't say I know what hamster sex looks like) but Gizmo keeps chasing after Gimli them climbing ontop of him/her and sniffing and staying really close.

Could Gimli be a girl that is possible on heat who Gizmo is trying to seduce?

Me and my boyfriend have made plans to get a new cage in the morning and take Gimli to the vets for sexing but that can't be done for another day due to the vets being closed and we can't buy cages until the day tomorrow as it's nighttime now.

Thanks a lot (:

Hannah x

**DrKMcK** · 03-08-2014, 09:36 PM

It most certainly can be the "problem"

. If it is what's going on I hope you get this cleared up soon. Or else there will be the patter of many little feet (or lots of squeaks) in your house. Oh my.

Erin.R · 03-08-2014, 09:48 PM

I would say that is possible, but maybe it is also just a show of domination. I know with a lot of animals the one that wants to dominate will get on top of the other one and force that one to turn over onto its back in a show of submission. Not sure but I would think that could happen with hammies

Either way it's probably best if they are kept apart.

Hanhanboban · 03-09-2014, 03:01 AM

They both seem fine today, I separated them in their cage with cardboard down the middle but they both fought their way through in the night. They're together at the moment and seem fine going about their daily business, tbf they've been fine everyday togeter and I've had no cause of concern other than this incident.

But I was already worried about Gimli as s/he was shy already and this couldn't help it, it'll be sad seperating them but I want them to live the best possible life so it will be for the best! I'm off into town today to buy a new cage and my boyfriend is going to take them to the vets on Monday to get the sexed.

Does anyone know if later on when they're settled in their new homes I could let them out to play together under my supervision every now and then? Or is this a no no?

Thanks a lot (:

Hannah x

Scampi16 · 03-09-2014, 03:05 AM

once separated it is not a good idea to reintroduce them again even just for play times as they sort of forget about each other and will see each other as an invader to it's space when introduced. plus if one is a boy and one is a girl (saw other thread) you don't want any accidents by way of mating or accidents of one attacking the other. best to keep them apart after separating.

**DrKMcK** · 03-09-2014, 03:09 AM

I'm glad you're getting the cage for the hammies. You can see how they do today and if you see anything worrying, separate them right away. If you do separate them, them they cannot be put together again for play times. Hamsters are territorial little furries and they will fight. The problem is that people try this and think the hammies are okay...and then suddenly a hamster goes for the other one and one gets hurt. But don't worry about it because feelings like loneliness are human emotions. Hammies do very well on their own.

Hanhanboban · 03-09-2014, 03:12 AM

Okay thanks a lot good job I asked that then rather than just do it! Phew I'll make sure not to reintroduce them, and yes there's the worry of pups if they're boy and girl!

Yeah I'm off into town soon to get a new cage, gonna pick up the exact same one they've been living in already and get some more toys and play things to put along in it. I'll monitor them for the next day and if it persists I shall remove them from eachothers company at once!

Thanks a lot for all your help and replies it's really helped me out (:

Hannah x

Scampi16 · 03-09-2014, 03:16 AM

they should be fine having their cages in the same room, as long as they can't touch each other (which is were accidents happen) they should be ok. Of course if you think one or both are stressed due to hearing or smelling each other then you may wish to have them in separate rooms, but my Chinese I had to separate both have cages in my room, next to each other and they are both fine. They weren't fine whilst in same cage, as soon as i split them up and gave them cages of their own they were fine even having their cages next to each other.