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Old 03-23-2016, 12:30 AM   #1
Jellybaby24
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Default Fighting but dont want to separate them

My two robos live together in a fairly large cage, and recently they have been fighting. I really do not want to separate them but I don't want them to be unhappy either. Does anyone have any tips to stop them fighting before I have to separate them? I hope I don't have to separate them.

Thanks, Jellybaby24 xx
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:34 AM   #2
Amber_x
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

Make sure they have lots of houses with multiple entrances, and two of everything: two food bowls, water bottles, wheels etc.
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:34 AM   #3
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

Don't worry if you do have to separate them.If you do,they will both be completely happy on their own if not more happy from having a lot less stress and then there's also no risk of injury or illness from the other hamster!Hamsters don't actually require companionship unlike some small animals,but humans find it enjoyable to force pairs to live together.Considering they're fighting,your best option is to just separate them before blood is drawn and that in itself will actually make your hamsters much happier.
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:35 AM   #4
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

Scatter feed, have two wheels, two water bottles,don't have levels in the cage, all houses should have two exits to prevent the dominant hamster trapping the other inside.

I would separate them as the fighting will probably get much worse. They will be fine living separately.
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:38 AM   #5
BeautyandtheBeast
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

I would separate them - living separately is better than the risk of your Robos hurting each other
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Old 03-23-2016, 01:01 AM   #6
cypher
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

Once fighting has begun it can escalate quite quickly & you may end up with a badly injured robo or worse so if you have done all the usual things to keep a pair happy, two of everything & scatter feeding etc as CMB suggests with no luck then I would go ahead & separate them.
They do live very happily alone & if kept together even if you can avoid major fights the less dominant one certainly won't be happy at all if it continues to be bullied.
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Old 03-23-2016, 03:59 AM   #7
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

Sometimes there's not a lot of other options once you've tried all the usual things like providing two of everything and if hamsters are going to fight then they're going to fight.

I had to split up brothers after several months of them living in relative harmony. They gave me no warning signs and they both survived the fight but if my sister hadn't have been there, the outcome could have been much worse.

Once I'd separated mine, I really saw the difference in the less dominant one. He grew in confidence and he really seemed much happier.
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Old 03-23-2016, 09:47 AM   #8
kyrilliondaemon
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

If you've already tried two wheels, two bottles, no shelves e.t.c then you may find that taking some toys and items out of the cage temporarily can help. If needs be you can remove everything, just leave them with a large pile of bedding, scattered food and two water bottles for a couple of days. If the trouble stops then you can start adding toys back slowly, if you add things one at a time every few days you'll be able to see if any individual item is the problem. If they start to fall out again then remove whatever you just added, give them a few days and then add something else. If they continue to not get along even without anything in the cage then you could try moving them to a smaller cage temporarily and see if that helps stop the problems. Once they're getting along well then you can move them back to the bigger cage and start adding toys slowly as I suggested above. I have taken these steps with dwarf pairs/groups in the past and they can work brilliantly sometimes.

I would advise that you check both hamsters daily for bites, if blood is drawn then it will be time to separate. Once blood has been drawn once there's a much higher risk of it happening again and it could easily be a lot worse the second time.
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:52 PM   #9
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

kyrilliondaemon has given great advice. Wish I had done this with my two girls. I separated them after some squeaking and wrestling as I just could not relax.

They are really fine now, especially the less dominant one who has really blossomed.

Good luck.
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Old 03-23-2016, 01:03 PM   #10
Amber_x
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Default Re: Fighting but dont want to separate them

I just read your other post about the Billy cage, have they just moved cage?
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