Should I put them back together?

[ellaa]

I've had my two Chinese hamsters, Renauldo and Indo for almost 2 years. I got them separately so they're definitely not related. They've been living together happily for a year and a half and they're always cuddling and stuff, but three days ago I woke up to one of them doing one long squeak and when I went in there they were both shaking and Renauldo's tail was kind of bleeding. I put a barrier between the two cages (there's a pipe connecting them). Now they both seem less energetic (I haven't heard them on their wheels or anything) and I went in yesterday to see Indo just sitting there shaking. I put them on my bed together and they seemed happy to see each other.

So today I put them back together and they were fine at first, but when I came back to check on them one of them (not sure which) jumped at the other and they started squeaking and rolling around and then they ran in separate ways.

I really want to put them back together because they seem unhappy when they're apart, but I don't want them to hurt each other. They've never had any problems before.

[Fluffagrams]

Hello and welcome to Hamster Central.

Unfortunately Chinese are a species that very rarely takes to living in pairs and once they start fighting and one of them gets hurt, it's usually a sign that things aren't going to get better between them.

I would advise keeping them apart and although they may need time to adjust to living alone to start with, it will be better for them in the long run.

[cypher]

I would definitely keep them apart now (during out of cage time as well as separate cages), it has been a stressful time for them due to both the fighting & getting used to living alone so it will take time for them to adjust maybe even a week or two so don't be too concerned by changes in behaviour, given time to settle they should be fine, they do generally do better alone & the fighting won't stop if you try to put them back together.
Keep a close eye on the one who has been injured in case he continues to have any problems.

[freyashamsters]

Agree with Cypher and Fluffagrams. Chineseys aren't a species that take TO living with each other often and SO to avoid injury and lots of monitoring most people just keep them apart.

[Cinnamon Bear]

Sorry you and your hams are going through some changes but as the above posts have said it could be deadly to put them back together.