Help please! Robo's arguing

mickaexd · 02-21-2017, 04:22 PM

Hi All (Sorry for the long post in advance)

Just wondering if any body has any ideas/similar experiences.

We got two robos three days ago, two boys who were already together from the same litter. They were curled up together asleep which we thought was a good indication that they might get along.

When we brought them home they have been in a large cage, two of everything and scatter feeding.

We could tell straight away that one was a bit more dominant and one a bit more timid, but everything has been great for two days. They chose to sleep together in the same house and playing/getting along fine.

Last night (third night), I noticed that the more shy one had moved into the other house. Also he did not come out for food straight away although he had been watching me the entire time, the other hamster came out as soon as I had finished.

Everything seemed fine later on so I thought they were just adjusting to the new surroundings. However this morning, we hear lots of noise and rustling to see them tumbling around their cage and the shy one falling onto his back with his tummy exposed trying to get away.

This went on for a few minutes and although I kept putting my hands in to separate as soon as he could find away around the dominant one would be back chasing him again.

I seprated them into the spare cage to be safe as I was going to work and definitely didn't feel safe leaving them in the same cage un-supervised. After speaking to various people, we decided to put them into a tub with bedding etc this evening and see if they were okay together before deciding whether to try and rejoin them.

Immediately the dominant one froze and started to chase/attack the other one again so we have had to put them back into cages seperate.

Does anyone have any ideas on what has caused their relationship to change so dramatically? I am guessing that they will be separated from now but I can't help feeling sad that they will be on their own from such an early stage.

They were both pretty distressed. I have changed most of the bedding to try and get rid of the smell from the other hamster in the used cage incase that will stress him out, and made the new one as close to the other as possible.

Any other tips on how to relax them other than leave them alone except for food etc for a few days is greatly appreciated!

Hopefully they can settle into separate happy hamsters!

flowerfairy · 02-22-2017, 03:59 AM

I have two litter sisters from a breeder. After a couple of weeks they started squabbling so they are now living separately. It is very common with pairs of hamsters. I am sure your two will soon be perfectly contented in their own cages.

Drago · 02-22-2017, 04:39 AM

It's not too unusual in all honesty. As flower fairy said above, their robos fell out as well. Hamsters in general are solitary and usually thrive on their own. Though it's completely possible to keep some pairs together, some just don't like it at all. They'll settle down soon and you'll notice their personalities beginning to show and you'll know that you made the right decision soon. Best wishes

cypher · 02-22-2017, 05:39 AM

Now they're separated it will just take them a little time to adjust but they will be much happier in the long run, often there is no obvious cause for them falling out, it's more natural for them to live alone & as they mature they do tend to want their own space, a large cage can cause problems as it allows them to create individual territories within the space but tbh whatever you do the majority of pairs do tend to fall out sooner or later so I wouldn't feel sad about it, just enjoy them individually & know that they will be quite happy living alone.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-22-2017, 08:05 AM

When separating them for the day you were going to work, then came home and put them in the bath together was sure to fail because they had lost track of each others scent. I think you did the right thing in separating them before you left for work. You probably saved their lives or other serious injury.

But once separated it's very hard to reintroduce them at a later point, hence the fall-out in the tub. Some pairs are able to stay together if they have the right personalities that cause each other to live happily together. But that is not always the case. Sorry to hear about your situation. Must be very disappointing ;(

mickaexd · 02-22-2017, 12:41 PM

Thank you for the advice everyone!

We feel much better now for separating them compared to that morning when it started. I think even if they had calmed down and remained together we still wouldn't have felt safe knowing that they had squabbled seriously.

Also we didn't realise that they would lose each other's scent so quickly so I'm glad Cinamon Bear has mentioned it. It was under advice from where we got them that we tried to reintroduce at night!

They seemed better late last night and were grooming and playing with their toys, currently waiting for them to wake up to see how they both are

AmityvilleHams · 02-22-2017, 01:25 PM

A lot of the times people get hamster care(and pet care in general for that matter)very wrong

I've seen and heard some absolutely insane things regarding pet care from pet shops and even shelters,so it isn't surprising that you'd get such horrible advice.

mickaexd · 02-22-2017, 01:49 PM

Amityvillehams you're right there's definitely a lack of information in a lot of places where it should be, I wish we had known that last night and not tried to reintroduce them at all.

Both seem to be okay, except now the quieter one seems a bit scared of us. I have just been in to check on him as he was awake on his wheel, and he jumped off and is now lied on his belly with his head buried under in the bedding.

Is it better to leave him alone as much as possible for a couple of days or to go into the same room so he gets used to my presence?

I worried about making him stressed by being in the room

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-22-2017, 02:04 PM

I would change his water & food daily & maybe 2 or 3 days, leave him to settle in. It may take 10 days to completely recover from the seperation, just what I've read on here. He should be happier as time goes by

cypher · 02-22-2017, 10:39 PM

I would go into the room for short periods, just talk to him quietly for a moment or two then walk away so he begins to learn that your presence isn't a threat.