New Russian Dwarf Hamsters Potentially Fighting?

emily1 · 04-01-2017, 02:15 AM

Hi all. This is my first post, sorry if it's in the wrong place.

Yesterday I bought 2 male Russian dwarf hamsters together from the same litter and when I got them home and put them in the cage I began to hear squeaking noises. I am not sure if it's coming from one or both because they haven't been out of their little hut much and they have been sleeping in their together. From what I've seen twice so far the little one (Kurt) runs towards the chubby one (Krist) and "attacks"??? him. The chubby one flops onto his back and seems to shake and squeak for two seconds and then they run away from each other. No blood has be drawn so far and they still sleep together in the same hut even though I put two in the cage. I also put two wheels and two food bowls in there, I currently only have one water bottle but I am planning on getting a second. The cage is very big. When they are in the hut together sometimes I hear squeaking from one/both of them (I'm not too sure) that lasts for like 10 seconds and then stops.

Could this just be a dominance thing that only last for a few days/weeks or is it a precursor to serious fighting? I don't want to split them up unless I have to but I am willing to do so if necessary. Thanks in advance.

AmityvilleHams · 04-02-2017, 02:22 PM

It will lead to serious fighting.They obviously aren't getting along,so don't force them to stay together when it will only harm them mentally and physically

Separating them is the kindest thing you can do,even if you don't like it,and it's much more appropriate anyways!

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-02-2017, 03:03 PM

As Amity said it could be trouble or they are setting some kind of dominant behavior. If they seem aggressive towards one another or chase each other around could be a problem.

U mentioned a large tank, that's good but heard that too much space could be a problem as they fight over territory.

I'd closely monitor to see if their personalities match & wait it out a little longer.

Cotton · 04-02-2017, 03:15 PM

Welcome, Emily! Anytime I have been in the hamster section of a local pet shelter or pet store, someone often says it's ok for dwarf hamsters from the same litter to be housed together and a more experienced hamster owner says they always ended up fighting and had to be separated. Twice, I was encouraged to take siblings & I declined, opting to go with the experienced hamster owners' advice.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-02-2017, 03:36 PM

Pairs can successfully live together...
Russian Campbells
Winter Whites
Roborovski

From same litter & same sex, given a personality match & it can work, if not have a back up plan but u might regret seperating too early. I never listen to anybody in pet stores, well that's not completely true.

I let a small animal woman who went to some kind of exotic schooling talk me into buying a pair. I seperated them too soon & I regretted it. It was a mess.

cypher · 04-02-2017, 10:49 PM

Some pairs will live happily together but many do need separating, just the stress of moving into a new home can be enough to cause them to fall out, even though your hams are still sleeping together it does sound as though there may be more than just small squabbles going on.
I don't know how big you mean when you say the cage is big but bigger cages can actually cause pairs to become more territorial & fight.
If this behaviour doesn't settle really soon I wouldn't wait for fights to get more serious but separate them & keep them in their own cages, they do live very happily alone & it's a lot less stressful for both them & you!

Hamsterita · 04-03-2017, 12:37 AM

If you just have bought them yesterday, maybe they are still settling, but maybe the change has stressed them and that's causing the fall out. Even if there's no drawn blood think that it's very obvious that they aren't getting along, and that at least one of them (if not both) is being bullied, and a bullied hamster is not a happy hamster, so I would separate them if this behaviour doesn't stop.

In this forum you can find a lot of owners that had the same experience, and most of them will tell you that their hams are better living alone.

emily1 · 04-03-2017, 02:55 AM

Thank you everyone for your responses.
I made the decision to separate them as the squabbling became more frequent and more aggressive. They seem happier now.

BorisPasha · 04-03-2017, 03:07 AM

You did the right thing Emily. I had a pair that I seperated after 3 weeks and they've both thrived on having their own space

Thin Lizzy · 04-03-2017, 05:33 AM

Hi Emily and Welcome to HC.
Congratulations on your russian dwarfs Kurt & Krist. I'm glad you've seperated them.
Were they kept together on the journey to your home?
If not then this could explain the fighting, I have heard about this happening before and even though it was only for 15 minutes it meant they couldn't be housed together.