Hamsters beginning to fall out?

Crystalroborovski · 05-01-2017, 08:24 PM

So in the past couple of days, I've noticed that Key Lime has been acting like the "boss" over Tangerine. I have never seen them majorly fight, just a few little squabbles. However, tonight I came to check on the boys and I witnessed a fight. Tangerine was minding his own business when Key Lime came and attacked him. The fight wasn't violent, it only lasted for a couple of seconds but Tsngerine let out a squeak and then fled from Key Lime into his coconut. A few minutes later Key Lime came into the coconut and squabbled with Tangerine. I removed the coconut as it only has one exit. I know squabbling is normal with pairs, but Tangerine's squeak alarmed me. My fear is that they will fight when I'm asleep and I won't be there to separate them if necessary. I do have a spare cage (though it is too small for a permanent cage) in case I need to immediately separate them. I have been monitoring them and no other major fights have occurred, but I am beginning to have concerns. I really don't want to have to separate the two but if it need be I will do it. Please help!

cypher · 05-01-2017, 10:18 PM

It's only something you can judge really, if squabbles are escalating & Tangerine is getting picked on then it may well be time to separate them, you can't watch them all the time & if you're concerned then it may be the best thing, it does sound as though things may be getting stressful for Tangerine even if there haven't been any real fights yet.

Crystalroborovski · 05-03-2017, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

It's only something you can judge really, if squabbles are escalating & Tangerine is getting picked on then it may well be time to separate them, you can't watch them all the time & if you're concerned then it may be the best thing, it does sound as though things may be getting stressful for Tangerine even if there haven't been any real fights yet.

ok thank you Cypher. I only saw them squabble once last night, I think Key Lime pushed Tangerine out of the purple silent spinner and Tangerine got mad at his brother (even though they both have their own wheels). No squeaking or scratching, just a quick "sibling fight" which only lasted for a few seconds. Tangerine doesn't seem to be stressed, I guess Key Lime was just establishing his dominance on Monday. I did set up an extra emergency time-out cage just in case, but the boys are doing better. Hopefully separation won't be needed but if it is I'm prepared.

Thin Lizzy · 05-03-2017, 09:44 PM

It's better to be prepared, you can't watch them 24/7. Good that you've got a cage ready.

Crystalroborovski · 05-05-2017, 05:14 AM

Last night I was watching the boys. No fighting, but I noticed they seemed kind of uptight around each other, like they were both nervous. If one of them came up to sniff the other they would both run in different directions. Neither of them was attacking or being aggressive, but I found this behavior strange. They are still sleeping together in their burrow though. Was the running away from each other thing a sign of stress?

Drago · 05-05-2017, 05:23 AM

Keep an eye on them obviously. If you feel it's too stressful on them, there's absolutely no harm in separating them. I hope they can stay together, good luck

Crystalroborovski · 05-05-2017, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drago

Keep an eye on them obviously. If you feel it's too stressful on them, there's absolutely no harm in separating them. I hope they can stay together, good luck

Yeah, I hope they can stay together too. I keep fluctuating between separating them and not separating them, it would cost more to separate them but the stress of them hurting each other would be taken off my mind. If they still seem stressed around each other after a week or two I'll probably separate them.

AmityvilleHams · 05-05-2017, 10:59 AM

Without separation you're always going to have a massive risk

Consider that the cost of vet bills if they do fight will be a lot worse than just separating them,and that could actually lead to losing a hamster which is priceless.I know it may seem very harsh to say that,however,this is the reality of keeping pairs or groups.

You'd be a lot better off with separated hamsters though.For them it means far less chances of illness due to elevated stress levels,no more chance of expensive vet bills due to fighting(you can't always be around or awake,so anything could happen even if it may not seem too serious now),a more natural way to live that is known to let more hamsters truly thrive,and of course the benefit of being able to have the fullest spectrum of enrichment whereas having a pair makes the options incredibly limited.

flowerfairy · 05-07-2017, 12:22 PM

Flower and Fairy had to be separated due to falling out. Nothing major.

The feeling of relief once they were in separate cages was wonderful.

Fairy was a bit put out but Flower (who was hiding away a lot of the time) was much more relaxed and would sit on her wheel staring into space!

Sounds like you would be relieved if they were apart. Good luck.

Crystalroborovski · 05-07-2017, 12:38 PM

I have been monitoring the boys for the past two days and they seem to be doing much better. They have their squabbles but nothing major, no squeaking or biting. I guess the past week has been a week of establishing dominance but they seem to be getting along much better. Of course I can't predict the rest of their lives though, they may need separation later on but as of right now they don't.