What is Apollo doing?

SaltyPickles · 03-24-2018, 05:27 AM

Okay, I stated in a previous post that I got a new Siberian, a male B.E.W named Apollo. There’s something wrong with the way he walks. He’s perfectly capable of scurrying around normally like my other ham, Ares (who he has somehow befriended) but instead he chooses to lay his back paws on the ground and scoot around in a sort of toad position. Does anyone else’s hams do this?

cypher · 03-24-2018, 05:42 AM

It sounds like he's probably scent marking a lot, maybe because you've allowed the two of them to get too close, keep them well apart & allow them there own space, even allowing them to sniff each other through the bars may be stressful for them.

SaltyPickles · 03-24-2018, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

It sounds like he's probably scent marking a lot, maybe because you've allowed the two of them to get too close, keep them well apart & allow them there own space, even allowing them to sniff each other through the bars may be stressful for them.

Oh, I didn’t let them share the cage, I just let them use the playpen at the same time. And he wasn’t doing this inside his cage or in the playpen, he was doing it on my leg..
And something hilarious happened while they were acquainting themselves with each other. They were using the cube castle slide together when Apollo actually shoved Ares off the slide (Ares is twice his size). Then they just chased each other around for a bit. They sniffed each other and didn’t fight OR bite/hit each other which surprised me because Ares normally doesn’t tolerate even me. They had two playpen sessions between today and yesterday, and yesterday it was basically just sniffing each other, then running back to their side of the playpen. Today, they were actually being sort of friendly with each other, playing and running on the big wheel in the pen together. When Apollo decided to try to bite Ares, he just swatted him away. I guess they’re becoming friends, or at least tolerating each other. I’m not planning to let them share a cage, so that won’t be a problem, they’re just going to use the playpen together.

cypher · 03-24-2018, 06:05 AM

As you asked about getting a companion for Ares in another thread & it was explained to you there that he should never be introduced to another ham I assumed you hadn't actually let them get that close.
Never let them be together in the playpen again, keep them apart at all times or you may end up with a fight & an injured hamster to care for, or worse.

SaltyPickles · 03-24-2018, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

As you asked about getting a companion for Ares in another thread & it was explained to you there that he should never be introduced to another ham I assumed you hadn't actually let them get that close.
Never let them be together in the playpen again, keep them apart at all times or you may end up with a fight & an injured hamster to care for, or worse.

I will. This just surprised me though, because when they interacted with each other it didn’t seem aggressive at all. I’m wondering though, why would a specific hamster not be able to interact with others when they’ve safely done so in the past? I just want to know why it wouldn’t be a good idea for my particular hamster to interact with other hamsters when he isn’t visibly aggressive towards other hamsters and has safely lived with others in the past. If he had been actively seeking out to harm my other hamster when they first met, I’d understand, but I don’t see what’s wrong with him so much as acquainting himself with another hamster when they seem to be on good terms. Would it really result in a fight if he came close to another hamster?

Pebbles82 · 03-24-2018, 07:22 AM

For dwarf hamsters to live together or have company, they need to live together from birth. Introducing them to another hamster will cause them both a lot of stress, even if they seem to be tolerating each other. A fight to the death can break out very quickly, but the main thing is, it's causing them stress.

SaltyPickles · 03-24-2018, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

For dwarf hamsters to live together or have company, they need to live together from birth. Introducing them to another hamster will cause them both a lot of stress, even if they seem to be tolerating each other. A fight to the death can break out very quickly, but the main thing is, it's causing them stress.

I understand. I won’t let them have direct contact with each other, the most they’ll be able to do is look at each other through the bars of their cages. Thanks for the advice,
both of you. Also, I’m happy to report that Apollo is currently sleeping in my hand. He looks like a cotton ball with ears <3

cypher · 03-24-2018, 07:35 AM

They may have appeared to be on good terms but you probably got lucky as Apollo is still young & they were on neutral territory but it's not natural for them to be together & even if they don't fight one will be dominating the other which is stressful for the subordinate hamster & as Serendipity said fights can break out at any time & one or both can be injured very quickly.
They don't need to be friends & will both be much happier getting on with their lives alone, I wouldn't even share the same toys in the playpen personally, I think it's better that they each have their own things with just their scent on.

SaltyPickles · 03-24-2018, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

They may have appeared to be on good terms but you probably got lucky as Apollo is still young & they were on neutral territory but it's not natural for them to be together & even if they don't fight one will be dominating the other which is stressful for the subordinate hamster & as Serendipity said fights can break out at any time & one or both can be injured very quickly.
They don't need to be friends & will both be much happier getting on with their lives alone, I wouldn't even share the same toys in the playpen personally, I think it's better that they each have their own things with just their scent on.

Alright, I understand. Thanks for the advice. I won't let them have contact with each other. And as I'm typing this, Apollo is currently sleeping in my hand. He looks like a cotton ball with ears.