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Old 04-26-2018, 05:44 AM   #1
Ullumini
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Default Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

I recently bought a new hamster for my little one, Pip. They only have a week difference (Pip is three weeks old and the new girl is about 1.5~2 weeks) so I knew they would grow to be the same size but the new girl is still really small and I think she's a little scared.
They started fighting occassionally (but thankfully Pip is very calm so there have only been a few) so I decided to separate them for a while. I let the new one roam around the cage with new bedding, freshly cleaned houses and toys. I wanted to let her spread her scent so when I reintroduce Pip maybe she won't be too agressive to her. Yet she won't come out of the house to spread her scent and I can't put Pip back inside or she'll bully her again.
There was a sibling I separated her from so I think it would be better if I house both of them together, but I've become so attached to Pip it would hurt to let her go! Letting Pip without a companion is not an option. I've put Pip in a bin for now with some tubes, popsicle sticks and a lot of shredded tissue. I've even put plastic wrap on top with punctured holes. I don't want to have her stay in there for long but I don't want her to bully my new one.

Help??
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Old 04-26-2018, 07:27 AM   #2
souffle
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

You can't do this. Pip does NOT need a new companion. At maturity hamsters do not need another hamster in their territory. The smaller one may well be killed by Pip. Please don't put human feelings on your hamsters because there is nothing wrong with Pip being alone in her own territory and feeling secure. If you cannot keep two hamsters then the new one needs rehomed.
You are not doing Pip a favour but quite the reverse you are stressing her out. Two females living together is never natural once they are mature.
Please don't pursue this. I'm assuming they are dwarves? Syrians are solitary and so are Chinese at all time in pet homes.
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Old 04-26-2018, 07:36 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

What Souffle said. Pip will be perfectly fine on her own and will soon adjust. You can't introduce new hamsters to each other - even sibling pairs that have lived together since birth often need separating because when they get to a certain age they get hormonal and it can lead to fighting. They both need their own cage and you can be their companion
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Old 04-26-2018, 07:43 AM   #4
Razor
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

Good lord! Don't even think about it! Hamsters are solitary animals, and to try to pair them, especially after even the smallest period of seperation is asking for trouble, no trouble is an understatement. Bloodshed is the right word. It's unnatural even in the wild for them to live together. And like Souffle said, you'd be putting both your hamsters under immense stress by trying to make them companions.
The only way dwarves can remain in pairs is if they've been together since a very young age, never been seperated even for the shortest duration of time (It just takes the snap of a finger for a hamster to get extremely territorial). And even then, most hamster pairs don't work out.
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Old 05-06-2018, 10:30 AM   #5
Ullumini
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

Actually, I considered giving them both away and finding siblings to house together but recently I found that Pip and Peggy (that's what I called the new one) have gotten along together well. Peggy is still really shy but they haven't been fighting lately and they actually sleep together nowadays. I'm still debating whether I should seperate them because even though Peggy is still a little shy they're getting along okay
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Old 05-06-2018, 11:03 AM   #6
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

I agree that the vast majority of hamster pairs/groups end with falling out or worse. I have has to split up a sibling pair and more recently a trio. All roborovskis.

Hope you find a kind solution for both your hamsters.
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Old 05-06-2018, 11:06 AM   #7
actual junk
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

I would recommend separating them. You will probably find Peggy and pip are both far happier apart, as well as the fact you can create a stronger bond with them both! If you are thinking of rehoming both of them because you want to keep two together, hamster keeping might not be for you. Even highly experienced owners can struggle with keeping pairs or groups, and you must always always always put the hamsters needs first. Right now they are both probably very stressed, even if you can't see it, and it's kinder to them to separate them. Stress weakens their immune systems and puts them at risk of illness or death, add that to the potential of one traumatically murdering or severely injuring the other and the 'pros' of keeping them together just are not worth it.

The fact that you have come to a forum for advice is great! It shows you want to do right by your hams, don't feel too disheartened, we all human and make mistakes. Use the advice given to grow as a pet owner and improve the care you can give to your animals
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Old 05-15-2018, 12:06 AM   #8
IamKat
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

Why do you want to house them together so badly? As everyone has said hamsters are solitary and prefer life alone. If you desperately want to house multiple animals together perhaps you should find a pet that thrives from this lifestyle e.g rats, rabbits etc...actual junk said some lovely things there and they are totally right its normal to make mistakes! I strongly strongly urge you to take the advice of everyone here though, you really don't want to come down one morning to an injured or dead hamster... i hope you find a solution quickly
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Old 05-22-2018, 11:39 AM   #9
Baron
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Default Re: Trying to introduce new hamster to old one! Help!

Unless they're pure blood Campbell dwarfs or Roborovski's it's not a good idea to house two hamsters together.
They are totally fine on their own.
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pip, put, scent, spread, weeks, bully, house, hamster, girl, shell, attached, inside, separated, sibling, popsicle, plastic, tissue, shredded, lot, wrap, stay, long, holes, punctured, top

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