Winter White Dwarf Hamsters fighting

BuNNY · 08-04-2018, 06:08 AM

Hi Everyone

We have two winter white dwarf hamsters, one male and one female. When we first got them they got along just fine, they used to play, groom each other and eat with each other, and when it came to sleeping time they would cuddle together.

A few months later (about 2 and half months after we got them), the female started to squeak at the male, but there was no evidence of aggression, it looked like she just wanted attention from him, after squeaking she would roll onto her back.

All of a sudden one day we saw the male hamster chase the female around the cage and they would get into a fight with lots of squeaking. this began to happen more frequently, while they were still sleeping with each other. there was never any fighting in the house.

at one point there was a fight in the house. Every day i would check the female for any injuries, until one day i noticed a cut on her back, with a little bit of blood.

At that point we seperated them, by dividing the cage in half. during play time we would take them both out together, and they did not fight with each other. The we started putting them together in a small fish tank where we could try and "reintroduce" them, at which point the male would go for the female and they end up in a fight, we would then spray them with a water bottle to break them up. after that they seemed fine, the female would still squeak at the male, but he wouldn't retaliate, as he knows he would get sprayed, after a couple of days of that we put them back together and the second they are in the same cage the male would then attack the female again...

We didn't want to keep them split up permanently, so we went to an extraordinary length, which was having the male neutered.

we allowed him sufficient time to recover (still in the split cage with the female). then the second we reintroduce them again, its the same story, he just fights with her, once put back into each others respective sides of the cage i can see he still tries to get at her, and she would run into her house.

Is there anything else we can try and do to get them to get along?

we had introduced two food bowls and two wheels before splitting them, it didn't seem to help. Cage size is roughly 70cmx30cm with two levels.

Obviously if there is no other alternative then we just have to suck it up and split them into their own cages. But we would like to try get these two to get along and live together in peace as they once did.

If anyone can provide some insight that would be appreciated!

Fluffagrams · 08-04-2018, 10:03 AM

Some people have had more success keeping pairs in slightly smaller cages as they find that they have less space to become territorial over and unfortunately levels aren't usually advised for pairs or groups, again because there is more for them to become territorial over.

Winter Whites can be rather vocal and often have squabbles over small things but given the fact that the female has already sustained an injury, I don't think that they will be content to remain living as a couple and to leave them together could put either of them at risk of further injury.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing is common in pairs of dwarfs, they seem settled together to begin with but as they start to grow older, I think they do genuinely want their own space.

Razor · 08-04-2018, 10:20 AM

Um, I'm sorry, my question is unrelated to your question, but why was a male and female hamster kept together? We're you planning on breeding them?

chesca_27 · 08-04-2018, 10:24 AM

I think if you've gone to such lengths already, the best solution is to split them up permanently in separate cages. Most dwarfs end up being happier by themselves, especially if they have had lots of fights already. Hamster fights can end badly if not separated and both are at risk of injury as Fluffagrams said. I would also advise you not to put them together at play time anymore as it seems to just end in fights. It can also stress them out to be put together and then separated. I just want to add, levels aren't usually recommended for pairs of hamsters becasue they can become territorial over space, which also leads to arguing.

Good luck with both of your hamsters

.

cypher · 08-04-2018, 12:38 PM

It seems clear that they have reached the age & time when they need their own individual space so I would just go ahead & give them their own cages now, they'll be much happier & safer in the long run.

Swirls · 08-04-2018, 01:44 PM

I would just suggest putting them in separate cages. I don't have experience with winter whites, but from what I've seen, although they can be kept together, they prefer to be on their own.

You can try using a bigger cage. Usually if there's a bigger cage, they tend to avoid each other more and keep to themselves, and it may calm down the fights. I know this from experience, although it may be different with winter whites.

Although, for their safety and to prevent them from getting hurt from fighting, I suggest to put them in separate cages/tanks! Because they're fighting, they're probably getting more and more stressed with each fight!

BossaNova2 · 08-04-2018, 01:48 PM

Please separate them! They will be much happier. Also the fighting is most likely because they are male and female. Never keep opposite sexed hamsters together. Go0d luck and I hope you find a way to settle everything

BuNNY · 08-05-2018, 02:25 AM

Hi Everyone, thanks for all your responses! I think reality began to set in after i tried to put them in the small box again to see if we could get them used to each other and i could see how petrified the female was, its not nice, even in the "split cage" she spent most of her time in the house and it was cramped, she also started biting the cage and ripping up the cardboard floor. I just couldn't bear to see that happening.

I kind of knew what you would all come back and say.

So anyway we went to the pet shop this morning and got her a new cage of the same size with new toys etc, and just split them up. I can already see she is alot more happier, the male seems to be ok, he does seem slightly distressed after the cage clean, but im sure he will settle down soon.

With regards to the other question, we did not get them with the intention of breeding, they were just together at the pet shop and didn't want to split them up. The guys at the pet shop said we shouldn't have any issues with them, but it seems like they actually dont know what they talking about. Anyway lesson learned and they should both be happy now in their own environments!

Razor · 08-05-2018, 04:23 AM

Alright. Thanks for replying! It's never a good idea to keep a male and female hamster together. You would invariably end up with a litter of hamsters once they reach maturity. This can be within a month and half, if I remember correctly. Same sex pairs from the same litter is ok to be kept together, but as the other have pointed out, there more chances of them fighting at some point that the preferable alternative. Moreover, it is quite unnatural for same sex pairs to be living together anyway in the wild. Being solitary animals, they can have loads of fun by themself of they're provided with toys and fun stuff to keep their minds busy on. Good luck with them! Hope to see pictures of them too!