Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-11-2019, 09:47 AM   #1
Remoos
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Default The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

Hi everyone!

I have a little dilemma regarding my two dwarf hamsters. Snowflake and Little Panther . They have lived together since they were babies, about 7-8 month ago. From the beginning the Snowflake was the dominant one. L.P. was always belly up and squeaks in to submission. Everything was clear. But a week ago they start fighting and LP is the aggressive one and is chasing and biting Snowflake all day long. Snowflake is always in defensive posture with the mouth open and ready to defend himself. Sometimes LP is trying to groom Snowflake but he keeps his defensive position and they end up fighting again. I understand the domination need and I expected that LP to become the dominant one and everything start to be calm again but the fighting do not stop.

Please help me with some advise.

Many Thanks!
Remoos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2019, 02:22 PM   #2
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

Hi there. You need to separate them straight away. This can turn nasty very quickly and one could get killed. If you don't have a spare cage, then a large plastic storage bin with the lid left off would do (if it's tall enough they can't escape) and set it up as a temporary cage and move one of them.

Even if they haven't had injuries so far, the stress will be there and they can get stress from being bullied as well. They will be absolutely fine living in separate cages and will probably appreciate their own space.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2019, 02:38 PM   #3
Remoos
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

Thanks you for your answer. I already put them in two cages.

The thing is that I don't know what happened that start this fighting. They were ok together for more than 8 months. Can someone explain what is happening, why the dominated hamster is so aggressive?
Remoos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2019, 03:04 PM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

It is very common unfortunately. They can live together happily for some time, but the slightes thing can cause fighting etc as they are a territorial species, and often when they get a bit older and their hormones kick in that can increase the chance of fighting.

A pair can get territorial over certain things in the cage, which is why for a pair it's always recommended to have two of everything in the cage. Two food bowls, houses, wheels etc. They may choose to share one wheel or one house but another one is always needed to retreat to so they can have space if one pushes the other one out.

Also no levels or platforms. One hamster can claim a level/shelf as their territory and then attack the other one if they get onto it.

Good that you have them separated now and they can settle down and each enjoy one to one time with you xxx
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2019, 03:32 PM   #5
Remoos
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

Thank you very much. So it is no hope to put them together again.
Remoos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2019, 05:21 PM   #6
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

No afraid not. Once they are separated they need to stay separated or one would probably kill the other. They will each scent mark their new separate cages and adopt it as their territory. On the plus side they don't have to share and can do their own thing and enjoy getting things how they want
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2019, 01:13 AM   #7
Remoos
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

Thank you!
Remoos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2019, 03:30 AM   #8
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: The submissive hamster beats the dominant one

No problem. Keep coming on here and let us know how things go.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
snowflake, dominant, fighting, ago, start, defensive, advise, mouth, open, ready, defend, stop, understand, posture, end, domination, expected, position, groom, calm, week, hamsters, dwarf, panther, lived

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:51 AM.