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Old 03-27-2020, 05:16 PM   #1
charlottibiscotti
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Default Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Hi I don't know if I've posted this thread twice, sorry if I have.

six days ago I brought home two russian dwarfs (probably hybrids or campbells) who are ten week old females from the same litter.

In the day they sometimes sleep together and all seems well. At night, one often lunges at the other when one gets too close or one chases the other round the cage squeaking, although these interactions only last for 5 seconds max and they haven't showed any signs of intent to hurt the other hamster and after these squabbles they distance themselves from each other.

Is this just them sorting out dominance? What should I do? I'm so stressed and losing so much sleep over this

I have a spare cage although I really want to seperate them as a last resort because my room barely has enough space for another cage.

Should I wait and see what happens or seperate them now in case they hurt each other?

I have only owned one dwarf before in isolation because she was adopted (and very sweet, too )

Thanks
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Old 03-28-2020, 01:17 AM   #2
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Separate them now. It may seem like an inconvenience now, but waking up to a dead or seriously injured hamster knowing you could've done something to prevent that would not be a good feeling - and this is the very real reality of housing more than one hamster per cage!

It is very unnatural for hamsters to be living together in same sex pairs or groups anyways. In the wild they'd typically be together for breeding purposes, not social purposes, so understandably it can be incredibly stressful for them to have to live together. As we've gained more knowledge in the community and after seeing just how wrong it can go(not to mention the serious implications of long term unnecessary stress and how horrible that is for overall health and happiness), the general advice is now more like always separating no matter the species or any other factor. They do much better housed on their own than they could ever do as part of a pair or group, with benefits for the owner like more toy and enrichment options as well as no stress having to constantly worry if things will go wrong!
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:21 AM   #3
Vierville
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Please separate them immediately. If any signs of aggression occur then it may not end with just chasing each other around the cage' but will very probably end in one of them being very badly bitten or killed.
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:45 AM   #4
Petite
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Yes - agree with the other replies. Please separate them straight away. These signs of aggression may not look too bad now, but they will only get worse.
We had a pair of Campbell's some years ago, and nearly left it too late to separate them, only realising what was going on when we saw signs of blood in the cage, and one hammy stalking the other.
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Old 03-28-2020, 07:06 AM   #5
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

If they're already showing signs of aggression, I would agree with what everyone else has said and separate them. Unfortunately, from what you've said, I don't think the situation will improve and is likely to get worse.

What kind of cages do you have? Sometimes cages can be stacked if there is suitable ventilation on the sides which wuld reduce the amount of space they take up in your room. Bin cages for example are ideal for stacking if they are meshed on the sides and are often sturdy enough to do so.
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Old 03-28-2020, 11:39 AM   #6
NibbleeTheHamster
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

You really shouldnt have ever put your hamsters in the same cage. Separate them ASAP or you could quickly end up with the death of one or both hamsters. Hamsters are solitary animals and shouldnt be kept in pairs. Please be quick to separate them and update us.
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Old 03-28-2020, 07:30 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Nibblee, dwarf hamsters can live in pairs or groups of siblings or parent and siblings of the same sex and they came together. It is very common for them to fall out and need separating though, especially after a change of environment, or if the cage set up isn't quite right for a pair (to avoid territorial behaviour - eg no levels and two of everything). Also sometimes when their hormones kick in.

As the others have said they do need separating - don't wait - or it could be a sudden death for one, or worse, severe maiming.

You will need another cage. If you don't have one then a large plastic storage bin with the lid left off will do temporarily until you can get one as quickly as possible. If you want to make a bin cage, the 78cm Samla bin from ikea is good. Or the Duna Multy cage here

https://www.portonaquapet.co.uk/shop...a-Multy-M36261

The hamster heaven is also a good option for a cage is it's lower than a lot of other cages (height and dwarf hamsters can lead to injuries) - if you remove the tubes and penthouse.

Maybe you're in the US?
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Old 03-29-2020, 02:44 AM   #8
charlottibiscotti
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Smile Re: Hamsters arguing - should I be concerned?

Thank you all very much for your replies ❤️

Following your advice I have now separated them. Both hams seem much less stressed already! I was told by multiple places on the internet that it's uncommon for pairs to fight - well, I defo won't be attempting to house two hamsters of any species at all together ever again!! 😅
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cage, sleep, seperate, hurt, losing, stressed, concerned, spare, distance, squabbles, dominance, sorting, resort, arguing, isolation, dwarf, owned, adopted, sweet, case, barely, room, space, wait, hamster

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