HELP! Is this normal??

alvinsfamily · 04-10-2015, 08:23 AM

I got my female russian hamsters today. As I couldnt collect them my Mum got them for me. I was surprised that the shop had put them in seperate boxes for travel?? Anyhow I have popped them in there cage and within minutes they had a fight and one has a little blood on her tummy. And now one is in the box and one is under the house? I think they are both asleep but I do not want to disturb them. Is it normal to fight straight away and sleep seperatly?? x

cypher · 04-10-2015, 09:01 AM

If they put them in separate boxes in the shop are you totally sure they're from the same litter?
Even if they are just moving from the shop to a new home could stress them out enough to cause them to fight.
Do you have a second cage so you can separate them? It's not easy keeping pairs & once they start fighting it's probably unlikely to stop.
If you do try to keep them together you do need two of everything, a cage with no levels or tubes & you need to scatter feed to avoid squabbles over bowls.

alvinsfamily · 04-10-2015, 09:47 AM

yeah definatly from the same litter and thy have 2 of everything. Ive not got bowls as I like to scatter feed.. Shall keep an eye on them and I do have a spare cage if need be. Just wasnt sure if it was normal and how long I should wait x

Thin Lizzy · 04-10-2015, 09:58 AM

Like Cypher said, the move and journey can be stressful for some hamsters.
For the moment keep a close eye on them, good that you've got a spare cage just in case.

racinghamster · 04-10-2015, 10:29 AM

Typical pet shop. They don`t even know how to keep hamsters together if they are going to a home to stay that way. Separating them has obviously caused stress/friction between them, but allow them to sleep it off and watch them VERY closely. If they start going at it and keep chasing/squeaking or drawing blood, then they MUST be separated right away, but you probably already know that. Such a shame they had to be separated at the start of their new lives with you, but sometimes this is inevitable anyway with pairs. Keeping them apart just means having to cages! x

**kyrilliondaemon** · 04-10-2015, 10:40 AM

Drawing blood isn't normal no, sleeping separately isn't normal behaviour for pairs either really.

Its definetly worth considering separating already since blood has been drawn. If you do opt to keep them together then be very, very careful with them as blood generally means they need to stop living together. If theres any more blood drawn you will need to separate them as soon as its drawn to be on the safe side.

SinNyx · 04-10-2015, 11:46 AM

I second the separating. It's risky now they have drawn blood from each other, and you can't be there to watch them 24/7. With pairs you have to get the right mixture of personalities, otherwise things can turn bad pretty quickly.

alvinsfamily · 04-10-2015, 12:12 PM

If I was there to pick them up I would have questioned why they were putting them in seperate boxes, but my Mum would have just thought that was the norm. Thy are both asleep in seperate corners at the mo, I shall keep a close eye on them when they wake x

Shannonmcn · 04-10-2015, 12:21 PM

That's really unfortunate that the pet shop didn't know better

I'd think about putting a call in to make sure they know not to do it again. If you're around to keep a very close eye on them then it might be worth giving it a try to see if they "remember" each other but it's a good thing you have a spare cage handy!

souffle · 04-10-2015, 01:59 PM

I'd have them by your bed tonight in case a fight breaks out again. The move will have stressed them and if they continue to bicker I'd separate right away. They should have sent them home together