Snowy and Smokey.....Seperated!!!

[Hana]

I'm so upset!

I had to seperate Snowy and Smokey last night! Recently Snowy had been acting wierdly with Smokey, it looked like he was biting him but I coudn't see any bite marks so I just thought it was cleaning. Smokey would always run away from Snowy as well, so I was getting suspitous (sp?).

Then last night as I was putting them in there ball together (while I was cleaning the cage) they had a big arguement! I thought that maybe I had put smokey on top of snowy so he was anoyed, but I wasn't going to take the risk and I put one in a box and one in the ball while I cleaned them out. (Sorry If this is hard to follow)

When I put them back in the cage together I watched carefully, They explored the cage for a bit then both went up to the little bed. Then I heard the loudest squeek ever! I knew it was from Smokey because I have never heard Snowy squeek, I opened up the little door that leads to the bed they were in and saw what looked like Snowy trying to rip smokey's neck up!! I was so scared!!! I got nowy of him and took smokey out straight away, he has a bite mark and it was a little bit bloody.

I was so scared for him and he is being more timid than usual now (before he was quite timid) but I don't blame him poor thing!

He slept last night in a bin that hasn't got a lid on (Its got tall sides) and the water bottle is selotaped to the side! I will have to buy another cage or bin this weekend for him!

[SnuggleHam]

Sorry to hear about that Hana, yo did the right thing to separate them.

I guess the other just prefers to live alone. You could always try the split cage method and see how that works, then maybe reintroduce them to one another slowly.

[souffle]

That is a pity Hana but once blood is drawn it is hard to reintroduce these little guys. It takes some experience to get the knack of keeping pairs together. You are best to do half cleans and leave the scent of both in a cage. Never use a food bowl always scattering food over the floor and always have two of everything including wheels, bed boxes etc. It is very common to have to separate and not entirely unexpected as in the wild these animals would live in mixed age and sex groups so two boys would never live together naturally. For some it works but more often I have seen it not work with pairs of the same sex. You are best keeping them apart now for your own peace of mind and for their safety. It is a shame you have the expense of another cage but you will find they soon settle and seem quite fine on their own. Give them plenty attention and cuddles from you.

[Hana]

Its still sad to see them alone
Don't worry they will still get lots of cuddles from me!
I did used to scatter the food and have a couple of sleeping areas but I guess Snowy just didn't want to live with Smokey!
He looks so wierd in a big cage all by himself!

[Hana]

Just bought Smokey a new cage from Wilkinsons, he seems to be enjoying himself in it! Their cages are stacked one on top of the other.

[sparkles]

That is good that you bought him a new cage so that they will not fight anymore. =D>

[Thames Valley Rodents]

Hey all sorry i havent been by in a while...
Winter whites are notoriously hard to keep in pairs harmoniously although males seem less likely to get nasty with one another than females, they still often do. Its a pity that they didnt get on and you did the right thing. Souffle is quite right, winter whites are nigh impossible to reintoroduce once they have started seriously fighting. To an extent it seems to be down to blood line, the line that I have breeding at the moment seem *touch wood* to be better than any other line i have had but I am still wary. I hope they are both ok and god bless wilkinson for their cheap cages... great for emergency use!!

Kat

[Hana]

yep thank you wilkos!
I didn't know that they were quite hard to keep in pairs!
Thanks

[racinghamster]

Hi Hana. I have a single winter white male and he`s fine on his own! He`s a rescue hammie and loves his regular silent spinner wheel. He`s in a Ferplast Duna tank, although I would love to find a Gabber Rex for him as it would give SO much more space for him to dash around! He has the loveliest temperament too and loves to stand up like a grizzly bear and peer at you through the perspex!

[Hana]

I wanted to get a gabber rex too, but i couldn't find one