To pair WW or not?

[Kayla]

As I've stated in my intro post, I'm planning on getting 2 WW's tomorrow. They are both female and are litter mates. However, I'm not sure if I should buy them as a pair. Resources will be no issue, they will both be getting their own toys and food bowls and my cage is large. I know WW are pretty social amongst each other and I hate the thought of getting one and having the chance of the hamster getting lonely. Should I get both? Or just one? Help!! Btw these are some pics I took at petsmart. Just before they had gotten into the bowl together, they were sleeping together in their hideout. They seem inseparable!

[evel_lin]

Firstly, if they are from a pet shop then they will be hybrids not Winter Whites. Hybrids can have some health issues such as diabetes so worth reading up on that a bit

I don't think you'll be depriving it if you just get a single one. If you've got the room for a second cage then you could get two and if they do fight you can separate straight away. There is lots of information on this forum about how to encourage pairs to stay together but even with all that they can still fall out and potentially injure each other

[souffle]

They will likely be hybrids somewhere along the line but they do look like pearl winter whites most closely in the pic.
As long as you are prepared and able to separate should they fall out then two will be fine. Babies always stick together and usually the issues arise when they start to mature and their hormones come in.
They look very sweet. Get a nice big cage and two wheels, water bottles and I would scatter feed them rather than have bowls.

[Vectis Hamstery]

Do make sure that you also check for yourself that they are both female, or at least both the same gender And if you won't be able to care for two hams in two separate cages should they fall out, the only get one.

[Kayla]

Originally Posted by souffle

They will likely be hybrids somewhere along the line but they do look like pearl winter whites most closely in the pic.
As long as you are prepared and able to separate should they fall out then two will be fine. Babies always stick together and usually the issues arise when they start to mature and their hormones come in.
They look very sweet. Get a nice big cage and two wheels, water bottles and I would scatter feed them rather than have bowls.

Yeah, I heard that they can get territorial over a single food bowl so I've decided to scatter feed and feed separately while giving fruits/veggies. Thanks !

[Kayla]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

Do make sure that you also check for yourself that they are both female, or at least both the same gender And if you won't be able to care for two hams in two separate cages should they fall out, the only get one.

Planning on getting a plastic storage bin from Walmart for a backup if they do fight. Thanks for the advice! However, I was wondering if they DO fight, is there a chance you can re-introduce them? Maybe try to putting them in a closed off area together and feeding them treats. I was thinking this would make them get along since they may associate the positivity of the treats with being one another.

[Kayla]

Originally Posted by evel_lin

Firstly, if they are from a pet shop then they will be hybrids not Winter Whites. Hybrids can have some health issues such as diabetes so worth reading up on that a bit

I don't think you'll be depriving it if you just get a single one. If you've got the room for a second cage then you could get two and if they do fight you can separate straight away. There is lots of information on this forum about how to encourage pairs to stay together but even with all that they can still fall out and potentially injure each other

Thanks for the advice! I'll keep that in mind