Hairless robo bottom?! Help!

Robodwarfs18 · 07-31-2015, 09:03 AM

I've made a thread before about one of my robos having a possible bite mark on his bottom from the other robo which had lost a little fur, but I don't actually see them fight anymore at all. They sleep together, do things together and snuggle together. I don't think it is the other one injuring him. Today I went to put him in his hamster ball and noticed that his whole bottom was hairless. I'm really worried that something is wrong with my baby boy and I can't possibly think of a way this could happen to him. Should I take him to a vet?! Please answer ASAP, I'm freaking out. I managed to quickly get a picture of it while he was in his hamster ball but it isn't very good and it doesn't show how much fur has been lost.

Robodwarfs18 · 07-31-2015, 09:53 AM

Another picture. Kind of has spots too. Please help!

racinghamster · 07-31-2015, 10:23 AM

Hi Robodwarfs. On first impressions, that does look like attack wounds. To explain, when one robo decides he`s `boss` over the other, they go for the rear end. I can see little red marks on his rear as if he`s been nipped there recently, so even though you see them seemingly being fine together, this does look to me that things could escalate and trouble usually flares during the night so this could possibly be when this is happening.

You need to be prepared now to separate them. What age are they? Have they always lived together? I`m guessing they have. More often than not, dwarf hamsters, especially robos, end up fighting and one becomes the hunted. So if your worried this might be the start of something worse, it might be best to keep them in separate cages. His won`t require the vet, but it might do if he comes under a full force attack by the other robo, so you need to judge whether they should be kept together or separated for their own good.

I wouldn`t use a ball for a robo either. Chances are you are separating them to play? This is no good when keeping a pair as it will cause them stress to separate them to play in a ball. Robos really don`t need a lot of play as they entertain themselves really.

Hope this helps, so calm down! x

Robodwarfs18 · 07-31-2015, 10:41 AM

Thank you racinghamster, I never really thought about the hamster ball thing. And onto the main point, I've tried separating them when I decided it was time but once they were separated, they just didn't do anything and then started scratching at the walls (if you know what I mean) so I immediately put them back together. I just don't know what to do with them, they fight but don't want to be apart?? I don't understand their relationship. Thanks anyways

racinghamster · 07-31-2015, 10:49 AM

I know, it`s difficult. But watching the behaviour can look as though they are feeling sad or agitated or missing their cage mate. All human emotions.

What you need to do here is make a final decision based on what you see. The one with the already bitten rear end has been attacked. The evidence is there. I could advise not removing either of them from their cage and leave them to settle down and not separate them for play. See how they are over the next 24/48 hours. But I suspect this could be the start of them being split up.

Do you have another cage spare? It`s really a good idea to have a Mini Duna or a Bin cage spare because once the rear end is attacked, you need to be very mindful of their behaviour now. They can hide their aggression until a trigger point and that`s when the real damage can be done. It can look bloody as well, which you want to avoid.

Nancy's Hamsters · 07-31-2015, 11:12 AM

I hate being harsh but to save a hamsters life I am gonna be very straight forward and Blunt. One of your Robos is trying to KILL the other slowly, but steadily. I attempted to raise Robos many years past and never saw nor heard the pair fighting BUT I saw this exact same wound on the rump. Like you I decided the wrong choice and left them together and a few days later I came home from work and found a half ate body in the middle of the cage and the bully Robo happily nesting with blood all over it's mouth.

This wound you see is about the only warning sign you will get before serious injury occurs should you not separate these two immediately. As for them mourning being in separate cages, your attempting to put YOUR emotions on the hamsters actions.

You really don't want to have two cages and two separate hamsters(can't say I blame you as it is double the work and double the up keep cost) so you are seeing a human emotion of loneliness when you split them. Digging at the wall is more likely the anger of the bully no longer being able to bully, and the digging of the one hurt is most likely it's attempt to run from the bully. Just split them and cover the sides of the cages they can see each other or best one place them both in two completely different rooms for about 1 week. I assure you they will calm down and start to enjoy a life without constant attacks for the wounded one, and the Bully will feel like a ruler in it's own cage and territory. You will gain peace of mind by known you did the right choice and split them up.

Sorry if I came over as mean and nasty but splitting of these two Hamsters is mandatory and of immediate action to save the hurt ones life.

racinghamster · 07-31-2015, 11:19 AM

Blunt, but factual. Nancy`s Hamsters has pointed out very much the outcome of this if they are not separated. Having seen and dealt with a similar situation myself, I can`t really dispute what Nancy has said because she`s right. The main thing now Robodwarfs is to get out your spare cage or Bin and set it up. x

Robodwarfs18 · 07-31-2015, 11:41 AM

Just cleaned out the robo cage and I think it's time to separate them. I have another bin cage that I planned to move them into in future but I guess I'll have one living there. I will feel bad leaving one in a small 56 x 40 cm cage but the other will live in a bigger 80 x 50 cm bin cage but I know it's the right thing to do. I was really dreading seperating them but I did not want to come into the room one day to see a dead hamster

I just hope they find peace once they are apart. Tomorrow morning I'll have to go straight out to buy another bottle but since they don't drink a lot, I'll leave one without one now. It's just hard to decide who gets the flying saucer because they both love it but I guess I can just get another tomorrow. Thanks everyone, wish me luck! It's just so hard to move them as they've been brothers for their whole life

And Nancy, you weren't mean at all, you pushed me to understand the importance of this. Thanks again!

Nancy's Hamsters · 07-31-2015, 11:51 AM

One cause of the bullying was most likely the fact you didn't have two of everything. Dwarf breeds if attempting to keep together require two of everything or what occured with yours will happen. I do think once they settle in you will find both are much better pets then when they were together as often once alone they start to bond with YOU much more then when they were together.

Glad you didn't see my reply as harsh and it helped you to do what is best for your two Robos. Until you can get a second saucer try having it in the playpen so neither is left without(Only one in the playpen at a time though ). For water offer a bit of cucumber to whoever is lacking the bottle or switch the bottle to the other cage so the other Hamster can get a good drink for a night.

racinghamster · 07-31-2015, 11:59 AM

It`s okay Robodwarfs, they will be fine on their own, believe me. What you need to concentrate on now is getting a wheel for your other Bin and a water bottle. You can give him a shallow dish of water until you have a bottle. Give him an upside down tissue box and cut a couple of exit/entry doors in the box and stuff it with ripped up plain white toilet paper. He will like a nice, dark, cosy place to nest.

Use what you have for now like toilet roll tubes, cardboards egg box etc...

Don`t let their mad behaviours stress you. They will seem as if they are a bit frantic for a bit, but they will settle. Talk to them, tell them what good boys they are and scatter some food for them. Once they both have a wheel and their own space, you won`t need to worry over their safety. x