Co-housing dwarfs - Page 2

alpacassei · 12-27-2016, 06:26 PM

Awww they're so precious!

Don't worry about them sleeping seperately. Stephano and Francisco, my hybrids, only sleep together about 50% of the time.

Whisky · 12-31-2016, 12:24 PM

Update on the boys: I've had them 8 days now and they've settled in well! They've also started sleeping together more often than not - it's very cute. I have to get better about feeding them when they're both awake - otherwise one wakes up first and gets to pick through the tasty bits first. When they are both awake for dinner time, they're good about picking through their own piles and not bothering each other.

When they first arrived at the store, I heard a couple of squabbles, but only for the first couple days. Nothing in the 3 weeks since then. I've seen each of them try to steal food from the other while he was eating, but both times they were just ignored. I've seen them try to share a wheel - they have Silent Spinners though, which are too narrow to run side by side, so one ends up running downhill and the other up. It seems to work for a few seconds before one goes flying off, lol.

I put them in the playpen last night and they were good. Did their own thing, didn't try to guard anything from each other.

I think what I'll do is keep in the small tank until they're fully mature - see if they remain non-territorial and easy-going - and once they're grown and their personalities have settled, I'll try moving them into the 40 gal. I'd really like for them to live in there. I'm trying to think of the best way to do it, and I think that would be to move all their bedding into the 40 so it smells like them both, and block off part of the tank with a partition, then gradually increase the space. That seems like the most stress-free transition to me, but if anyone has suggestions I'm all ears! I definitely don't want them staying in the 20 gal forever, even if I do just upgrade to a 20 long.

I'll post here with any updates!

AmityvilleHams · 12-31-2016, 12:32 PM

A partition and gradual space increase sounds like a great idea!This would probably be your best option,since it would cause minimal stress and not be too sudden of a change

**Cinnamon Bear** · 12-31-2016, 01:31 PM

I thought u had a 20 gal long, already. A 20 gal high is too small for a pair. If it were me I'd fill the 40 gal up with toys & tunnels & their familiar bedding as much as possible, as I was saying then just let them have all that space right away. They will love it

Chocolatecolors26, s girl on You Tube had a pair in 110 qt bin cage which would be her minimum size, then she upgraded them to a detolf with no problems.

Another possibility is make a 110 qt bin cage, but since u already have the bigger tank I'd put them in there asap cause once they mature, they may have a falling out first

Russians are one of the species that love space. Keeping fingers cross for you & your hamily. X

Whisky · 12-31-2016, 06:14 PM

Thanks! I was thinking about it at work and realized now really is the best time to transition them. As they mature they'll probably want more space, and I want them to get settled in while they're still peaceable babies. I think I'll do it tonight or tomorrow morning so I can watch them all day. I'm itching to get them out of that little tank anyway! I'll let everyone know how it goes...

AmityvilleHams · 12-31-2016, 06:21 PM

Hopefully things don't change once hormones start coming out,but if they do just be prepared to separate them and don't hesitate to do so.It may sound horrible at first,but if it comes to a point where they do fight it would be far more cruel to make them stay together than to put them through stress of moving cages which they'd get over anyways.

alpacassei · 12-31-2016, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Hopefully things don't change once hormones start coming out,but if they do just be prepared to separate them and don't hesitate to do so.It may sound horrible at first,but if it comes to a point where they do fight it would be far more cruel to make them stay together than to put them through stress of moving cages which they'd get over anyways.

They may start having some small arguements once their hormones kicked in. As long as they're not injuring each other and this doesn't happen too often, they should be fine. (I heard it's bad to try interrupting them because it means they'll just continue later but I'm not sure???)

When Francisco and Stephano's hormones started they had 2 or 3 minor arguments. They just knocked each other on their back until the upturned one squeaked and rolled over again and they never left injuries and it literally only happen 2 or 3 times (I think it was to establish dominance?) but now they're fully grown they're closer than ever and I'm getting ready to upgrade them to a larger cage (fingers crossed it will go well).

If you're planning on upgrading their home then I think it might be better to wait until their hormones have settled, it might reduce the chance of them falling out or becoming territorial? I'm just guessing though...

AmityvilleHams · 12-31-2016, 07:16 PM

It isn't good to constantly have that stress on any hamsters.If there is even a slight argument it could easily become worse,and if they're not getting along it is exactly that and should be taken seriously.

It isn't really natural to keep dwarf hamsters together anyways,and just because there isn't an injury doesn't mean it is a positive situation.

alpacassei · 12-31-2016, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

It isn't good to constantly have that stress on any hamsters.If there is even a slight argument it could easily become worse,and if they're not getting along it is exactly that and should be taken seriously.

It isn't really natural to keep dwarf hamsters together anyways,and just because there isn't an injury doesn't mean it is a positive situation.

I kept a close eye on them and afterwards they went across the cage to their food bowl and were eating together (this was before I started scatter feeding) and later slept curled up together. Other than the 3 squabbles spread over a few days, they were getting along perfectly so I didn't worry too much though I did begin preparing an emergency bin cage as a precaution. That was back in November and they're been 100% fine since.

But yes, if it seems like the slightest possibility that your hamsters are not getting along then watch them carefully and don't hesitate to seperate them.

Whisky · 12-31-2016, 11:04 PM

They're all moved in now. I've attached a couple pics. For now I've given them the same length of space (24"), but the tank has 6" more width (18"), for 430 sq. inches total. I moved all their bedding and tried to keep the layout the same, but with the new space being a different shape it was difficult, so I just did my best and it's roughly the same.

They were champs - barely blinked. Just jumped back on their dirty wheels right away! (Anchovy pees on the wheels, the gross boy. I usually wipe them off daily, but decided to keep all the smells the same...) You'll see in the first pic that I used a wooden tunnel to block off the wedge of space created by the playpen panels. If they do start fighting and I'm not there, I don't want one to be able to corner the other down there. Of course, the second thing they did was clamber over the tunnel like lemmings and explore. Once satisfied, they both pulled food out of their cheeks and sat down to eat. They really are sickeningly cute, these two! Anyway, the wedge is now blocked with another Harry Potter book. Sorry Jo.

No one can say my hamsters aren't well-read!