Hamster Intros

**HoppyHammy** · 07-18-2014, 05:58 AM

HI! I'm HoppyHammy. I need help. I have a 2/3 year old robo hamster named Bear, and he is very social because My friend has had a robo named Rhino that was also a male, and they were best friends. They once had a sleepover! They would play together and take turns in the tubes. Then Rhino died.

Bear was sad. I have Bear in a crittertrail Z, Crittertrail Begin and connect, and a 2 level habitat that is not name brand. They're all connectes, so he has ALOT of room. I was wondering if I should get him another male playmate, this time to live out his last days. I understand that Bear is incredibly social, and that makes sense, because roborovskis are the most social type of hamster. Will they fight? Or do they have enough room? He also has 2 wheels, a ball (Connected and can be unconnected), a saucer, 3 water bottles, a BUNCH of tubes, a lookout post, a litter box, a igloo, and more. Please answer!!I need to know if Bear would thrive with his last days being with another robo friend. Thank you! HoppyHammy. (There is a pic of Bear in my photos)

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-18-2014, 11:00 AM

I've answered this in two other threads already but your wording allows me to give slightly different info so....

Roborovskis are a social species of hamster but in the wild they live in mixed sex groups. In captivity they have to live in single sex pairs or groups and these are a lot less likely to work out, they can, but introducing a single robo to another robo is very rarely going to be in the best interests of either ham. Pairs can end up needing separation and there are rare occasions where a hamster will kill its cagemate (I have a friend who woke up one day to two dead robos, he suspects they fought to the death). Its unlikely but it can happen. Introductions are also very stressful for hams so are best not done without good reason

Teddy001 · 07-18-2014, 11:11 AM

Hoppy hammy, I would strongly suggest not putting another robo with Bear. Hamsters are not like dogs, or humans, where they run in packs, or need company. I understand Bear is social, but socially there's a difference when two hams are placed together expecially at Bears age- you would be causing a great deal of stress on Bear, and the other hamster. It's NEVER a good idea to put 2 hamsters together regardless of their social personality, unless they are a species that may get along, and were babies from the same litter- but never a Syrian, or any other hamster species, unless, like i said, they were together as babies, from the same litter, and same sex pairs- still theres a high chance they will need to be separate due to fights. If you are looking for a more active hamster, my suggestion would be to get a younger hamster, and put it in its own cage- Bear is not going to perk up, due to his age- and only forcing another hamster to live with him will not be good for him health wise, nor the other ham- and they most likely will fight, and or stress each other out just by the fact that they are forced to be in the same cage. Also, I wouldn't place 2 adult hamsters together for playtime- it may seem like they are having fun, but doing so, is very stressful on both hamsters, and they can actually get very sick from a stressful situation.

**HoppyHammy** · 07-18-2014, 11:20 AM

Okay. So after Bear, is it okay to get two males or female babies from the same litter? That idea is gone, Bear is going to live alone, but after him. Does it matter which two I get? I mean, does it make a difference in if I get two males or females? How do you know if it is in the same litter? I am new to having 2 hamsters live together. So, what's the problem, is it Bear's personality for example? I'm asking because I want to know for the future if it is not a good idea to put a certain two together.

Thanks a bunch!
HoppyHammy

nibblet · 07-18-2014, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoppyHammy

Okay. So after Bear, is it okay to get two males or female babies from the same litter? That idea is gone, Bear is going to live alone, but after him. Does it matter which two I get? I mean, does it make a difference in if I get two males or females? How do you know if it is in the same litter? I am new to having 2 hamsters live together. So, what's the problem, is it Bear's personality for example? I'm asking because I want to know for the future if it is not a good idea to put a certain two together.

Thanks a bunch!
HoppyHammy

If you put two together in the future, I strongly advise you to house them in one big habitat and not little cages connected together. They will start claiming the smaller cages and will protect them. They'll also need two of everything (wheel, food bowl/scatter feed, nest, etc).

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-18-2014, 11:27 AM

If you get two males or females (either gender is fine) who are already living together then yes thats ok, but (and this is a very big but) your cage isn't at all suitable for a pair.
If you want to try and keep a pair together you need a big single open space (of at least 60cm by 40cm, preferably bigger) with no shelves and no other compartments or tunnels leading off to other cages. You also need two wheels and all of the toys, houses e.t.c must have at least two entrances and exits. This is all basic safety precautions to minimise the risk of your hamsters attacking each other and/or getting injured in an attack.
If you do get a pair, please research beforehand to make sure you'll recognise the behaviours that indicate they're not getting along. As I've explained in another thread, keeping pairs without monitoring them closely can easily lead to a serious injury.

The reason Bear shouldn't meet another hamster is because hamsters don't like meeting other hamsters. Its stressful, scary and can easily lead to someone getting bitten. Your cage is really likely to increase the risk of a hamster getting bitten. Bear is old and shouldn't be stressed out - introducing another hamster would stress him out and wouldn't benefit him at all.

**DrKMcK** · 07-18-2014, 11:35 AM

Hello HoppyHammy. No Syrian should ever live with another...ever. Even when they are bred, they are only together for the breeding period and then separated. I am well aware that people have had a pair of Syrians in the past, but this is totally not a normal thing for Syrians, and the results can be catastrophic. As for dwarf hammies...yes, some can live together as pairs or trios. We have some very experienced HC members who have been successful in doing this. I, myself, have had a pair of Campbell's hybrids live together peacefully until the day one passed away. But, knowing what can happen with pairs, I found it very stressful to always be on alert for trouble between them. I also had a whole setup ready for them if they did fall out. I have decided not to do pairs anymore due to the stress of worrying about them. If your reason for having 2 hamsters together is because they might get lonely, well, this is just not true. Hamsters do very well alone. My remaining dwarf, Almond has never missed his brother and is still happily trundling around, enjoying hamster life. Just keep in mind that, if you do get a pair of hamsters, you will need to watch them closely for trouble and you must be honest in your evaluation of them. Waiting too long, thinking an unstable pair will work it out can lead to a death. If you get a pair at the same time from the same tank/cage, the chances are that they are from the same litter. If they are in a petshop vs. a breeder, there is no guarantee that they are from the same litter. Some stores will mix litters if they are of the same age. You must absolutely have another home available for two hamsters just in case they need to be separated quickly. Bear will be fine alone and I hope he continues to do well.

**Pompompoms** · 07-19-2014, 04:03 PM

I have added my thoughts to your thread in the robos section re pairing Bear, no it is not his personality at all, regardless of personality you never know how two of your hamsters are going to get on. An expample for you, a little while ago I tried one of my most relaxed gentle friendly boys with another male who is equally gentle, and he went straight for him hissing and chasing, then biting him just as I scooped him up. It became perfectly clear that he was not going to accept another hamster at all, when if you were going just on personality you'd have said he would.
On the other side of things, I have very carefully introduced one of my alpha males to another strong personality pretty sure it wasn't going to be a good match, and they have settled brilliantly without issue. You just never can tell at all.

In terms of future pairings, the rule is always never have more hamsters that you are prepared to keep separately. At any time at all through their whole lives they could fall out, they might not, but they very may well. Males especially do not live together in nature, and especially from six to eighteen months when they are at their peak in terms of testosterone, although trouble will often start as early as eight weeks which is why they cure cuddly pair people bring home from the pet shop often will fall out two weeks later. You can do things to help them stay together in terms of cages and set up, but they will decide in the end, and it is your responsibility to house both should this happen