Male Syrians meeting

[HamsterMummy94]

Hello I am a experienced Syrian hamster owner but this is my first time owning more than one at a time, so here's my situation followed by my question.

I have two lovely male Syrians called fudge and smokey (I know original right lol) smokey is the eldest and largest at just over a year old (he was a big boy right from when we first got him at only 4 weeks old) and fudge is roughly 3 months younger and he's only half the size of smokey (but huge in attitude). Anyway they are obviously in separate cages in the same room, but they have been introduced to one another both through the bars of the cage and out of the cages whilst me and my partner had hold of them separately, and well it seems as if they either get on really well or they are just not bothered by each other, which I thought was strange considering male Syrians have a reputation for being fiercely territorial, so leads to my question would it be safe to let them meet properly in a neutral space? (on the bed for example) I have thought of doing it before but never wanted to risk a horrible fight, but I have been thinking is the reason they appear to "get along" the fact that they were semi introduced when they were still very young? Could that have something to do with it? And if so does that mean as they get older would this happy attitude towards each other be a thing of the past and be replaced with rivalry? Thankyou for taking the time to read this and I would welcome and appreciate some helpful info and advice

[Willow Wisp]

No don't ever put them together is the quick and easy answer.
I have 2 females, they are obviously aware of each other's presence and they can be out in their exercise balls at the same time, neither of them seems very interested in the other BUT I would never risk letting them meet, that's most certainly an accident waiting to happen.
As you are already aware adult Syrians need to be kept separately at ALL times.

[POLAR WHITES]

please don't ever put them together a fight can break out very quickly, Syrians don't like each other at the best of times,

[Erin.R]

I agree don't put them together ever. When I was younger I had he same situation as you. So one day I decided to take both the boys outside to let them roam around. They were fine for about 10 mins. Suddenly one turned around and charged the other so fast it was a blur. They were one all of fur locked tightly together rolling around. I had to put my hand in there and grab one and boy did I get my hand bit several times and hard, they had never bitten me before. They both had bites bites that had to be treated and of course the vet bill was huge. So to make a long story short or shorter, it is not worth it. They will fight, there will be pain for you and your boys and it will probably end up costing you both financially and possible cost you the life of one of your boys.

[NiceCrocs]

Syrians (of any gender) should never, EVER be introduced to each other, even through the bars. Please do not put them together. It can very quickly lead to a fight, and even if they don't fight they will both be very stressed.

[BrainGirl]

Agreed. The peace you think you're seeing is probably just them sizing each other up as combatants.

[HamsterMummy94]

Ok thankyou, message understood, to be fair my thoughts were the same but I just wanted to know what others thought, I'd never risk the well being of my boys they are my babies and I love them very dearly, i can just enjoy playing with them separately

[HamsterMummy94]

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Syrians (of any gender) should never, EVER be introduced to each other, even through the bars. Please do not put them together. It can very quickly lead to a fight, and even if they don't fight they will both be very stressed.

I'd imagine breeding would be very difficult then, obviously males and females have to be put together in order to breed or is it a case of miraculous conception! I'm only kidding I've read a lot about Syrian breeding and know that it has to be precisely timed amongst other things so I take my hat off to people that are brave enough to breed Syrians safely with no casualties, because it sounds like very risky business something I'm not prepared to undertake regardless of how much I'd like to hear the pitter patter of tiny hamster feet!

[Skeever]

A good question, though, and well timed. As in 'before trying it'

Most people have a hard time realizing what solitary means. The lil fuzzes MUST be longing to see someone from their tribe, blah blah,blah.....and most mammals that I can think of tend to deal with each other socially....cept Hammies. Ends up that a powerful human desire for cuteness says 'try it, they're not hissing and scratching through the bars.....' and then the tragedy follows. Better to ask and be sure.

When Pook and Zigs cages have been near enough for them to see each other snout to snout nearly? Pook runs away. Which proves everything above really. Knowing that even that stressed them, if I have to keep them near each other, I arrange it so they don't cross paths or even see each other.....why stress them out? Solitary and territorial, kinda mindboggling even the most introverted human

[4Taylor20]

My two hammies seemed friendly with eachother in their cages, and in their balls, so one day i figured i would let them sniff eachother out(before i was a part of this, i learned now that was a huge mistake), i let them run around on my bed together and they climbed and sniffed and they seemed like buddies, i put them away in their own cages and went to bed, the next day i figured id let them have their play time again, and they were sniffing eachother and the bigger one just full on attacked my little guy, i quick got them apart and i scrambled to put them in their balls but they kept trying to get at eachother. i ended getting my hands bit to pieces. Never put them together guys. even if they seem fond of eachother. Both of my hammies are ok, they didnt draw any other blood but mine, no worries.