Quote:
Originally Posted by navat
oh as mentioned in my first post... about the pens?? thoughts on this?
"also I read if fighting does happen you can mark the hamsters with a washable non toxic felt tip (different colour or symbol) so that you can see which ones cause problems as they all look a like... views on this? not to sure I like the idea but I can see it maybe being handy if it does start to happen so I can choose who to separate..."
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Well, I find none of my hams truly look alike, all will have slight differences, in looks, behavior and temperament making them easy to tell apart when you get to know them. I personally wouldn't draw on my hamsters. It's often not as simple as having 'ones that cause problems', the dynamic will often change, especially with teenage hams, and this multiplies with the number of hams you have together. Taking one out that is showing aggression doesn't always solve the problem as another will at times step into his position, but at times not. My first group of five I kept together bullied one brother, and taking him out solved the problem, at other times I have removed the aggressor, at other times split the groups into pairs. it all depends of your particular group and what's going on with them.
The largest group I have kept has been seven, it was during one breeding cycle so ended up as one adult male, one four month old, four three month old's, and two eight week old's. It worked well as there was a definite alpha male at the top so there were no challengers, I imagine if I had removed Dasher, with the age they all were it would have been trying for a period.
Your boys are right on the age trouble will start of there is to be any. They will be getting their scent glands and their testicles will drop which is when the real surge of hormones happens, and the large growth spurts. You will likely have some real dominant characters, and some less so, hopefully a peaceful order will be established. What you need to be is ready for is it doesn't. You need to be prepared to keep all singularly, although hopefully it won't come to that, watch your boys, try to get an idea of their characters and if there is trouble you will be better equipped to judge who might settle well with who.
In the mean time give them as good a space as you can, give them at least three wheels preferably four, a large sand area or three sand areas so there is no fighting. As they will be growing hugely at this time, make sure they have plenty of food, they will eat loads! I always overfeed at this stage so there are no worries in their minds about getting enough food which will always cause issues. It's better to have extra than not enough, scatter it everywhere. As ever with keeping more than one, avoid levels, have nothing that has only one entrance/exit, give them a really big open nest, and lots of places to tuck themselves away should they wish.
Look for all the typical signs of stress and keep a close watch on them for any sign of trouble, Good luck!