Fighting Hamsters, my first pets so i dont know what to do =[

Rebecca.Ward · 09-19-2010, 11:26 AM

Hi, I really hope someone might be able to help me,
I have had my two roborovski hamsters around 4 weeks or so now..
I have been checking their ears regularly as I had read to check just in case..
I picked up one of them today and realised it looks as though his ears had been nibbled and one had even been bleeding. I checked the other hamster and his ears are fine. The hamster which ears have been bitten is quite a bit smaller than the other and im wondering whether this might be the reason why he has not fought back.
From the start my smaller hamster has been alot more timid than the other but today when I picked him up he sat on my hand comfortably away from the other, which I found pretty unusual. For the time being I have separated them, although they are still in the same cage.
Please somebody help me quick!!

louisbs · 09-19-2010, 03:19 PM

Can i ask..

How big is the cage?
Is there plenty of hidey holes, if one wants to get away from another?
Do you have 2 of everything?

Your best to separate them if they continue to fight, They can take there squabbles toooo far. My guess is the bigger one will be showing he is the dominant one.
I have been lucky with my 2 chinese boys, Im guessing there at least 6 months now and they are still living happily together, but they are in a extremely big cage lol

debs · 09-19-2010, 03:45 PM

Yep i agree with Louisbs.

SarahJ · 09-20-2010, 12:09 AM

U need to split them up if blood has been drawn.

**Hope** · 09-20-2010, 01:26 AM

Keeping two of any dwarf species can be tricky. As Louisb has said you need to have two of everything, 2 wheels is a must, the wheel can be the source of fighting if only one is getting a go and not letting the other one on. Also scatter food, dont use a bowl as they can fight over this two. With hidey holes and houses always make sure that there is more than one entrance/exit so that one can not trap the other. Also you need to have a reasonable sized cage so that they can get away from each other if they wish. Somthing like the duna multy would be perfect. If you have done all this already and they are still fighting then they will need to live seperatley from now on, before any serious injurys happen. The general rule is that if blood is drawn its time to separate.

Rebecca.Ward · 09-20-2010, 05:26 AM

Yes its a pretty small cage. That might be the problem..
I have made two seperate places for them to sleep. So they can choose. There isnt enough room for another wheel so i might have to just buy a bigger cage. or seperate them which I didnt really want to do

Anyway thankyou for your help..
Ive gained a bit more understanding of what my hamsters need.
Im keeping my fingers crossed no more blood is drawn and if there is I will deffinatly seperate them. For the time being I will just have to try and accomadate them both the best I can.
Thankyou again!

annie81 · 09-20-2010, 05:28 AM

if you need more advice moderator tammy22 is the person to ask. i had similar problems with my 2 robo boys and she helped me a lot

good luck

**Hope** · 09-20-2010, 05:30 AM

Yes if there isnt room for 2 wheels they do need a bigger cage so that they can get away from each other if they want to. Try the tips suggested and they might well be able to stay together. Keep a close eye on them and I hope all goes well for you and your little hams

Amelia66 · 09-20-2010, 06:19 AM

yea i would separate them now before it gets worse. I say this because i have a robo who was fighting with another hamster and he was in a sorry state when i got him ... you don't want to let it escalate to this to end up with a very poorly robo.

A bigger cage and two of everything may help, just keep a close eye on them.

Fidgetthefirst · 09-20-2010, 08:25 AM

May i ask what cage their in atm?