Roborovkis fighting?

[ctaylorhill]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice, I bought 2 male roborovksi hamsters from pets at home in May, they have been brilliant up until now, they were always cuddled up together, always went for food/water at the same time.

But recently Pop (The smaller one of the 2) is developing a bald, red and sore looking patching on his mum (just above his tail).

My immediate thought was they're fighting (Obviously!) but I've never seen them fight aggressively but I will hear some squeaking.

In there cage there is 2 of everything, plenty of toys/boredom breakers.

I'm just wondering if I should separate them?

Thanks for any advice given.

[AngelAmes]

hi
i wouldn't seperate them just yet, especially as they have got on so well up until now. Keep an eye out for any other injuries and to see if this one is healing or getting worse.

[Pompompoms]

Hiya, I would hang in there a little longer, but keep a very very close eye. If the patch is developing it isn't a wound from one incident, but it could be stress related hair loss, or the result of a few nips.

As well as two of everything have you scattered the food bowls, given them an open nest, nothing that either could claim as territory?

Is Pop maintaining his weight? Do you still see him eating? Is he happily moving round the cage, not clinging to the edge or just darting across so he doesn't encounter his cagemate?

I would guess they are around six months, and it can be a difficult age as they are really coming into their prime, and you will often get one really trying t6o assert himself and become the dominant male.

Things could well settle down, but it is really worth being extra vigilent at the moment.

[ctaylorhill]

They're both back to normal this morning, after a but of a scrap they had over a wheel (Even though there are 2 in the cage)

In their cage is 2 houses, 2 bowls of food, several wooden tunnels, 2 water bottles and 2 wheels however they both prefer one of them (The silent spinner) Is it worth me buying another seen as they are both so determined to use that one?

Pop has always been the smaller, and he is still eating well I often see him in the food bowl looking for his favourite snacks. Yeah he's okay moving around the cage, will sometimes come up to the second level now, which he never used to. However will dart away from Coco, if he gets too close or is in the wheel and sees Coco approach the same wheel.

This is what the guy in pets at home said, that they were reaching that "teenager" age and it was just a hierarchical dominance. But if it continues when do I say "Enough is enough" and split them?

Is this just a male thing? Would I have had the same problems if I had had 2 females (Not that I had a choice when I bought them as Pets at Home only had the little boys.

Thank you for you help so far It's very much appreciated, I was very concerned.

[Faerydae]

you have 2 levels in the cage? I'd suggest removing the second level, one can claim dominance over a level and will then fight if the other tries to go to it, it's best to have them on one big level

[ctaylorhill]

There was 2 levels but I took it out due to I wanted to see what they were doing as they know I can't see them under it! Haha

[Pompompoms]

I would get another spinner yes, if that seems to be causing a problem. Anything that is giving them issues remove it for the moment, you can always put it back in again when they settle. I didn't actually mean to say scatter food bowls, I meant scatter food, that way no worries about getting into an argument when going for food.

Hopefully things will settle down, my first pair of boys didn't and were separated, my second pair did.

It's all about making them safe and then as happy as possible