Hamsters fighting after one escaped?

[robolove]

I posted this in another forum but thought I'd try here too:

My winter white hamsters, Oatmeal and Flaxseed, have been living together since they were born. They are about 3 months old now.

Two nights ago, Oatmeal escaped from her cage and I finally managed to find her hiding in a cupboard after searching for almost 8 hours nonstop (!! It was like spring cleaning came early, literally moved all the shelves and cleaned out every nook and corner). When I put her back in the cage, the two of them started fighting and don't seem to recognize each other anymore. I did change the bedding while Oatmeal was gone because I turned out the entire cage to make sure she's not still in it.

I have a spare cage so I can keep them separate, but does anyone have experience/an explanation for why they forgot each other so quickly? On hindsight I shouldn't have changed the bedding because the new bedding might have covered their scents and that might be why they don't recognize each other anymore. But is it really that or something else?

Or are there any protocols that should be observed when reintroducing an escaped hamster back into the cage?

I would appreciate any insight/ideas on why this may have happened, thank you!

[DrKMcK]

Oatmeal has picked up some new scents and this is upsetting the other one...she doesn't smell the same. If you had some way to separate the cage where they could see and smell each other, but not fight, then switch them back and forth for a while, they might get along again. If not, then it might be safer to keep them away from each other. I know that some hammies have gone to the vets and had surgery and were able to be reintroduced.

[robolove]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Oatmeal has picked up some new scents and this is upsetting the other one...she doesn't smell the same. If you had some way to separate the cage where they could see and smell each other, but not fight, then switch them back and forth for a while, they might get along again. If not, then it might be safer to keep them away from each other. I know that some hammies have gone to the vets and had surgery and were able to be reintroduced.

Thank you for the insight!

I will be upgrading their cage for better hamster security soon and will look into making it so that they can see and smell each other without being in one cage.

I didn't think I would be able to put them together again, thank you so much for letting me know it's possible!