How do I stop dwarf hamsters from fighting? - Page 2

Piebald · 04-12-2015, 10:12 AM

If you are looking after them you need to do what is best for them. Your friend is not in charge, you are. They have been left in your care. If one of them kills the other, or maims him so he is suffering before dying a painful death, that is on your watch. They need to be separated. Good for you for asking and finding out your irresponsible friend is wrong. If you cannot manage to separate them call the SPCA and see if they will take one. If you have questions about how to set up the second cage please ask we all want to help. Keep us posted. Best of luck to you and the poor little things.

Piebald · 04-12-2015, 10:20 AM

The decision is yours, not hers, as they are in your care. They are completely dependent on you for their well being. What would you do if they were dogs? Does that help put it in perspective? What risk do you want to take? The advice above is the best you will get.

Piebald · 04-12-2015, 10:22 AM

You are weighing "hassle" against potential painful or fatal injury?

Piebald · 04-12-2015, 10:35 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. If they survive that long please tell your friend what you have learned. Don't take my word for it A quick google search turns up some info you can pass on (Not sure what dwarfs they are but every site says if they start fighting they need to be separated):
Russian Dwarf Hamsters Fighting - What To Do
How do I stop my Dwarf Hamsters fighting?|Harry-Hamster.co.uk - Information about:
Chinese Dwarf Hamster 101 - Dwarf Hamster Blog
Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters - Behavior

Shannonmcn · 04-12-2015, 11:42 AM

I had a reply all typed then went for dinner, glad to see you've let her know the dangers now, all we can hope is that she listens to you!

horseyhammygirl · 04-13-2015, 12:20 AM

Thanks for being so helpful guys. I have let her know what she is doing is very dangerous but now it's up to her. I will tell you if she makes any desicions.

racinghamster · 04-13-2015, 12:36 AM

The advice is clear. Dwarf hamsters are notorious for falling out and these two sound as though they are already bickering. The owner really needs to be prepared to separate her hamsters at the drop of a hat as the one being `bullied` could end up dead. That`s the end scenario. If you don`t see her or her hamsters very often, then all you can do is give her the advice from this forum, but she can obviously come on herself and read the thread.

Puting it simply, buy a spare storage box with a lid from Poundstretcher or one of the other shops/supermarkets for around £10. This can be used as a Bin cage as long as it`s meshed on the top, or better still, a second hand cage like a Ferplast Mini Duna can be found locally. These can be picked up cheaply on Gumtree and other such websites. Having a spare cage handy is essential when keeping a pair of dwarf hamsters because 99% of the time, they start fighting.

Being her first hamsters, did she know this before she got them? x

horseyhammygirl · 04-13-2015, 12:44 AM

She had no clue - I don't think she realised hamsters would fight that badly but when she got them she was mislead by pet shop owners so it wasn't her fault. I have contacted her and will let her know about the cheap options you are all suggesting.

velma · 04-13-2015, 01:03 AM

I hope she separates them. I have a little robo hamster who got picked on when he was in the pet shop with his litter mates & got separated so I adopted him. He has multiple rips/holes to one of his ears, a scar very close to one of his eyes & his bottom end is a aunt scarred/chewed up tail. He could have lost an eye or worse had he not been separated.

I do understand it's hard though if you get the wrong advice. Years ago before this forum, I had a pair of Russian hybrid dwarves who I found had fought & one had a wound on his back. I took them to the vet & he just told me to out savlon on his wound & that was it. He didn't tell me to split them up or anything. The smell of the savlon sent the bully wild & attacked the injured one even more so I immediately took him out. But if the vets don't know much to tell you & you are getting advice from a pet shop it can be hard to know what's best so don't be too hard on your friend but as you've found this forum & gotten good advice please stress to her how important it is she separate them. As others have said, there are some good cheap options for cages & this forum is a great starting point for ideas. Keep us updated

horseyhammygirl · 04-13-2015, 01:57 AM

I will. Thanks guys I'm still waiting for her reply though.