Chinese - social or solitary?

[Emma]

Babyboos mentioned keeping different species solo/in groups on the cage types thread, I thought I'd start a separate thread for this question.



Should Chinese hamsters be kept solitary or in pairs/groups?



I've never kept any myself, they are next on my "list" after I sort my new Syrian(s). I've read differing opinions on the subject. I know many keepers have them in pairs and groups with no more trouble than the other dwarf species - your're always going to get the odd one who prefers to be alone. But other sources I've read have stated that there is a higher incidence of cagemate violence with Chinese, and even that they really should be kept solitarily. A veterinary textbook states that a solo Chinese does not have a shortened lifespan compared with one that lives in a group, as is the case with the Phodopus species supposedly. Implying that this is evidence that being solitary is fine for Chinese.



Does anyone have any opinions on this subject?



Em x