Why do my hamsters stink?? - Page 5

racinghamster · 07-28-2014, 11:20 AM

Told you they would like a good rummage under the bedding box!

Try not to remove all of their nesting materials when you really need to clean them as retaining part of, or most of their shavings and nest will prevent stress and squabbles. x

AbiJ · 07-28-2014, 11:57 AM

Haha you were right! I haven't smelled them at all since removing the tubes and the plastic house!

AbiJ · 07-28-2014, 02:24 PM

Unfortunately I've had to split them up, I heard lots of squeaking coming from their house this evening, when I lifted it up one looked very still and distraught, I picked her up and had a look at her but could see no damage so left them but stayed near. about 10 mins later they started scuffling again so I distracted them again and got my son to watch them while I set up the other cage, during which time he had to break up another scuffle. I feel a bit sad and guilty, I think this was probably brought on by me putting them in a bigger cage

The good news in neither is hurt and they both seem completely oblivious to the fact that they are now singletons, they're both running on their respective wheels quite happily.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-28-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbiJ

Unfortunately I've had to split them up, I heard lots of squeaking coming from their house this evening, when I lifted it up one looked very still and distraught, I picked her up and had a look at her but could see no damage so left them but stayed near. about 10 mins later they started scuffling again so I distracted them again and got my son to watch them while I set up the other cage, during which time he had to break up another scuffle. I feel a bit sad and guilty, I think this was probably brought on by me putting them in a bigger cage

The good news in neither is hurt and they both seem completely oblivious to the fact that they are now singletons, they're both running on their respective wheels quite happily.

I'd try to not blame yourself, we had to split our chinese pair today too and we know we hadn't caused it. We also had no warning yet we did have some blood drawn (luckily not much). Our boys were still snuggling up to each other too. Your girls sound like they're completely happy alone and I know our boys'll be fine alone too

AbiJ · 07-28-2014, 02:47 PM

I know, I just wish I had left them in their crappy little cage now! They don't seem to car though so no harm done I guess.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-28-2014, 02:57 PM

It might've happened either way - plenty on this forum won't even try and keep chinese in pairs. At least they're safe now

Hekomi · 07-28-2014, 03:09 PM

I think separating pairs is harder on us than the hams. You definitely did the right thing, Abi. I'm sure the girls will be happy on their own.

AbiJ · 07-28-2014, 03:40 PM

Thanks, I'm sure you're right

Hekomi · 07-28-2014, 03:43 PM

We have two paired Campbell's, and my SO and I have weighed splitting them (luckily we've never seen a true fight, though they will squabble over treats sometimes). No blood has ever been drawn by the other, and they're coming up on one year.

Part of me knows that if we split them up, it wouldn't be to their detriment, but I'm more upset by the idea of separating them than I am sure they are! We haven't separated them, and I hope we don't have to, but we're ready to separate them if we need to (though I'll likely feel very sad).

You did good though. I can't wait to see more pictures of your girls. Are they quite tame?

AbiJ · 07-29-2014, 02:28 AM

They're not really tame, but very inquisitive and quite docile, they don't bite. Now that they are separated I will work on taming them. Was I too hasty do you think? Maybe I should've waited but it's done now. I just couldn't bear coming down in the morning to find one of them injured or worse so I panicked, does squeaking equal serious fighting?