Are my dwarfs playing or fighting?

[XRubyRoseX]

I've recently bought 2 female Russian Dwarf Hamsters called Pocky and Miso. They're from the same litter (I think they're just over 4 weeks old) so I decided to keep them together since when I was younger I had 2 male Russians who got along perfectly fine. I've had them now for a few days and they seem to be settling in nicely. But I've started hearing some small squeaks from the cage and I've seen Pocky pinning Miso down and Miso is lying on her back with her belly up. However I haven't seen them biting each other and I've checked them both and there's no blood or marks, when Pocky holds Miso down its only for a few seconds then she releases her and carries on doing whatever it was she was doing before hand. I was just wondering if this is just them playing or if its just Pocky trying to assert dominance over Miso and if I should be worried about it? Neither of them seem hurt and Miso doesn't seem stressed after being pinned down by Pocky, they also like to sleep in the same house as each other and there's no problems there and yesterday Pocky was on the wheel and Miso jumped on it too and sat on the wheel for a bit whilst Pocky was on and there wasn't a problem there. They also seem to share their food and water perfectly fine as they both eat and drink happily. Should I be worried about it or is this normal?

[Hekomi]

It sounds like they might just be scraping for dominance.

However, there are ways to help a pair stay together.

You're going to want a fairly large area with room for both girls, and two of everything. No levels, and no attachments (ie. two crittertrails put together). You'll want hideouts with two exits (so no one is trapped) and I recommend scatter feeeding.

We have two wheels, two hideaways, two water bottles, and we scatter feed. But I am always checking for bites or problems with the two boys.

[XRubyRoseX]

Okay thank you, I was thinking of getting a bigger cage for them anyways, so in the mean time I might just make a bin cage until I can afford to get them a nice big hamster cage I was just a bit worried as it was years ago when I had dwarfs but I couldn't remember them fighting (although I was young). Other than the little squabbles they seem to get on perfectly fine though

[Skeever]

I recall a video on YouTube where two hams where playing/asserting dominance in a pet store cage. What was noticeable was it was pretty quiet, and clearly no bites were carried through...and all the comments were raging about abusive pet shops....

When I've seen hams fight for real, it's a lot of hissing/screaming...still, I'd watch really, really closely to be on the safe side. It does sound like they're just playing...

I've seen Pook, who is about six weeks or so now, try the submissive stuff, when I need to catch him and squiggling out of my hands doesn't work. Of course lying down doesn't really work either, but its so cute to see him do it. In the interest of fairness though, I usually let him try to run away again. If he realizes I'm doing this I hope he doesn't abuse it and indefinitely extend playtimes for as long as he wants....hehe

[DrKMcK]

Hello XRobyRoseX, and welcome to Hamster Central. I am always delighted to see someone who has a new hammy come on board. Dwarf hammies can live together very nicely as long as the rules are followed about their living arrangmements. No levels, two wheels, two homes (with two exits so no one gets trapped) and scatter feeding. The big issue is to be aware that a pair can fall out (start fighting) or, one hammy can become a bully, pushing the other around and not allowing the other ham to eat. It can be really miserable for the bullied hammy. If you see this type of behavior, or any amount of blood at all, you will need to permanently separate them. Watch for bites around the legs and behind.The pet shops like to sell them as pairs, and will often insist that they will be happier together. This is not always so. And hammies do not "get lonely" the way we do. My Toffee died and Almond did just fine without him. There are hammies that have been introduced as adults, but this is usually done by experienced owners who know what to watch for. Just be aware that they may not stay as a pair and have a second cage available if you need to separate them quickly. Good luck with them

[XRubyRoseX]

Thanks everyone, I'm going to buy another wheel and water bottle tomorrow when I can get through to the pet shop and I'm going to build them a bin cage so hopefully they'll have more room and they'll stop. As for the house, the one I have at the minute only has 1 exit, could I make a house out of an old butter tub or something like that for example and cut out two doorways in it? Or would I be fine just putting lots of bedding in the cage and letting them build their own bed as they like to do that now anyways.

[XRubyRoseX]

I think I may have found what the problem is, Miso has built her own little bed in one corner of the cage. She has been sleeping in there for the past two days whilst Pocky has been sleeping in the hamster house. Miso was awake this morning and went to get food then went in the house afterwards, I heard a small squeak after she went in. I've noticed all of the fights seem to be in the corner of the cage where the house is, so I'm wondering if Pocky is becoming a bit territorial over the hamster house. What I'm planning on doing is removing the house (it only has 1 exit anyways) and instead putting in either a homemade house with 2 exits or just putting in a lot of bedding and letting them build their own nests. Would it also help if I cleaned the cage out to remove their scents so Pocky is no longer territorial as her scent won't be there?