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Old 11-09-2011, 07:21 PM   #1
Elliriyanna
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Default connected cages?

I have always been told when housing multiple hams they need one big cage with one of everything per ham. However I have seen many people housing robo's in connected cages. What are your thoughts on this?
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Old 11-09-2011, 07:30 PM   #2
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Default Re: connected cages?

The reason one single cage is recommended is that a ham can claim ownership to a piece of "land" in its cage and try to prevent its cagemate from accessing it, such as by fighting and bullying. It's much easier to feel territorial about closed compartments, tubes, small houses, food dishes, etc. Anything that's easy to defend against approach of another hamster. So to minimize chances of falling out and fighting, it's recommended to have an open floor plan with one wheel per ham, preferably an open nest (a pile of bedding instead of a house), and food scattered in a layer around the cage vs. in a bowl.
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Old 11-09-2011, 09:09 PM   #3
Elliriyanna
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Default Re: connected cages?

I understand that completely I myself have dwarfs so I did the research and such. I just dont get how people are making it work with multiple connected cages.
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Old 11-09-2011, 09:23 PM   #4
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Default Re: connected cages?

Well, just because it's more likely for a pair to fight, it doesn't mean they ever will. I know of some pairs living in very tight quarters with a single wheel and getting along just fine. Depends on individuals and their dynamics. Sometimes they'll fight even in the best of conditions. It's just if you want to have them stay together longer, it will probably help to go with the safe plan and remove some of the possible culprits.

For example, when I first put in 2 wheels into my 3-robo set up, there was a bit of a continuous squabble in a couple days in the wheel area. As soon as I added the third wheel, everything smoothed out immediately. Not that they almost ever used that third wheel, but just its presence was calming enough, I guess.
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Old 11-09-2011, 09:37 PM   #5
Elliriyanna
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Default Re: connected cages?

I had two female sibling RC and did everything right two of everything big cage and they fought so badly I had to separate them ... Never again will I have a pair. its just weird to me how some can get away with it. Is it different with robo's? they seem more likely to do well in pairs
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Old 11-10-2011, 10:25 AM   #6
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Default Re: connected cages?

I think a lot of the time it's just luck. As a kid I had 3 hybrid males who lived in a stack cage, loads of tubes and compartments, and they never fought at all. And yet when I started keeping hamsters as an adult, I kept a duo in a glass tank, all one level, 2 of everything, and one nearly ripped the other to shreds. Just hammy personalities, I guess. Though you're right I think, people do seem to have more luck with robos than other species.
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Old 11-10-2011, 01:24 PM   #7
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Default Re: connected cages?

My first pair of robos nearly ended up as a single the squabbling turned into such a ferocious attack. They had bigger and bigger cages, two of everything, followed all the rules. It was just one of those things and they happily lived their lives apart.

I've just had seven boys in one ZooZone, four of whom were in the middle of puberty, one adult and two babies. Not a hint of a problem.

I have three permanent pairs at the moment, and not a sign of trouble, not that I ever would, but I'm confident I could pretty much house them in any way and they'd be happy they're so settled. The thing there is they actually are settled, I imagine if I introduced them in that sort of enviroment it could well be a different story. I actually think a big part of it is I have a mother and daughter, and two nephews with uncles since they were only four weeks old, who see them as dads so pecking order well and truly established making things easier.

You can never guarantee anything with robo pairs, but you can definitely increase your chances, similarly, you can reduce them, but happen not to hit any problems.
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Old 11-10-2011, 01:41 PM   #8
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Default Re: connected cages?

It's really just luck. I know of people who have had to seperate their robos, but my robos did just fine in their huge cage and i think its because they had so much space. There was 4 main cages, smaller travel pods, lots of tubes, 2 waterbottles, 4 wheels, etc. The only time they even looked like they were squabbling was when one would just sit in the tube and the other was trying to get around it. I never heard them squeak, and rarely saw them box, so I kept them together.
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Old 11-10-2011, 04:52 PM   #9
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Default Re: connected cages?

I would love to house a pair because when it works its so great But for those who are wondering about getting a pair is there any way to check the bond before you bring them home?
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Old 11-10-2011, 04:53 PM   #10
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Default Re: connected cages?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elliriyanna View Post
I would love to house a pair because when it works its so great But for those who are wondering about getting a pair is there any way to check the bond before you bring them home?
I don't think there are any ways to do that because just because they get along before you bring them home doesn't mean they're going to get along forever. Plus I would think the bond could change once you place them in their new home.
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