Hate going to pet shops

flogging_molly · 03-05-2009, 09:00 AM

It just makes me sad, took my little girl in so she could see all the animals and i could pick up some food for our current residents and they had 2 poor little chinese hamsters on their own in separate cages, obviously not followed their own advice and sold them in groups/pairs

furrypolka · 03-06-2009, 01:26 AM

It could be that they fought - Chinese are not always sociable with each other, in which case they will have done the right thing separating them. It is nice when dwarves can live together, however it's not always possible and they do adjust to being alone, our 4 lone Robos are quite happy by themselves and in fact in some cases prefer it - Jim in particular is a loner and would never have accepted a friend.

haziebabie · 03-06-2009, 08:44 AM

Were the the same sex? I think I am impressed they split them, a lot of places have hamsters dumped in together regardless as they take up less room. I think they can be happy enough on their own.

Bunsey · 03-06-2009, 10:26 AM

actually, Chinese are solitary. Occasionally you can get 2 males to live together.

mollldoll · 03-09-2009, 05:57 AM

yes, when i bought my two chinese hammies as boys - found out they were female when i got them home. Thought id give them a chance and they lived togeather happily for 2 months till they had an allmighty fight.

__Sara__ · 03-09-2009, 06:41 PM

Yeah, I have hardly ever heard of any dwarf hamsters staying together longer than a few months other than campbells. I think its wrong that alot of petshops sell them in pairs without telling the new owners that there is a high risk of them having to be split up.

Bunsey · 03-10-2009, 09:52 AM

actually, robos stay together very well, too

furrypolka · 03-10-2009, 03:05 PM

Yes, I have had robos together in pairs and only had one problem where we had a trio and after living together happily for almost a year two of the boys turned on the other one. Luckily we were right there when it happened, and pulled him out.

Chinese however are a different story and anyone after a pair should really be warned to have a spare cage on standby if they are going to try them living together.