Hamsters in the same room?

[angieM]

Hello everyone!

I am currently thinking about getting another hamster and I had a question as too if it is okay to keep two hamsters in the same room (NOT cage), I currently have a male syrian hamster and I am thinking about getting a dwarf. I just want to make sure it will be okay to have them in the same room, their cages would be about 8 feet apart from each other, but they are facing each other so I do not know if they will be able to spot one another and then there be an issue. Any suggestions or advice I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

[Fluffagrams]

Some hamsters seem more tolerant about living near other hamsters than others.

I've curretly got six Chinese living in close proximity to each other in quite a small room and they're quite content with that. They're used to living near other hamsters and seem to know each other... in fact if one of them is left alone such as on a show day (usually Jessie), they almost seem a bit out of sorts like they know something has changed.

On the other hand, one of my sisters previous hamsters, a Hybrid named Sooty was used to being an only hamster and when my sister looked after Jessie for two weeks and had her near Sooty's cage, Sooty really didn't like it. She was reluctant to come out of her nest, was more territorial than normal and she didn't settle down until Jessie had been moved to the other end of the room.

I'd probably put them in the same room and keep an eye on how they settle. Mine usually are out of sorts for a day or two if I bring a new hamster in. I'd imagine 8 feet should be more than enough distance though.

[AprilPearl]

Growing up, my brother and I often each had a hamster and they would live in the same room. At one point, we had three male syrians all living in the same room. Their cages were as far apart as space would allow, probably about 8 foot as you say, and this did not seem to upset them. What did get them agitated was when I looked after a friend’s female syrian while she was on holiday for a week, but they settled down after a day or so of excitement! I’ve never kept two species so I could be wrong about this, but I’d imagine that might make them less territorial about one another’s scent?

[cypher]

Most hams seem to be fine in the same room, some people with a lot of hams have them stacked & it doesn't seem to be a problem.
As you already have a male he will probably just be curious about the female who's scent he will be able to pick up! It should be fine though.
I keep dwarf hams (Chinese & Russian) & have four all in a smallish living room & no one seems remotely put out by having the others around, I do sometimes get a bit of attention seeking behaviour when they can hear me talking to another ham but that's about it!