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06-22-2019, 01:43 PM
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#1
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
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New hamster owner: help needed!!!
Hi all,
I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can help me here... 6 weeks ago I was in pets at home looking at getting a Syrian hamster and long story short I came out with 4 male russian dwarves. I was assured they are a social type and would do well together in a group.
There has been some angry squeaks, so added additional houses so each could gave their space.
Last night 2 were fighting so bad that they drew blood and I had to separate the instigator. Now in a really useful box in my lounge.
Left inside the main house are the 3 brothers, two are always together - lots of humping between them. One is submissive and doesn't seem to mind - even follows the other around. The remaining hamster tries to keep to himself - but gets chased off whenever he goes near the more dominant one.
I'm at a loss with what to do. Is there any way of saving this? Can you neuter male hamsters- and would this help. Do I need to split to 2 groups permanently- or the current dynamic not healthy?
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06-22-2019, 02:40 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
Posts: 28,199
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Re: New hamster owner: help needed!!!
You have been badly misinformed and I would go back to pets at home and tell them that you have been sold a large group which you should not have been and they are now fighting. I think you also need to get the sexes checked as the humping may be because you have been given a female as well as the males. 4 is far too many for any cage this store sells.
They seldom stay together past puberty and fights can be terrible. It;s not a natural situation for them and they can kill each other. The one being left aside now in the trio is likely stressed and could well be being mentally bullied and kept from food by the others. Any tiny change even like you handling one and not the others can set them off. With groups you need to be ready with single cages for them all in case. They are much better pets as singles and you can rest easy you are not going to wake up to carnage.
I'd never recommend groups as pets I'm afraid.
You can't neuter them as they are too tiny and I doubt it would help anyway. Small houses with no outlets can make matters worse actually as they can trap each other. You need to have really deep litter in the cage so they can dig down and you need to scatter feed so they all get some. Watch the sizes and if one is very small then he needs removed. Also try and check the sexes else you may soon have even more! Pet stores are notorious for misexing them. The store should provide you with more cages if you kick up a fuss but you need to decide if you want 4 cages in your home. Sorry not good news but personally I would separate them all now.
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06-25-2019, 06:07 AM
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#3
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
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Re: New hamster owner: help needed!!!
Thanks for the input, it's not a pet store cage - it's this one which I initially bought for 1 x syrian: https://www.manomano.co.uk/p/xxl-wod...losure-6208378
Is there any hope for even 2 to stay together. If so, how do I decide the best 2 dynamics?
The pet store are not being very helpful at this stage
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hamster, male, humping, submissive, current, mind, permanently-, dynamic, healthy, main, inside, left, lounge, house, brothers, lots, neuter, dominant, loss, saving, chased, groups, remaining, split, box |
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