Fighting

Hail hamster enthusiasts'

I recently purchased two, 8 week old Russian Dwarfs (boys) from the local pet store. I picked them both from the same litter, as I was told there is a better chance of them getting along if they are brothers. I got them home, set the cage up and they settled in great. Two weeks on and I've had to seperate them. The larger of the two was chasing his smaller brother around the cage and trampling on his back. I did a quick search on Google and read that there should be no contact when the are competing for dominance. Well there was definitely a LOT of contact, it was quite frightening.

So I come to ask advice, and confirm I've done the right thing. I have moved the smaller hammy into a seperate cage (had to nip out and buy one before there was death) and now I don't let them anywhere near each other. The dominant hamster seems fine, I think he's enjoying the food bowl to himself and he's as loopy as ever. The smaller however isn't too great. He's very timid, jumpy and squeals if I put my hand close to him. Today I managed to get him in the box, and he had a good dig in the sawdust, and a roll in his sand bath.

I wonder if the little fella is traumatized?

[Bunsey]

well, sounds like the fighting was pretty bad if he was chasing him all over the cage and biting his back. The thing about there should be no contact with fighting for dominance is rubbish though. They will often tip one on his back and stand on him or make boxing types moves.

I'm sure the timid one will come round in time. When i separated mine, the submissive one was very quiet for a while.

The thing is with pet shops, is that they do put 2 litters in together, so choosing them from the same tank doesn't mean they are littermates. Even if the staff say they are, they can't know that some other member of staff bunged them together. When i bought a group of robos, it was clear that one was a different litter as he was bigger than all the others and just looked a bit older! The others all bullied him and i had to take him out.

[souffle]

I think you have done the right thing. The smaller one would not have been getting enough food and will have been feeling very intimidated. keep persevering with taming the little one. It can take a few weeks for them to settle and realise they will not be jumped on when they come out thor house.