Hamster help please

[NAB3littlemonkeys]

I have two adorable Roborovski hamsters who are brothers and one year old. They adore each other and always seem very close. This morning I heard the most awful squeaking noise and they looked like they were attacking each other or one to one. One than ran up and down the top of his tube. We had a couple more squeaking sessions with me shouting to stop them. According to my hamster book it means they are fighting and the weaker one is giving in. I know it is daft as they are only hamsters but I am worried one is going to kill the other. They are utterly adorable and I don't think I could handle any more bad news.

Have just given them fresh food and water and currently they both appear to be in their house together as I can't see them.

Do I hope for the best or do I separate them? I would hate to do that as they generally seem to love each other. Really don't want to come home and find one dead. The book explains what is going on but doesn't say what to do. I will ring the pet shop at 9 but in the mean time, any ideas please?

I honestly thought hamsters could never live together! I think you've done well to have had them for a year with no bloodshed! I have a hamster but am no expert - can you buy another cage and separate them for a while with their cages touching? Then slowly try to reintroduce?

Sorry not much help.

They are brothers so it was fine to take them. All quiet for a good while so I am hoping they are both asleep together. Will keep a close eye though.

The only people I know who had two hamsters, usually siblings, found that one ate the other. Or that one was found unaccountably dead. These were the sorts of hamsters who were supposed to be fine together. I would separate them.

Just spoken to the pet shop. He said it was hierarky (sp) fighting and to monitor it. The dominant hamster may back off now the rules have been established.

AFAIK the only hammys that can live together are m/f pairs or sometimes 2 females.
My bro had 2 russian hamsters that tried to fight to the death, blood and everything. The petshop swapped one for a female, though they didn't breed.

Thank goodness for that! Both are alive and seem happy.

Haven't heard or seen them for hours and was getting worried but too scared to check.

Spoke too soon. They have just had two fights. Have put one in the play ball and phoned the pet shop but they are shut. What do I do about tonight? Haven't got another cage and worried one will kill the other tonight.

Have you got a plastic box? (Obviously no lid!!) You really need to separate them and keep them separate. Get another cage tomorrow.

Have just done ring and reserve on a cage at Argos. Not the one I would choose and more than the one I could get tomorrow but I daren't risk it. Hubby due home shortly so will send him out.

I have a big plastic box but worry it would crawl up the sides and out.

Have just done ring and reserve on a cage at Argos. Not the one I would choose and more than the one I could get tomorrow but I daren't risk it. Hubby due home shortly so will send him out.

I have a big plastic box but worry it would crawl up the sides and out.

Will have to wait til the morning to get a cage. Hope they survive the night.

Any news? Are they ok?

Hi

Thanks for asking.

The hamsters survived the night and I went straight to the pet shop after school. The staff were surprised they have only just started fighting but said I must separate them. I told them they looked like they were trying to mate when only about 3 months old and she said that could have been a sign of dominance.

Have got a swanky new cage and they are now separated.

Oh glad there was a good ending!

He didn't look very happy when I first put him in but he has been round the outdoor tube and has messed around with his bedding so I think he has moved in.

WE had robos and they are the most gorgeous little hamsters and they are supposed to live together, if they are same sex siblings. However we had 2 girls which we got in April and at christmas we found that one had attacked the backside of the other.

We seperated them for a week while the injured one healed. Put them back together,they cuddled up together and we thought everything was fine a few hours later I heard hissing and squealing and one was chasing and attacking the other again.

After that we seperated them completely unless we got them out to play.

They died within 3 days of each other when they were 2 and half. I miss them a lot as they were adorable.

Definitely keep them apart.

We bought two hamsters as they looked adorable cuddled up together in the pet shop and we didn't want to break them up.

They were fine for months then they had a fight. We assumed it was a one off but it happened again and the smaller one was badly bitten on the leg.

We took him straight to the vet but sadly he had to be put down. The vet said that hamsters are naturally solitary creatures and only seek out another when they want to mate and was surprised that the pet shop hadn't told us this.

Your hamsters should both be much happier now that they have their own little homes.