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Russian Adoption

March 14, 2010

My 2 dwarf russian hamsters are fighting – what shall I do??

I got 2 hamsters from the ‘Adoption‘ centre at Pets at Home (where ppl who can’t look after them anymore bring them in). They are about 1.5 years old. I asked about fighting + the member of staff said that if they did not get along one of them would have killed the other by now. There weren’t many details about them but it seemed like they had always lived together – they were brought in together + lived in the same cage in the store. I’ve had them for about 3 months now + they got along great until a few weeks ago. They were first seen to fight after I had cleaned the cage and put them both back in. It was horrible, there was high pitched squeaking + one had flipped the other onto his back. It has consistently been the same hamster causing the trouble. Occasionally the other will have a niggle but nothing major. It is now to the point where they are fighting every few days – that we know of. Is there some link with ‘mating’ that might be making them fight? Advice please

Russian hamsters ARE social. you say flipped on to his back? are they both males? that’ll be the cause. I’d advice getting a bigger container for them ( an old 3ft fish-tank is perfect ) and get MORE hamsters, mixed sex. they WILL fight when first introduced (to figure out who’s the boss) but will very quickly become a happy community. also you’ll get babies that you can sell to get the cost of the tank back……

  1. Get camera and film it!!!
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    Comment by Alessandro C — March 15, 2010 @ 3:08 am
  2. Hamsters do not like to live in groups, they are solitary animals. The pet shop person was talking complete garbage, they will eventually fight to the death. Seperate them or take one back, they will be miserable together.
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    Ex hamster breeder!

    Comment by Ahwell — March 15, 2010 @ 3:32 am
  3. put them in different cages.

    or start taking bets on whos going to win ding ding round 1 lol
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    Comment by joey — March 15, 2010 @ 4:19 am
  4. 1. Hammer

    2. Toilet
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    Comment by mac1hull — March 15, 2010 @ 5:05 am
  5. them damn Russians
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    Comment by Nintendouche — March 15, 2010 @ 5:31 am
  6. are they fighting over a furry hat or a bottle of vodka?
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    Comment by Mr&MrsD — March 15, 2010 @ 5:58 am
  7. put them in deff cages or thay may kill each other but dwaf hammis dont fight that much so something might be wrong with one
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    Comment by Bj — March 15, 2010 @ 6:15 am
  8. Its because they will have sent marked there bedding so they know it belongs to them, putting them back into a clean cage has taken all this sent away and they will be confused and they fight because there scared, they will also fight because one of te hamsters is going to be dominate and it is just remind the other hamster of where it stands. i shouldn’t worry its all natural.
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    Comment by Rosie H — March 15, 2010 @ 6:42 am
  9. Place bets and put it on youtube!
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    Comment by yodah20 — March 15, 2010 @ 7:24 am
  10. If there both boys then that’s why. boy rodents don’t get along they’ll live together for a while but eventually one will kill the other. if they’re both boys then seperate them.
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    Comment by mice rule — March 15, 2010 @ 8:10 am
  11. I would separate them. Last year I had 2 of them and they fought alot! So I told the guy at the pet store and he said to separate them. Ever since they were perfect little angels:)
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    Life

    Comment by Cutie Girl — March 15, 2010 @ 8:33 am
  12. seperate them
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    Comment by princezz — March 15, 2010 @ 8:54 am
  13. Hamsters are not social animals. Put them in different cages.
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    Comment by Marie Haley — March 15, 2010 @ 9:11 am
  14. Russian hamsters ARE social. you say flipped on to his back? are they both males? that’ll be the cause. I’d advice getting a bigger container for them ( an old 3ft fish-tank is perfect ) and get MORE hamsters, mixed sex. they WILL fight when first introduced (to figure out who’s the boss) but will very quickly become a happy community. also you’ll get babies that you can sell to get the cost of the tank back……
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    Comment by nick b — March 15, 2010 @ 9:32 am
  15. after you’ve cleaned the cage you take away their smell. there was obviously a more dominant one, and it is trying to get back that postion. if the fighting continues, if i were you, i would seperate them
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    Comment by sarah b — March 15, 2010 @ 10:22 am
  16. Okay I’ve seen quite a few answers which are totally wrong. Sorry but they are.

    I’m a Hamster breeder, it’s the Syrian hamsters that like to live alone, dwarf hamsters like to be paired or in groups of three or four.

    The Pets at Home were right, they would have killed the other if they weren’t getting along. Syrians hate to be in pairs but all dwarfs do like I said before, they are only mock fights.

    If it gets worse, separate the hamster thats causing all the trouble and put him in a new cage. Dwarf hamsters don’t mind being alone if they get the same attention with humans like they did before. Just put some new toys in the box to keep him occupied.

    If there is a female in the box then it might be mating, (click this link: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiYo_nptqp3brq56Bbu1Z_0gBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20080506141622AAz6Y7u ) they may be fighting and making the cute but loud squeaks because the female is having none of what the male is trying to do.

    Is this Pets at Home in Liverpool by any chance?

    Sarah x
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    Comment by Sarah — March 15, 2010 @ 10:49 am
  17. put them in seperate cages, i had to female dwarfs, they fought constatnly so i finally seperated them. its more work, but its worth it.
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    Comment by frankieex — March 15, 2010 @ 11:20 am

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