Dwarf hamsters fighting - Paw Talk

newt · #1 02-01-2007, 05:22 PM

Hey all,

So last weekend (Sat 27th Jan), I got 3 male dwarf hamsters (Campbells Russians), they are brothers and are around 10weeks old. We left them completely alone for a day as instructed to give them some time to settle with no more stress. We had been told they were very friendly as they come from a good breeder who handles them from very young etc.

So a day or so later we decided to see if they were ready for some interaction or not, so I carefully put my hand in. All 3 came rushing over. 2 were very friendly but the other one bit me. The same happened to my boyfriend (same one biting). Since then, the two friendly ones have been handled loads, they are absolutley adorable, but the third still wants to bite. We try putting our hands in the cage but in a fist shape, he comes over and tries to bite but it doesn't hurt as there isn't anything soft to get in to! He doesn't seem afraid of the hands as he runs over, we don't go very close to him or approach him.

So I would like help on how to go about taming him. But that isn't my main concern, I think it just may be related...

All 3 squabble. When the two friendly ones do it it doesn't seem a big problem, they wiggle about together and then part and seem happy. However, whenever it happens to the less friendly guy, he squeeks like crazy. I thought he was just touchy, but now one of them seems to go for him a lot more. He doesn't seem hurt at all, I don't see any cuts or bites. They sleep together at times, so it isn't that he is completely scared of the other or they can't go near each other.

From what I have read, the squabbling is normal, I just need to check for it getting beyond a bit of squabbling and being proper fighting. I don't know how I'll tell the difference - obviously I am looking out for signs of injury. I have read the fighting can be to do with figuring out who is dominant. Perhaps those two are fighting more if they are more dominant, but ifanything I would guess the squeeker is the least dominant. I also wish the lil guy would be more friendly, then I could handle him and take a closer look to see if he is ok!!

Does anyone know if this is quite normal for dwarves? Will it settle down perhaps? They've only been here less than a week, I hope it will settle down as they get used to things. How will I be able to know if the fighting is serious and they need to be split? They should be fine, they are brothers and were fine at the pet shop. They do sleep together sometimes, and he isn't always hiding from the other one.

Anyone had similar with their dwarves??

Thanks,
~newt~

karlh · #2 02-02-2007, 11:29 AM

My 2 male RWWs settled i very well. They also came from a reputable breeder. I would give them some more time, to settle in. The biting one will need more of your attention; his biting may pass. watch out carefull for any serious scratches/wounds. You will then have to separate them... At present it just seems like a play and assertion of dominancy..

**Sasami** · #3 02-02-2007, 01:49 PM

I would give them some time and if there isn't bloodshed then don't worry too much. How big is their cage? Do you notice them fighting are certain times like when you feed them?

Kendalle · #4 02-03-2007, 06:59 PM

my pet store wont let anyone adopt more than one hampster because they fight and they will sometimes kill each other, id question seperating them, expecailly the one that bites because it will be easier to tame if they arent together and if hes getting picked on

**Sasami** · #5 02-03-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendalle


	my pet store wont let anyone adopt more than one hampster because they fight and they will sometimes kill each other, id question seperating them, expecailly the one that bites because it will be easier to tame if they arent together and if hes getting picked on

Well, that usually is for Syrian/Golden hamsters. Those should never be housed together.

Some Dwarf species are fine in the same cage especially if they were raised together. Yeah, there is always the chance that they could fight but it's the same with many animals.

Kendalle · #6 02-03-2007, 10:03 PM

ok

i dont know if ours has darwfs or not i got a rat instead sence they dont bite as much

lilalex0145 · #7 02-03-2007, 11:38 PM

^^ Thats for Kendalle's post

newt · #8 02-04-2007, 04:10 AM

Hey all,

Their cage is 60cm x 60cm, and has tubing as well. I think that should be quite a big cage for them.
They don't fight after I feed them specifically, I haven't really noticed a pattern yet - but will see if I spot anything like that.
Hopefully after a bit more time then they'll settle down

they are such lovely lil guys!

For the biter, I've been putting my hand in as a fist shape, he comes up and investigates but can't quite bite into it. Yesterday, I opened up my hand a bit more, and he didn't bite it, so we may be making some progress!

Thanks everyone,
~newt~

candyraver · #9 02-04-2007, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendalle


	my pet store wont let anyone adopt more than one hampster because they fight and they will sometimes kill each other, id question seperating them, expecailly the one that bites because it will be easier to tame if they arent together and if hes getting picked on

If they are syrian (teddy bear,golden,black bear...) then they SHOULD be kept one per cage

candyraver · #10 02-04-2007, 06:50 AM

I only kept a syrian before,I have no advice

Are they getting better now?

karlh · #11 02-04-2007, 11:28 AM

You may have some problems at the age of about 4 months. It is at this time that they might seriously fight and you will have to separate them... Just observe and hope that this will never happen :-))

newt · #12 02-06-2007, 06:13 AM

Well I haven't noticed as much squeeking over the past couple of days. He used to just roll over and squeek if one of the others was interested in his food, but now he keeps it to himself quite well and even bugs them for their food

. Probably a bit early to tell, but he does seem to have settled a little bit.

I hope there won't be problems at 4months (or ever)!

They are all sooo cute, surely they can't be capable of being mean, hehe.

I cleaned out their cage and tubes last night. They weren't too happy about being moved out of their home, but settled down for a sleep in the end. They were very excited when they were put back in a nice clean home though

and this morning all three were very active and inquisitive still.

~newt~

karlh · #13 02-07-2007, 04:42 AM

Sorry, to say NEWT, they can be very, very mean... They may fight very badly... to death even. But that's nothing you can do about, that's how it is... Some people have tried to reintroduce them after separation, but with limited success....
But it seems that you are making a good progress... It all takes time and you will be rewarded for your patience :-)

Regarding cleaning their cage. This should be done once a week, or there abouts. if they have a potty, clean it daily, to avoid smell... If they have a house, where they sleep, clean this one a month, or so. But check it often, as they may take some fresh food in there, and it may go off. When you clean their house, always keep back some old bedding and bits of paper and sprinkle it on the new bedding, to reintroduce the smell...

Eyris · #14 02-14-2007, 01:20 PM

I had the same problem with my three Roborovski females, as I posted about earlier. They were squeaking at each other at night, without any harm. But then I noticed that one of them had been biten pretty badly (scabs around here tail area).

I assumed that it was the less social "loner" one, and I assume that I'm right. After I separated her, neither of the other hamsters has had any bites on them. They still squeak and play at night, but now after a month or so I'm assuming I did the right thing. Obviously, if I notice any bites in the future, I will separate them.

Make sure you look closely around their tail area. At first, I thought one of my hamsters just had a brown-ish colored skin on the end of her tail, but once she was bitten, I realized it was probably a wound healing. They seem to go to the tails first.

rockman0 · #15 03-01-2007, 01:30 PM

My hamsters were the same way. They seemed to fight at night time when one decided to go to bed and the other was already sleep. I heard that the dominant way actually squeaks because he/she is asserting him/herself. I don't know how true that is. Buy them a larger cage, maybe a Crittertrail 3. My hamsters loved the tunnels.