syrian hamsters

Question
We have had a lovely syrian for about 6 months and have recently bought a second one with a separate cage, toys etc.  We keep them apart but the cages are next to each other.  our first hamster occasionally makes strange grunting noises.  Does this mean she is unhappy about the other hamster and will she get used to the presence of another hamster.

Hope you can help.

cheers, Pat

Answer
Hi Pat

It is difficult to know if your first hamster is happy or not about her next door neighbour!

Some hamsters are very vocal with speaking, snoring, 'chatting' etc.  Remember that their eyesight is very bad and they rely heavily on their sense of smell, therefore your hamster is having to rely on this to determine who is living next door.  You haven't said if the second hamster is male or female.  

If hamsters are annoyed they tend to make a very strange noise - very different from their usual squeaking sound.  I always have a lot of hamsters at any one time and all their cages are placed on top of or next to other hamsters.  They are always very aware if I have moved the cages around and come out of their nests to investigate who is living next door to them.  When they all come out for a run in their exercise balls in the evening, if they all get caught up in the same corner of the room one or two of them will tend to make this very strange sound - I assume it is to warn the other one off.

If the sound your hamster is making is this type of sound I am sure she will get used to living next door to another hamster at some stage.  When you go to handle her, does she react at all if you have handled the other hamster first? I find that if I have different sexes side by side, they often stick their noses out between the bars of their cage to try and sniff each other.  If they are the same sex they usually ignore each other.

If you think she is unhappy, perhaps just moving the cage away a few inches or more might calm her down a bit.

I hope you get on OK.

Regards