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My 2 teddy bear hamsters

21 11:33:48

Question
QUESTION: I just purchased 2 teddy bear hamsters. One male, and one female. We have a cage, and wheel for them, as well as a little dark house for hiding. They seem to get along quite well, but here and they're they seem to get into an argument and fight. I stop the fighting and then they seem fine. Is this a problem I should be worrying about? They do sleep together, and also run in the wheel together. Thank you!

ANSWER: Indeed this is a problem. Syrian hamsters (teddy bear is a pet store name for long hair syrians) are NEVER to be housed together. All hamster books and websites will back me up on this. At the pet store they are only together because they are still fairly young and usually of the same family group. As they age, the tiny sqabbles will turn into full fledged territorial fights, which can, and does result in one killing the other. Also as they age, they will likely mate. A female hamster can produce up to 16 baby hamsters, which you will need to find homes for. I would separate your hamsters before the squabbling becomes worse, and before they mate.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: But the thing is we wanted them to mate, we have quite a few freinds looking for hamsters! :) So maybe seperate them, and once and awhile put them together for a little while?

ANSWER: Keep them in separate cages until you are certain your little lady is in heat. Females come into heat every 4 days, and the easiest way to figure out what day is try pressing her back and stroking her back towards her tail. You have to get it just right, and it doesn't always work, but when she is in heat she will freeze in position and raise her tail. I have marked on a calendar what days I observed this for my female, so I would have a good idea. To prevent any territorial squabbles, introduce the female into the male's tank, or introduce them on neutral ground. Try in the late evening, the window of opportunity can last 4-18 hours. My female has always been observed in heat around midnight. The male will be interested in her rather quickly if she is in heat, if he shows no interest after 5 minutes, or they begin to fight, separate them and try again the next day. Females should not be mated before 2-3 months, or after 1 year, with a 6 month old being a good choice. Young hamsters are not the best mothers, and are more likely to eat their babies then older mothers from stress and inexperience. Females usually become sterile after a year.

This is a good page about breeding:
http://www.hammysworld.com/index.php?p=hamsters_breeding1

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok well we split them up for now, but for the past 2 days they seem very... Lonley, they seem to do nothing but stay in their huts and come out once and awhile to eat, then go right back inside.. Can they get lonley? what should we do?

Answer
Hamsters do not feel loneliness, even a mother hamster will force her pups from the burrow when they hit a certain age in the wild. Your hamsters are behaving in much the way all my hamsters have, they don't do a lot during the day at all, and come out at night to run on their wheels sparingly, and that is about it. If you have them in anything less then a 10 gallon size aquarium or comparable size cage, I would up the size. Your hamsters may feel better having more space to roam and more toys to play with. The larger the cage you can spare, the better and the happier your hamsters will be.