hamsters and dwarf hamsters

Question
can i put a hamster with a dwarf hamster?

Answer
The answer is yes, but males are easier to house then females.

What you need to do is make sure that you introduce them in the proper way to see if they are compatible to live together. You need to allow each to get use to the others smell. You will take one hamster and place it in the other's cage while switching the second into the firsts cage. So each is in the others cage. This gives them the time to smell the other and get use to them without the scare tactic of being together face to face. You should do this for a week each day for at least an hour. They will be scared at first but should become a routine near the end.

Next is introduction in a neutral area. The best place a bath tub or large sink. Let them exercise together and see how they interact. At this point they know each other's smell so pay attention to them. Remove immediately if blood is drawn. You need to do this for a week an hour a day maybe 1/2 hour to get them use to one another.

Now if they are doing fine you need to get a larger cage for both so they are not cramped. Place each in the cage freshly clean with TWO houses for each. Watch them for fighting and make sure you are there partially during the night to see them interact when they are awake.

Make sure to separate if their is blood drawn, bullying, or constant never ending tussling. If stage 3 is going bad try going to putting both in the same cage daily for one week several hours a day and return them to their own cage the rest of the day. Kinda like a transition period.




Here's a great video to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf35n7EQ6Gs