PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THE DISCLAIMER ON HOUSING PAIRS OF HAMSTERS BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS.
KEEPING PAIRS IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR:
-Most hamsters from pet stores (impossible to confirm relations and a pair bond)
-Inexperienced or new owners
-Those who have significant space, financial, or freedom constraints
Can these hamsters live together?
Only certain species can be housed together! - Not all species of hamster can be housed in pairs. For some species, attempting to house them together is a death sentence, so read on to make sure the species you're thinking of does okay in pairs!
- Syrian hamsters - Syrians are solitary, and should never, ever be housed together. Two Syrians housed together, regardless of cage size or anything else, are almost guaranteed to fight and kill each other.
- Chinese dwarf hamsters - The sociability of Chinese dwarf hamsters is not well-understood. Some have managed to successfully keep pairs, but it very often does not work out and ends in fights and separation. It is generally recommended to house them alone.
- Winter white hamsters - These hamsters can sometimes be kept in pairs, although it is common for them to fall out and need to be separated. Winter White pairs should be kept with extreme caution.
- Campbell's hamsters - These hamsters can sometimes be kept in pairs.
- Roborovski's hamsters - These hamsters can sometimes be kept in pairs.
The two hamsters must be the same species - Different species do not mix! Hamsters of different species should never be housed together. Hamsters can only live with members of their own species. That is, a Robo can only live with another Robo, not a Winter White or Campbell's. Different species speak different "languages", so they can't communicate with each other. This will lead to fighting and eventually serious injury or death.
They must be confirmed relatives (littermates, parent / child) that have lived together since birth - For two hamsters to have a chance at getting along, they must be related and have lived together since birth (birth of the child in the case of parent / child). Introducing two unrelated hamsters to each other in hopes that they will live together is not recommended. As a note, getting 2 hamsters from the same cage at a pet store does NOT mean they are littermates, because pet stores mix litters. The only way to get [nearly] guaranteed littermates is from an ethical breeder or a rescue.
They must be of the same sex - Two hamsters housed together must be of the same sex. Males and females cannot be housed together. They will breed constantly (yes, even if they are siblings, parent/child, etc.), which will result in potentially dozens of pups and extreme stress on the mother.
What do I need to know?
Fighting is always a possibility - Unfortunately, there is no secret, magical trick to make sure a pair never fights. There are ways to reduce the risk of fighting, but even if you do everything right, fights can still happen.
Be prepared to separate at any moment - Because of the above, it is critical that the hamsters can be separated at a moment's notice. Serious fights can happen any time--in the middle of the night, on a holiday, during a severe weather event, and so on. There have been many sad stories like the following:
"Help me, please! My two Robos are fighting really badly and one is bleeding. The other one keeps attacking him. I can't separate them because I don't have another cage and it's late and all the stores are closed for the night!"
Don't let this happen to you! Have supplies on hand so that you can separate your hamsters at any moment. This includes an extra cage, water bottle, wheel, food bowl, and bedding.
Make sure you have a vet and a vet fund! - If fights do happen, vet care can be the difference between life and death. Vet care is required for all hamsters, but is doubly important for pairs.
Squabbles are normal - Wrestling and even squeaking are normal behaviors to establish dominance...to an extent. However, the moment blood is drawn, the hamsters must be separated immediately. This is part of the reason that it is important for hamster owners to be experienced before housing a pair. An owner needs to be able to tell the difference between normal squabbling and serious fighting.
What is proper housing for a pair?
Cage size - A pair of hamsters obviously needs a much larger cage than a single one. As you'll see below, keeping a pair requires multiples of different equipment. It can become very difficult to fit these things in a smaller cage. On the other side, though, it's thought that having a too-large cage can result in de-clanning.
Single space - A pair's cage should be a single, open cage with one level. Having multiple cages connected does not work well for pairs. Nor does having a cage with multiple closed-off levels. Small passages between areas (like tubes) can lead to squabbles about who goes first. In some cases, one hamster might "claim" one of the cages / levels and not allow the other one into the area.
Hideouts - It's recommended to have several hideouts in the cage, so that the hamsters can either sleep together or separately if they prefer. Hideouts should ideally have multiple entrances or a large entrance.
Wheels - Multiple wheels are important for the same reason as multiple hideouts. Some pairs like running together, but some prefer to run separately. Having two wheels prevents fights if both want to run separately at the same time. It’s also best if the wheels are larger (8” – 12”) so that both hamsters can run on a single wheel comfortably.
Food - Feeding a pair requires making sure that both hamsters have access to food at all times. This can mean multiple food bowls. Or it can mean one large food bowl that both can eat at comfortably. Scatter-feeding can also be a good option for a pair.
Water bottles – Having multiple water bottles prevents scuffles about drinking.
Edited by Taxonomist, 06 March 2019 - 10:20 PM.
