Introduction
Housing pairs of hamsters is a highly and hotly debated topic. Be aware that it is something that the hamster community in general does not come to a single agreement upon. And chances are that 9 times out of 10, if you're asking on this forum how to house a pair, you are going to be advised not to even try.
On the one hand, some believe that pairs are far too dangerous, and that it's better to house all hamsters alone. If allowed to escalate, hamster fights can be extremely serious, and can lead to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and even death.
On the other hand, many have had successful pairs that really thrived as a unit. Our very own missPixy, for example, has been keeping pairs and groups for over 16 years. In all of that time and with all of those pairs, she has only had to separate 3 times. Keeping happy pairs is absolutely possible, and these pairs will often show genuine affection for each other.
One thing that both sides agree on, though, is that housing pairs of hamsters is difficult. It requires a lot of knowledge, dedication, and perceptiveness on the owner's part. It is not something that every hamster owner should attempt.
Housing pairs is not recommended in the following situations:
(1) The person is a new or inexperienced hamster owner.
(2) The hamsters are not an already-established pair (and not just from the same cage at the pet store).
(3) There are significant restrictions on what the owner can and cannot do regarding their pets.
Hamster Social Behavior
Social behavior exists on a spectrum - it's not black and white, but shades of gray. It's not as simple as "this animal is extremely social and must live in groups / pairs" and "this animal is completely solitary and can never live in groups / pairs." There are nearly infinite options in between.
To put it very simply, dwarf hamsters are not as social as most other small pets. They are not totally solitary, but they are nowhere near as social as animals like rats and guinea pigs. Dwarf hamsters generally do fine alone. This is not to say they can never be kept in pairs or that it's inherently cruel or bad to do so. But, in most situations, it's simply better to keep them solo for the animal's sake. There is always an inherent concern about whether or not a single hamster will be lonely or sad by itself. But with hamsters, the stress of being kept with an incompatible cagemate is likely to be far worse than any risk of loneliness.
Dwarf hamsters really only benefit from being in pairs under very specific circumstances. That is, if they are a truly bonded pair. A bonded pair is what it sounds like - a pair of hamsters that have an established relationship in which they both feel comfortable and get along. In the context of captive pet keeping, bonded pairs are generally formed between littermates (siblings) or a parent and same-sex offspring. This does not mean that all littermates or parent/child pairs are capable of becoming bonded pairs. It's totally possible for two sisters to fall out, fight, and kill each other. What it does mean is that two unrelated, same-sex hamsters are very, very unlikely to form a bonded pair. Dwarf hamsters are just not social enough to be able to "make friends with anybody." Keeping two such hamsters together does not benefit them, and is likely to be detrimental. Even if they don't fight and injure / kill each other (which is common), they generally will not be happy.
Should YOU get a pair?
Are you able to get hamsters from somewhere other than a pet store?
Pet store hamsters generally should not be kept in pairs.
Just because two hamsters were in the same tank at the store does not mean they are related. Chain pet stores typically only carry one sex, which means that litters are divided by default. The group of hamsters in a given enclosure are likely the result of a few different litters. So overall, the odds are against you - the chances of two hamsters being littermates AND being compatible enough to establish a pair bond are simply not very good.
Research suggests that hamsters raised in overcrowded, stressful environments are poor candidates for group living. The theory is that this environment prevents them from learning proper social behavior ("manners" so to speak) and makes them less likely to be able to get along with other hamsters, even their own siblings. This is a problem with pet store hamsters - they're usually bred in massive pet mills, which are extremely overcrowded and stressful.
Now, I know what you're wondering right now. If pet store hamsters generally won't get along, why do we see them snuggling and sleeping together while they're in the store? The answer is simple - survival. My theory is that the hamsters in pet store cages tensely coexist to prevent an all-out brawl that would likely result in death for several of them. They likely get along at the pet store because they have to in order to keep relative peace. And even that doesn't always hold up - hamsters at pet stores can and do kill each other.
The only real ethical ways to source two hamsters to attempt as a pair are:
(a) adopting an established pair that has already been living together (as in just the two of them) from a shelter / rescue / individual
(b) getting confirmed littermates from an ethical breeder
Are you prepared to pay for vet bills for two hamsters?
Having two hamsters means that at any given point, you're twice as likely to have to take someone to the vet. Being cagemates, they're going to share contagious illnesses and parasites. Even if you bring them into the vet at the same time, you will likely have to pay the full price for two appointments.
I bring up this point because a significant number of people struggle to get proper vet care for one hamster, nevermind two. At my vet's, just getting in the door with two animals costs nearly $150. And that's before any treatment! It's vital that you do an honest assessment of your finances and go into it being aware of what your costs are going to be.
Are you prepared to deal with an accidental pregnancy (or two)?
This happens all the time, because dwarf hamsters are probably the most difficult to sex. Someone has a pair of supposedly same-sex hamsters and then one day they see pups in the cage. And in fact, this situation often leads to not just one but TWO unplanned litters. Female hamsters can and do get pregnant almost immediately after giving birth. If the male hamster is still in the cage when the pups are born, he will often immediately mate with the female again. Two litters can easily result in 10+ hamsters...and can compound to more if you missex the pups and they end up impregnating each other! Are you prepared to care for and rehome that many hamsters?
Have you been keeping hamsters for several years at least?
Owning a pair isn't necessarily something for beginners to try out. It's something that is simply suited for more experienced hamster owners. It requires being familiar with body language and behavior so that you can recognize squabbles versus fights. It's also important to have owned the particular species you plan to pair.
Are you independent and living on your own, able to make your own choices about your home?
Are you living with parents that are going to put restrictions on what you can and can't do? Are they going to give you issues with getting new cages, upgrading cage size, going to the vet, spending money, etc.? Keeping a pair requires a lot of flexibility. It's not a good fit for someone who isn't allowed to spend more than a certain amount of money or
Conclusion
Keeping pairs of hamsters not inherently bad or irresponsible. However, much like breeding, it's something that needs to be taken very seriously, and only attempted if the owner is 100% prepared. If you feel you are up to the task of keeping a pair, we recommend reading through our topic on appropriately housing pairs.
Edited by Taxonomist, 09 April 2019 - 08:55 PM.
It does make me feel bad about all the people I've seen purchasing pairs and even trios of Roborovski dwarfs from pet stores.. From what I've read, and the stories I've heard from people who've done that, so many of those pairs are likely to end up badly!
