You may have heard and been wondered by the debate over whether or not hamsters can be safely kept together. In another case, have you wondered why Syrian hamsters live together in pet stores but not at your home? To answer your questions, we’ve put together a research that will serve as a handy guide to whether or not certain hamsters can be housed together, why and why not, and how to do it in the most correct way.
In short, two Syrian hamsters sharing a space is a bad idea that should be avoided at all costs. They are Strictly Solitary!
Syrian hamsters are solitary animals and should always be kept with one hamster per cage, yet it seems that pet stores often violate this rule. It is not unusual to see groups of hamsters apparently living in peaceful coexistence at pet stores, but there’s a reason you should not do this at home. Don’t become afraid to go bigger. Usually, by the time these rodents reach about 8 to 10 weeks old, they must be separated before serious fighting, sometimes to the death, occurs. Trying to keep adult Syrian hamsters together is just asking for trouble.
Even if you don’t see your Syrian hamsters in a battle, it’s a good bet that keeping them together causes stress, which shortens their lifespans. A well-tended Syrian hamster can live 3 to 4 years in your home, but only 2 1/2 to 3 yrs in the wild.
Pet Store Pretense
It is also worth mentioning that just because they appear to be OK at the pet store at any given moment, thwith doesn’t mean there haven’t been or won’t be problems. If the hamsters you see in one cage at the pet store are older, it’s likely that those that show battle scars or evidence of a fight have already been taken out of the cage. It’s also probable that with younger animals, the hamsters have been separated into same-sex groupings. That prevents unwanted pregnancies and territorial fights.
Female Syrian hamsters are aggressive toward males when the females are usually not in heat. Even when she is in heat, the female at best will tolerate the male.
Syrian Hamsters at Your Home
Once you bring your Syrian hamster home, give it lots of space. They are territorial and enjoy room to run, play, and burrow. At a minimum, the cage for a single hamster should be at least 2 feet by 1 foot and at the very least 12 inches high.
Most hamsters seen at pet stores are quite young, and even Syrian (also called golden) hamsters can be kept together on a young age. Your pet will thank you.
It’s also a good idea to give your hamster separate toys. While some cages come with toys and compartments built in, they take up space that your hamster might prefer to spread out in.
However, Syrian hamsters can make fantastic companions. With their differing personalities and quirky ways, Syrian hamsters can be a wonderful choice of pet and are easy to care for once you know their needs. If raised and handled properly they’ll be your friends for life. But handling hamsters can be tricky when they are young as they are still adjusting to the big wide world.
If you have more than one golden hamster in your home and put their cages close together, make sure neither hamster can escape its cage. Syrian hamsters like to gnaw and you don’t want your pet to get out. Don’t be concerned if your hamster ignores its roommate-your dogs are absolutely content to live a solitary existence. That doesn’t mean a Syrian hamster shouldn’t be handled by humans. They enjoy contact, but usually at night and may bite if awakened from a nap.
If you’re keeping smaller hammies, make sure you read our suggestions for the best dwarf hamster cages around. Looking to learn even more? Check out the 37 hamster care tips that will take you to the next level.
By Hamster Care Tips
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