Yes, hamsters will kill each other since they are solitary and territorial animals that cannot be kept in the same cage once they reach the age of ten weeks. They may also be cannibalistic depending on the species because they are territorial. Syrian hamsters, for example, may be hostile against other hamsters.
Read on as I look deeper into why hamsters kill each other and how to keep two hamsters in the same cage without killing each other.
Why Do Hamsters Kill Each Other
Hamsters will kill each other because they are solitary and territorial animals that cannot be kept in the same cage once they reach the age of ten weeks. After all, they will fight to the death and kill each other.
They also kill each other because they are territorial, and they may be cannibalistic, depending on the species. Syrian hamsters, for example, may be hostile against other hamsters, killing and eating the other hamster in the cage in certain situations.
Syrian and dwarf hamsters have been shown to eat other hamsters in their surroundings. While dwarf hamsters may sometimes get along with their cage mates, they can also be hostile.
Robo hamsters flourish in colonies, but they need adequate room to avoid becoming cannibalistic as a result of overpopulation.
In this circumstance, the Robos will murder the young in order to save the colony’s senior members from famine. This also applies to dwarf hamsters. So, to keep your hamsters from fighting, you need to introduce them properly.
Can Hamsters Stay Together Peacefully
Hamsters, like other rodents, are friendly animals that like being around other people. They can’t be happy living alone since they enjoy being in the company of people or other pets.
However, the number of hamsters that should be kept together is debatable.
While some individuals have had success keeping two or three hamsters in the same cage, others have reported that having too many hamsters in the same cage causes the animals to become aggressive.
Here are some crucial considerations to consider before bringing more than one pet into the same cage for the greatest possible environment for your pet.
- The species of your hamster
- How spacious is your house?
- The cage types or designs
- The history of the hamster
- Contact other hamster owners
- The number of hideouts and beddings
How to Keep Two Hamsters Together
If you have a lot of room and wish to maintain many hamsters, or if you want to breed them and keep their offspring together. You need to make sure they have adequate space to hide from each other.
During conflicts, hamsters may bite each other’s tails or ears, so make sure you have lots of hiding places for them. If you have to keep more than one hamster in a cage, make sure there is enough hiding area, and food and that they are properly introduced.
If your hamsters are fighting, it’s time to find them new homes!
How to Introduce Two Hamsters to Avoid Killing Each Other
Hamsters are born solitary creatures. To form friends and maintain their calm, they must be exposed to other hamsters early on.
If you don’t introduce your hamsters straight away, they may fight, and the situation might spiral out of control.
However, not all hamsters will kill one another, and if they do, it’s typically due to a faulty introduction procedure. If you have to introduce a hamster to another, make sure they are from the same litter or are of the opposite sex.
Here’s how to welcome your hamsters correctly and prevent any fights:
You Need to Acquire a Proper Cage Size
You’ll need a cage that’s at least 22 by 22 by 10 inches or larger to house two hamsters from the same litter. This will provide lots of room for your hamsters to run about and play while also enabling them to get away from one another if necessary.
You may use a wire cage or a glass tank. Make sure the cage has a tight-fitting cover to keep your hamsters from escaping. Because air cannot get through the borders of a glass aquarium, use a mesh lid to let air flow through.
Get a Temporary Housing
Move the hamsters to temporary housing while you prepare their common cage. If you want to keep both hamsters in the same cage, take one out of the cage and put it in a temporary cage.
If you don’t have two spare cages, each hamster should be temporarily placed in a shoebox or hamster ball. Keep them for no more than an hour in these homemade enclosures.
Perform a Scent Swap between the Hamsters
Allow the hamsters to grow used to each other’s smell before introducing them. Change the bedding in the hamsters’ cages.
Allow each hamster a couple of days to explore the other hamster’s scent before placing them in the same cage.
Also, if you hold one hamster and then put it in a cage with another hamster that you haven’t handled, the second hamster may resist it due to the odd scent. Before introducing the hamsters, hold them together so that your scent is on both of them.
Provide Playing Toys
For the hamsters, chewing material, extra toys, and hiding places are needed. Before introducing the two hamsters, buy extra toys such as hamster wheels, PVC pipes, and plastic igloos and set them in the cage.
This will keep your pets entertained while also giving them plenty of exercise. For hamsters, twigs and hardwood are excellent chewing items.
Hamsters adore running on wheels, so, if possible, get two hamster wheels so that each of your hamsters may run whenever they want.
Introduce the Pets
Place the new hamster in a clean cage first. The aged hamster will be less likely to become territorial due to this.
Place the older hamster in the cage with the new hamster after a minute. Ascertain that they are on separate sides of the divider.
Fill each side of the divider with adequate bedding, food, and water. Place the divider in the middle of the bin. Put one pet in the cage first, then the other a moment later if both are brand new.
You should track the progress of the hamsters. After a few days, remove the divider if the hamsters get along.
For the first several days, leave the partition in the cage to allow the hamsters to get to know one another.
Remove the divider if they seem to be getting along and keep a close watch. Keep the barrier in the partition if the hamsters aren’t getting along. Only take down the divider if the hamsters seem to get along.
Return them to their cages and attempt introducing them across the barrier again the following day. You may need to separate the hamsters if they continue to be hostile.
Hamster FAQs
Why Are Hamsters Cannibalistic?
Because hamsters are territorial, they may be cannibalistic depending on the species. Syrian hamsters, for example, may be hostile against other hamsters, killing and eating the other hamster in the cage in certain instances.
Mother hamsters have been known to consume their kids if their pups are stillborn or die soon after delivery. The reason is unclear; however, it might be a sort of defense. The scent of a dead hamster would attract predators in the wild, which the mother cannot risk. Overcrowding is another factor to consider.
Final Thoughts
Hamsters can kill each other because they are territorial or cannibalistic. I hope this article gives you the information you need to keep two hamsters together without them trying to kill each other.
