Hamsters are small rodents that are very popular as pets, especially with children. Their handling and the relatively simple care they require help the youngest members of the household to acquire responsibilities and learn to respect animals.
To guarantee the well-being of our hamster before taking it home, we have to learn what food is appropriate, what its accommodation should be like or if it can live with other animals. Specifically, in this article on our site we explain if you can have two hamsters together Keep reading!
General characteristics of hamsters
Hamsters have been one of the most popular pets for years. They are small, friendly, curious and their care is easily assumable. Perhaps his main problem is his short life expectancy, which is only about 2-3 years, although it can increase if they receive good care. Of course, they already reach sexual maturity around 4-5 weeks of age, so their life goes by much faster than we are used to according to our parameters. In any case, life expectancy is an important piece of information to take into account, especially if the hamster is going to live with a child, since it will have to be prepared for the moment of saying goodbye.
Another drawback for many is that they are animals with nocturnal habits, so they will spend the day resting, even if they wake up sometimes time and they should not be disturbed, since we would be generating stress for them. But, despite its popularity, there are still doubts about its management, which can lead to mistakes that will end up affecting the welfare of the animal.
For example, it is common for prospective keepers to wonder if they can keep two or more hamsters together. As these animals are so small that they can be housed in relatively small spaces and without involving a very high financial outlay, we may be tempted to want to adopt more than one to keep them company during our absence.
Below is a video from our site in which we discuss the life cycle of domestic and wild hamsters. In addition, we explain how many years a hamster lives depending on the species to which it belongs.
Is the hamster a solitary or a social animal?
The first thing we should know if we are thinking of adopting a hamster is that it is a solitary and territorial animalThat is, unlike, for example, dogs, they are not used to living in packs and, moreover, they will defend their territory. For this reason, if you wonder if you can have two hamsters together, the answer is no.
Although there are several species of hamsters popular as pets, the Syrian hamster or the dwarf hamster, they all share this general indication. That is to say, they are animals that must live alone Therefore, we will arrange accommodation for our hamster where he will live alone, in a quiet and warm place, at a temperature of about 20-22 ºC, protected from drafts and direct sunlight. Although it is a solitary animal, it does not mean that we cannot socialize it with us so that it gets used to our presence and interaction.
Of course, if we also live with other species such as dogs or cats, we will have to prevent them from accessing the cage. This should be as big as we can, even if it's just for a copy because that's how we promote exercise. Keep in mind that obesity is a common problem in these animals, as a result of an inadequate diet and lack of physical activity.
Are you thinking of adopting a hamster or do you already have one? Then you can not miss this video on our site in which we show you what the basic care of the hamster is. Find out more about these little rodents!
How to put two hamsters together?
As we have seen, you cannot have two hamsters together as they are solitary and territorial animals. This means that, if coexistence is forced, it will give rise to problems that will lead them to live in a state of permanent stress. So, in general, you can't have two male hamsters together or two females
Yes, it is true that some people keep several hamsters together in apparent balance, but any small mishap that arises, such as a change in the smell of one or lack of food, can end in a fight with fatal consequences. Therefore, the recommendation is that these animals live alone, in accommodation that allows them to develop all those behaviors that are natural to them and with us as their only company.
Reproduction in Hamsters
On the other hand, in nature there is a time when hamsters get together, which is the breeding season. But it is not recommended that individuals breed in an uncontrolled manner. Inbreeding, that is, reproduction between related individuals, favors the emergence of different diseases such as cancer. In any case, only the male and female would have to be put together in the male's cage for mating. After him they would separate again.
Related to reproduction, you can also have two female hamsters together or males if they are from the same litter and have been in the same cage since birth. In these cases, when they reach sexual maturity, at the latest, they should be provided with separate accommodation to avoid problems and guarantee their safety.
How to keep two hamsters from fighting?
Now that you know that you can't have two hamsters together, the best way to prevent fights if at any time there is more than one individual in the same cage is, directly, theseparation For example, if you see a pregnant or recently calved female, set up multiple kennels to separate the young before they reach sexual maturity and start fighting each other.
Also keep in mind that fights are not the only problem in coexistence between hamsters, since females can eat their own young during the nursing period. This fact is related to a diet deficient in animal protein, so it is important to improve this intake to prevent cannibalism This can also happen if the female is still too young or in a stressful situation, so it must always be kept in a calm environment.
