Why Do Hamsters Get Mean When They're Pregnant?

When a hamster is pregnant, its behavior can change. As well as collecting extra food and bedding, your hamster might also exhibit aggressive or mean behavior. This is common and doesn't mean there is anything wrong. However, it's important to respect her needs and try and make her as comfortable as possible.

  1. Identification

    • Female hamsters are usually more territorial than males, and when they are pregnant, their aggressive behavior can escalate. They can also become nervous and jumpy around other animals or humans. If you think your hamster might be pregnant, it is important to catch any signs of mean behavior early, especially if another rodent is sharing its cage. Other signs of pregnancy that might precede aggressive behavior include hoarding food and bedding materials and drinking more water than usual.

    Significance

    • Even though they are small, aggressive hamsters can cause serious harm to their mates and give their owners a nasty bite. Their teeth can be very dangerous and inflict potentially fatal damage to other hamsters. Expectant mothers don't enjoy being handled and might become mean toward adults or children that try to pick them up.

    Causes

    • Pregnant hamsters can become mean or aggressive for several reasons. They will be very protective of their nest and, as expecant mothers collect supplies of food in preparation for giving birth, they will want to defend their storage area. The presence of other hamsters might be seen as a threat during this time. Pregnant hamsters can also feel discomfort when handled by humans, which might cause them to become aggressive towards their owners.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Even if your hamster is not displaying any signs of aggressive or mean behavior, if you think she is pregnant, it is important to separate her from any other hamsters or pets. Supply her with plenty of bedding, water and fresh vegetables. Also, keep handling down to a minimum, especially if you have young children who might manhandle her or be startled when she bites. This will help reduce her stress levels and decrease the risk of her becoming aggressive during her pregnancy.

    Considerations

    • Once the hamster has given birth, you should not clean her cage or touch her babies for the first three weeks. During this time, the mother will become aggressive if you try to separate her from her offspring, and if she smells human scent on the young hamsters, she might resort to cannibalizing them. The babies themselves will need to be separated after four to eight weeks, when they become sexually mature, to avoid them mating or fighting.