How Can I Stop My Two Hamsters From Fighting?

Syrian hamsters are, by nature, solitary animals and should always be housed alone. Dwarf hamsters, which include the Campbells Russian, Winter White Russian, Chinese and Roborovski breeds, are more social and prefer to live in pairs or small groups. Yet even among this social variety, inadequate living conditions and clashing personalities can result in fights so severe they cause permanent injury or even death.

  1. First Impressions

    • Similar to their human counterparts, certain hamsters can be picky when it comes to sharing their living quarters. In many cases, litter mates make the best roommates because they have had a connection with each other since birth. Fighting typically begins only after the hamsters have reached maturity, and females generally get along better with a cage mate of the same sex than males do. Fighting among hamsters is most common when a new hamster is placed into an existing, already occupied habitat. Hamsters are very territorial and base a lot of their behavior on scent. Once two hamsters begin to fight, whether they are related or not, they need to be separated temporarily and then reintroduced after the entire habitat has been thoroughly cleaned with warm water and some dishwashing liquid. They should be reintroduced first on neutral territory, outside of the cage, and then placed back inside the clean, scent-free cage. They should be observed closely for further signs of discontent.

    Home Sweet Home

    • Once the territorial scent issue has been resolved, the best way to stop two hamsters from fighting is to make sure they live in a large, stimulating environment. Living in cramped quarters can make them temperamental, and the larger the cage the better the odds that the fighting will cease. Providing more than one sleeping quarters that they can retreat to for some alone time will also help curb the likelihood of a fight. A variety of toys and ample food and treats will also keep them entertained and happy.

    Separate Lives

    • Sometimes, despite all the best efforts, hamsters simply won't tolerate a cage mate. When this happens, there are only two courses of action that will stop the hamsters from fighting. The first allows them to remain in the same cage, but requires that they be separated by some kind of divider, such as a custom-cut piece of cardboard or glass. If this isn't an option due to the style of the habitat, and one or both of the hamsters is showing signs of injury, the only option left it to separate them permanently into two suitable habitats.