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i have 2 female hamsters for 3 months and i just saw them fighting and my son yelling shes eating HER !! my husband is telling me it was my foult b/c i didnt feed them but i do . i didnt know hamster were so bad can kill eat other . what should i do with the one thts alive ?? im realy creepy out by this

2006-09-13 21:33:43 · 10 answers · asked by erich's mama 2 in Pets Other - Pets

thank you they never told me that in the pets store that short haired hamster shouldnt be together b/c we ask if it was going to be a problem to ***** in one house ha ha ha

2006-09-13 21:46:22 · update #1

10 answers

Hamsters, especially Syrian hamsters (commonly known as the Teddy Bear hamster, the Black Bear Hamster, Dalmatian Hamster, Short Haired Hamster, Long Haired Hamster, ect.--which are really just coat/color variations of the Syrian hamster) are SOLITARY animals. They do not tolerate or enjoy the company of other hamsters.

When you put 2 sexually mature hamsters of the same gender in together, you eliminate the possibility for the weaker of the two to 'run away' and move out of the territory the stronger hamster has established/claimed. This means the more submissive hamsters' constant presence causes the more dominant hamster to go on the attack, because it sees the others' continual presence as a challenge. Because the other hamster, again, can NOT leave... it turns into a lethal fight.

Syrian hamsters are loners. Do NOT put 2 sexually mature individuals in together for ANY reason (beyond breeding---which you shouldn't be doing). ONLY Siberian or 'Dwarf' hamsters tolerate and enjoy the company of their own kind.

You shouldn't do anything with the one that's alive. It was doing what it's supposed to---protecting its territory. Clean up the mess and move on, just don't get another 'friend' for it.

2006-09-13 21:41:30 · answer #1 · answered by strayd0g 3 · 2 1

While Stray Dog is correct about Syrian hamsters, he is wrong that ALL hamsters are solitary creatures.

Dwarf hamsters are, in fact, very social creatures, and prefer to be paired in groups of at least 2 hamsters. If you have two dwarves and they are fighting, then you need a much larger cage. However, if they are drawing blood from one another, then they should be seperated immediatly.

Syrians should only be housed together from birth to about 6 weeks old. They -can- be housed longer than this, but not too much longer. By 3 months in age, they will start fighting less playfully, and more violently. They are very territorial creatures.

Hamsters are cannabilistic, but not to the point of killing another hamster for food. They kill other hamsters when they feel they are in danger, or thier off-spring are in danger. If they fought to the death, then one will eat the other, simply because it's in their nature to do so with dead hamsters. They do not purposly set out to eat hamsters which are alive.

If the one that is still alive is wanted still, then just clean out the cage, and put it back in, but make sure to hand train it if you haven't yet, so that the pet is tame.

If you guys do not want the pet anymore, try to find a home for it first, and failing that, take it to the pet shop you bought it at, and ask them what they are able to do for you. You can even drop a hamster (in a cage or container) off at the Humane Society.

2006-09-14 00:48:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

About four years ago, I had two pet hampsters: one boy and one girl. They never mated, so they stayed in the same cage. Well, one day, they actually did and there was a litter of baby hampsters. These baby hampsters, though they had plenty of food, ate their mother. They never messed with the father or each other. I asked a vet, and she was not too informed on the subject, but it seems that this occurs in rodents that become ill; they get eaten. Survival of the fittest and what not. The other hampster will probably not hurt you or your son. She was just doing the nature thing, at least that is my guess.

2006-09-13 21:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by lilyanne 2 · 0 0

Hamsters are loners and they can kill each other. It was not due to a lack of food. I have put in a few sites here to see. Add hamster care to Yahoo search if you want some more results. Good luck!

2006-09-13 21:42:20 · answer #4 · answered by The_answer_person 5 · 1 2

All animals have a territorial or a matriarch/ dominate instinct. If they are fighting this is why. Not because you didn't feed them. With rodents usually one is enough. They will not get lonely.

2006-09-14 02:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by jen 4 · 0 1

i,m not sure i understand your queston,but dwarf hamsters live togather very well.other breeds are more canibalistic, given space and a proper diet. dwarf hamsters are not usualy canabilistic, but you can,t bet on any hamster,s habbits

2006-09-13 22:40:34 · answer #6 · answered by houdini 3 · 1 0

They rarely kill but normaly don't

2006-09-14 01:15:04 · answer #7 · answered by Bobby T 2 · 0 0

cannibalism occurs everywhere, even humans and humans. Best was is to separate the two lol.

2006-09-13 21:35:52 · answer #8 · answered by Tank D 3 · 0 1

any creature can kill

2006-09-13 21:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by Maimee 5 · 0 1

give it to someone else

2006-09-13 21:42:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

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