AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
Question Hello Dear Sheila,
I have 2 dwarves, one of them had recently died following a severe case of rectal prolapse. I'm still very saddened by that. To entertain the surviving little one, I've decided to get him a new friend, yet another bicolor male dwarf.
They seemed to get along quite well at first, I've placed them at a freshly washed cage, free of any remaining odor etc. They licked and smelled and kinda wrestled with eachother, nothing suspicious. However, when it came to feeding time, they fought.Not the vicious sort of fighting, but there was a lot of squeaking and they rolled on eachother, I simply freaked out! Finally I decided to separate them for a while before trying to re-introduce them later. Is this a wise choice, or should I just keep them separated? I'm afraid they'll get lonely without a friend sharing the same cage...
Thanks a lot for the help
Answer Hi Marianna
Sorry to hear about your hamster.
It is very difficult introducing adult dwarf hamsters, if not impossible. I foster hamsters for a rescue and I always end up with the single dwarf ones as they don't want to risk putting them with others.
As they have been fighting I would advise against keeping them together. I know it is a nice idea that they have company but if one of them is bullied, then their life will be miserable and they could end up suffering serious injuries.
If they are alone it does mean, of course, that you have double the cleaning out etc. I wouldn't worry about them being alone - I think that wanting company is probably a human feeling and all the ones I've had who have lived alone have been fine - I have always just made more of a fuss of them. Perhaps they could have their cages side by side so they smell each other, but apart from that I would be tempted to keep them apart.
