Hamsters are one of the cutest (and most common) pets. It’s fun to watch these adorable rodents play or even to handle them. However, one frequent question that people have about keeping hamsters is whether they need company. Many animals, including rabbits and guinea pigs, suffer stress if they don’t have any cage mates––but hamsters are the exception, so it’s best to keep them alone.
Let’s look at the reasons why it’s usually not a good idea to keep multiple hamsters together.
You Should Avoid Keeping Multiple Hamsters Together
As a general rule, owners shouldn’t keep multiple hamsters. First, let’s identify the most common variety of pet hamster. The Syrian (or golden) hamster is the most popular breed worldwide. This cute rodent is easy to handle and a great pet for children. However, they’re also solitary animals and prefer being alone. They don’t need company to be happy and are perfectly fine by themselves. Owners shouldn’t force them to live together because it can cause stress and even aggression.
Male hamsters release pheromones to mark their territory, and this can cause them to fight, and result in fatal consequences. Believe it or not, hamsters are fierce fighters. Hamster owners shouldn’t even keep males in cages next to each other. That’s because they’ll smell the pheromones, which will agitate them. It’s also a bad idea to keep females with males or even near males in another cage. You’ll end up with a litter of hamster babies, or in the latter scenario, the female’s pheromones will overwhelm the male.
Can You House Different Hamster Species?
It’s a terrible idea to mix different hamster species because it will always cause conflict. Always keep Syrian and Chinese hamsters alone. They don’t even socialize with their own species. Any attempt to force them to mingle will end badly. Some breeders have had success socializing dwarf species, but there are a few caveats.
First, never mix different dwarf species because they will act aggressively toward each other. You may be able to keep two dwarf Roborovskis or two winter whites together. However, they usually must be from the same litter, or it won’t work. Then, you should ensure there’s ample space for your hamsters, including hiding places, so they can avoid each other when they wish. Even in this situation, there’s no guarantee that your dwarf hamsters will be happy together. Everything may seem fine, but then their temperaments may change, and they may start fighting each other.
Ultimately, there’s no real need to keep a pair of hamsters together, never mind several.
Can You Keep Hamsters With Other Pets?
It’s perfectly fine to keep a hamster in a house with other pets. However, you should never mix your pet hamster with other animals. Always situate its cage in a safe place away from cats or dogs that may harass it. Cats are notorious for lurking outside rodent cages and will cause stress for your hamster. Some people may wonder if they can keep their hamster in the same cage as other miniature pets. Again, let’s make it emphatically clear: that is a terrible plan. Never try to socialize your hamster with the likes of rabbits, guinea pigs, or sugar gliders.
Rabbits and guinea pigs won’t go out of their way to bother your hamster. However, they’re much bigger, so they may accidentally injure the smaller rodent. Both creatures are also very social, unlike pet hamsters, which don’t require any company. Meanwhile, they have different habitat needs, so the whole scenario would end in disaster. Sugar gliders are also bigger than hamsters and are arboreal animals, so they don’t share the same housing requirements. Also, the smaller hamsters may trigger the sugar glider’s prey instincts, which would be a massive problem.
Tips for Housing Two Dwarf Hamsters
If you must house two dwarf hamsters together, it’s crucial to do it the right way. Remember, we don’t recommend this, even if they’re from the same litter.
Space is the biggest issue because you don’t want your hamsters to impose on each other. We recommend a large cage with dimensions of 48 inches x 24 inches at a minimum. Some hamster keepers believe a slightly smaller cage is acceptable, but this arrangement already increases the risk of stress and aggression. There should be plenty of open floor space for them to run away from each other. Ideally, this should be at least 1,000 square inches.
What you put in the cage is equally important. It’s essential to reduce the risk of competition. That’s why there should be two hamster wheels, so they won’t fight over one. Meanwhile, ensure there are several hides, so they have safe sleeping spaces without bothering each other. You’ll also need to provide two water bottles and food dishes. It may feel like caring for a pair of toddlers, but trust us: proper diligence could be life or death for your hamsters.
Keeping Multiple Hamsters Could Increase Health Problems
Keeping two dwarf hamsters runs the risk that one or both could suffer physical injuries like cuts or bites. These pet rodents can’t fight each other if they’re alone. However, there are more potential issues beyond this. The chance of them experiencing stress is much higher, and this weakens their immune systems. Wet leg is one of the biggest causes of hamster fatalities and may occur. This condition is a gut disease that causes diarrhea and dehydration. Respiratory issues may also arise, while some hamsters may have grooming problems. Meanwhile, competition may prevent one hamster from eating enough food, so it may suffer from malnutrition and other related conditions.
In short, the easiest way to keep your hamsters safe is to separate them!
