Hamsters are such cute little creatures but they can be quite naughty when it comes to fighting with their own species. The owners have often seen their little hamsters fighting inside their cage or even outside it too. They are not much aggressive in nature generally, so this habit of fighting makes the owners curious about their pet’s nature.
Why my hamsters are fighting?
Hamsters fight for various reasons. Primarily it is seen that the hamsters are fighting when they are in a too small shelter. They need some more space than their body size. If you try to fit more than one hamster in one shelter then they may feel the crunch for the space and they can fight with their cage mates.
If you find that the hamsters are hurting each other, then you can take the hamsters out and keep them in different cages for some time. Keeping the creatures separate for some days may make the condition better. Later you can shift them to a single shelter but make sure that the shelter is wide enough to hold more than one hamster.
Sometimes the owners use partitions to keep the space of the hamsters separate. This may or may not be a permanent system. A sheet of wood or plank is used to keep the fighting hamsters separated. You can practice this if you are sure that there would be enough space for one hamster in the separated area.
Why do hamsters fight with each other?
Hamsters are not ferocious by nature but they can have a problem being territorial. When they are kept in a very small space they get triggered by this habit of grabbing more space than the other one. Also, they fight as they think that they should own the whole area.
The minimum area required for one hamster is 360 sq inches, and as the number of hamsters increases, the space required for them would be more and more.
Do hamsters fight to the death?
Hamsters are not very aggressive by nature but they can be fierce when pushed. These small creatures can cause harm to each other while fighting. These violent fighting can cause severe damage to their body. They usually use their teeth to attack each other. Thus serious injuries are inflicted upon them while fighting.
If you find your hamsters are getting damaged due to such fights, taking them to the vet would be the right decision. Sometimes the damage is severe enough to make the hamster sick, so yes, the fight can lead to death at times.
What to do if two hamsters are fighting?
Hamsters can become aggressive and dominant. While one hamster will act aggressively and fight with the other, the docile ones will be more teased and attacked. You do not have to interfere unless one of the pets is serious and getting more attacks from the other.
If the cuts or scratches of the hamster start bleeding, then it can be a serious thing and you must separate them. You should take the harmed hamster to the vet.
Do hamsters squeak when fighting?
Yes, hamsters utter some odd squeak-like sound when they are fighting with each other. In the midst of their fighting, they make a sound that is not high-pitched. But if you are near them you can hear them making this sound.
This is not a call for help, just a regular part of their war. They are not asking you to interfere or seeking your attention. They usually make this sound when the fight is going to be a long-lasting one.
Do hamsters eat dead hamsters after fighting?
Hamsters may have cannibalism in their genes as they are territorial. Their territorial nature may force them to eat the dead body of the hamster with which it was fighting. There are different species of hamsters that act differently. Syrian hamsters are much more aggressive and they will kill and eat their enemies like other hamsters too.
What do hamsters look like when they fight with each other?
The fight between two or more hamsters looks like they are wrestling with each other. They become physically aggressive and sometimes squeak to utter their excitement. They usually do not bite each other at the beginning of the fight, but they can start biting when the fight gets intense.
How do hamsters show dominance when fighting?
Hamsters play along when they are near each other and at that time you may find one hamster chasing the others. This may be the dominating one. Also, other signs of dominance are tussling, sniffing, or squealing. By the means of these behaviors, the hamsters show their aggression and superiority over the other docile hamsters. Also when the fight starts you may see the aggressive one getting fiercer than the docile one.
Do male and female hamsters fight?
Male and female hamsters fight with each other when they are close together. They are seen fighting with each other when they are brought up together. This is common when they are siblings. Usually, the mature male and female ones are kept separately but they can be kept together at the time of mating.
After or before mating they can fight and the female ones usually are seen to act more violently. They can bite and scratch the male ones and if it bleeds, it will be severe damage to the hurt hamster.
Should you separate hamsters to prevent their fighting?
Baby hamsters are separated from their mother when they are 28 days old. The same-sex ones need to be separated and thus, they do not get much chance to fight with each other. When they grow mature, they can be separated even if they are of the same sex. Male hamsters fight with other males and then they need to be kept in different cages.
While separating the hamsters from each other, you need to be much careful. Hamsters are quick and they can run away. Also, they are much soft and need to be handled with care.
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