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Post by sunchaser on Mar 1, 2004 8:53:35 GMT -4
I unincedentially(is that a word?) have a female and a male. I want to have a seperate cage for the male, so I don't have any more surprise litters. But, I'm scared they will get lonely, and I was thinking of keeping the babies if they are a boy and a girl to give them company. And, could you use the split-cage thing to introduce hamsters?? Because if I have the son and dad in one cage, and the dad dies and I buy another dwarf of the same sex and age, could I introduce them as cagemates?
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Post by calvinator1 on Mar 1, 2004 12:02:45 GMT -4
The split cage should work if you really want to introduce them, though with dwarfs it's not really necessary that they have a cage-mate. My dwarf has always lived alone, and he seems to enjoy having the run of the place. Also, if you do introductions, the sooner you do them after the initial split, the easier it will probably be. If you wait too long to do an introduction, the adult may be less inclined to accept a new friend. Of course, every ham is different and I hope you'll keep us posted.
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Post by jeannie on Mar 1, 2004 16:10:41 GMT -4
Depending upon the age of the dwarf, it is probably better just to let them live solo once the father dies. These intros do not always work, and they could end up fighting later on, even if they initially get along.
Dwarf hamsters do not seem to mind living alone.
If you try an intro, you may end up with 2 cages if it doesn't work out, which is something to keep in mind. If that's fine with you, I'd say try it out, but if you are not able to have another cage in case it doesn't work out, then I would not bother, unless the dwarf is still young (less than 4 months or so).
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 1, 2004 23:42:11 GMT -4
>> unincedentially(is that a word?) <<
No, but it should be; I like it!
A question for all:
Three dwarfs from the same pet shop tank. Can they be housed together safely? What's the difference if they are males, or females? Is a ten gallon tank too small?
I ask as IF my degus don't come in i will be getting dwarfs instead. So advice is welcome for this dwarf novice.
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Post by sunchaser on Mar 2, 2004 8:26:01 GMT -4
A question for all:I don't know about the tank, but unless you want LOTs of baby hamsters running around(hmmm...that sounds familiar!  ) You might get a male and a female. If it is 2 males and 1 female, u might have fighting with the males over the female. You could get 2, b'cos I think 3 2 a cage is sort of pushing it(well, I have 4 dwarves in a Habitrail but hey, 2 are babies!!). I would suggest 2 males, they are more gentle and trusting than females. (wow I must be crazy i'm a girl)
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 2, 2004 8:35:05 GMT -4
I am not planning on breeding, of course.
I assume three females are likely to fight, and two females have a fair chance of fighting? Even if from the same pet shop tank and litter? And I assume males are much less likely to fight even if in a group of three?
If only females are available, should I forget about it altogether?
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Post by calvinator1 on Mar 2, 2004 11:36:07 GMT -4
Or you could just get one to start and see how you like having dwarf hamsters. They really don't mind living alone.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 2, 2004 22:30:22 GMT -4
How can I tell with only one? The whole point is some social interaction; without that, I may as well have a Syrian. Or am I missing something about the appeal of a lone dwarf?
(The degus are still on hold; I spoke to that fellow today).
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Post by sunchaser on Mar 3, 2004 5:23:17 GMT -4
No, you should NOT drop the chance if there are only females, but if they start to fight, then they might be happier alone.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 3, 2004 8:42:45 GMT -4
With gerbils, three females are expected to have a 50-50 chance of squabbling. So a pair is preferred. Same with dwarfs?
What is the likelihood of two female dwarfs starting to fight? With gerbil females that chance is very small.
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Post by jeannie on Mar 3, 2004 13:29:59 GMT -4
DF, it sounds like you are almost ready to open up a rodent zoo in Brooklyn  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 3, 2004 22:38:01 GMT -4
People find it hard to believe my hamsters are as sweet as they are; I was talking with poeople at the local PD about that today. I've also been talking about dwarfs. I am leaning now towards one if the degus don't appear owing to fighting concerns; plus, adding a guinea pig to the rabbit (for company) is distinctly possible. Yea, the former living room is now a zoo.! Oh, you related a bunny dream. . . I had a weird one several days ago: In the 1980's I was a very casual acquaintance of a fellow who ran a history/military bookstore in mid-Manhattan; that was when I was associated with a grad school lecture series. I barely knew the guy and had not thought of him in at least a decade. So, the dream. . . I was at that store, which is in reality long defunct, and wanted to buy a book but had no money. He said, "You can have the book if you give me one of your hamsters for research".  To wit I retorted, "Not a chance; we're a family!". He laughed a friendly chortle.  And now we've added lagomorphs. . . can birds be next? |
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Post by sunchaser on Mar 4, 2004 2:29:01 GMT -4
With gerbils, three females are expected to have a 50-50 chance of squabbling. So a pair is preferred. Same with dwarfs? What is the likelihood of two female dwarfs starting to fight? With gerbil females that chance is very small. Well DF, it really depends if you want to end up buying another tank or not. It might work, but generally I have no flippin' idea if females fight more. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 4, 2004 7:15:43 GMT -4
Yes, that's the concern - yet another tank. I am about out of space. What about two MALE dwarfs? Unlikely to fight?
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Post by sunchaser on Mar 10, 2004 9:18:57 GMT -4
Picky picky  !!!!! If it's 2 males from the same litter then DUH they'll live together!!!! |
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) You might get a male and a female. If it is 2 males and 1 female, u might have fighting with the males over the female. You could get 2, b'cos I think 3 2 a cage is sort of pushing it(well, I have 4 dwarves in a Habitrail but hey, 2 are babies!!). I would suggest 2 males, they are more gentle and trusting than females. (wow I must be crazy i'm a girl)
To wit I retorted, "Not a chance; we're a family!". He laughed a friendly chortle. 