? about dwarf hamsters

[mouse123]

My boyfriend got 2 dwarf hamsters about 6 months ago. And they have been in different cages for about 4 of those months. Can they be put together or have they been apart too long?

[Zouave]

I would say WAY too long, and they are too old.

Dwarf intros are much harder than gerbil intros - and even gerbil intros I only do on neutral ground with a split screen (used for three days), and I supervise for many hours once they meet.

The only dwarfs intros that have worked for me were with youngsters 5-7 weeks old who were very tame and hand raised.

I would say do not even try it, especially if the dwarfs are not tame enough to be picked up and kissed on the nose with no fear of biting.

Dwarfs do not need company. If you want a group of them tell a pet store if they have a new litter you want all the babies. I have done that and now have two groups of six females and four males.

[PetLuver21257]

Yes, that is too long to get them together. You can try, with a split cage method, but I don't reccomend it. Also, since they are probably happy and settled in their own cage, then why do you want them together? If they are happy, leave them that way! ;)

[LMDH]

Just thought I would come on and throw a spanner in the works with this thread.

What kind of dwarfs do you have? If they are Chinese, Winter Whites or Roborovksis, then I dont think you should try introducing them.

But if they are Campbells then they may well pair up no problem. But why do you want to pair them? If for you sake or theirs. I have a colony of 6 boys, which are all of different ages and not all related, I just introduce the newcomer to the group on neutral ground and see how is goes and so far my boys have given me no problems at all. I also have two colonies of 6 girls, again of different ages, these were harder to get to live together but they are all now very happy.

If they are Campbells then I dont see why you should try it, but it has to be done carefully. It may not work, so you have to be prepared to separate before any fights break out. I know my hamsters inside out and I know who will tolerate who and who needs company etc, but as I dont know your hamsters I cant say for certain if it will work or not.

[Caitandcritters]

I've had about the same experience that LMDH has had. I have intro'd two mature male capmbells, seperate litters, with no problems. But, both of those boys were extremely docile and could be placed with about any company.

If yours had been in an established colony already, I would have been hesitant to do so, but seeing as they are singles, it's worth a shot.

Also, you want to be sure they are the same sex, otherwise, as I'm sure you already know, so please forgive the redundance, you will have babies before you know it.