Syrian hamsters are one of the most independent pets. Other small pets like guinea pigs and rats thrive when they have a cage mate to spend time with, but hamsters are a different story. But is that really true?
Male and female Syrian hamsters should not be housed together. Regardless of the hamsters’ sex, they are best kept in separate enclosures. Adult Syrian hamsters can become aggressive and fight when housed together.
This article will describe what may happen when you keep a male and female Syrian hamster together, the differences between males and females, and whether you should keep multiple hamsters in the same enclosure.
What To Expect When Housing Male and Female Syrian Hamsters Together
In pet stores, you’ll likely see groups of hamsters living together in the same display case. These are typically very young hamsters. They seldom get into fights as adult hamsters do, plus it’s cheaper for pet stores. However, once Syrian hamsters reach sexual maturity, they will begin to exhibit more aggressive behavior toward cage mates.
Syrian hamsters are very territorial and solitary animals. This is the case for both wild hamsters and domesticated hamsters purchased from breeders and pet stores. They naturally want to keep to themselves and not share a space with other hamsters. If you keep two Syrian hamsters in the same enclosure, there is a high chance that they will fight and show aggression toward one another.
Syrian hamsters reach sexual maturity at around four to six weeks old. Males will typically mature faster than females. Females will go into heat every four days. During heat, female and male hamsters are less likely to fight, but after mating, they will likely revert to their aggressive behavior.
If you place a male and female hamster together, there is the possibility that they will mate and have babies. Unless you are a breeder or prepared to care for several young hamsters at once, this is not an ideal situation. Syrian hamsters can have litters of up to twenty babies, called pups, but the average litter size is between eight and ten.Â
Caring for even one litter is extremely tedious and costly, so that’s one more reason why you shouldn’t keep male and female Syrian hamsters in the same enclosure.
The Differences Between Male and Female Syrian Hamsters
It is pretty easy to distinguish adult male and female hamsters from one another. Males have visible testes, while females don’t. On juvenile hamsters, however, the testes may not be as prominent, and you may mistake a male for a female.
Besides the differences in sex organs, male and female Syrian hamsters vary in other ways. While these differences do not severely affect your relationship with your pet, they can help determine how you approach socializing with them.
Male Hamsters
- Slightly smaller than females
- Don’t have nipples
- Longer, thicker fur
- Calmer and easier to handle
Female Hamsters
- Slightly larger than males
- Have nipples on their underside
- Go into heat every four days
- Slightly more aggressive
Can Syrian Hamsters of the Same Sex Live Together?
It is highly discouraged to keep hamsters of the same sex together. Male hamsters give off certain pheromones that they use to mark their territory. The overabundance of these pheromones can overwhelm the other hamster and increase the chance of fights breaking out.
Likewise, two female Syrian hamsters are also apt to fight with one another. Since they are generally more aggressive than males, this behavior will be intensified when they are sharing space.
Can Syrian Hamsters Live With Other Hamster Breeds?
We have determined that keeping Syrian hamsters together is not a good idea. What about other hamster breeds? Is it possible for a Syrian hamster to live with a dwarf hamster?
Unfortunately, Syrian hamsters don’t get along any better with other breeds. In fact, they may be even more aggressive towards non-Syrian hamsters.
Unlike Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters can sometimes live in pairs or groups together.
This will depend on the variant of dwarf hamsters, as some are more sociable than others; Roborovski and Russian dwarf hamsters are more likely to get along with each other but ideally should be housed separately like Syrian hamsters.
Conclusion
Syrian hamsters, regardless of sex, should be kept solitary and not share a space with other hamsters. Adult Syrian hamsters are very territorial and become aggressive if there are others of the same species in their habitat. Male and female hamsters in the same enclosure have a chance to mate and produce a litter of babies.
Other hamster breeds, such as dwarf hamsters, fare better in groups but are still best left by themselves. If you want to have multiple hamsters at the same time, it is advised they be kept in separate cages to avoid conflict.