Hamsters do not need companions, which is determined by their solitary habits and sense of territory. The specific reasons are as follows:
I. Solitary Nature
Wild habits: Hamsters are solitary animals in their natural environment, with a strong sense of territory. When they encounter other hamsters of the same species, they will fight fiercely and even kill each other.
No social needs: Hamsters will not have emotional problems due to loneliness, and interacting with humans can already meet their social needs.
II. Risks of Cohabitation
Violent conflicts:
Keeping male and female hamsters together will lead to overbreeding, and even after the young hamsters reach adulthood, they will still attack each other.
Housing hamsters of the same sex together will most likely cause biting, which may result in disability or death.
Health hazards:
Diseases are easy to spread in a confined environment.
III. Feeding Suggestions
Solitary cage feeding: Each hamster needs an independent space (it is recommended that the cage size be ≥ 60×40×30cm).
Alternative solutions: Meet their psychological needs through daily interaction and puzzle toys.
Exception: Only dwarf hamsters (such as Roborovski hamsters) can be tried to be kept in groups when they are young and from the same litter, in a large space (≥ 0.5㎡ per hamster) and with multiple functional areas set up. However, their behaviors need to be closely observed.