Feasibility Analysis of Housing Hamsters Together
I. Core Conclusion
Housing hamsters together is not recommended. Hamsters are typical solitary animals with a strong sense of territoriality. Co-housing may lead to severe fights and even death.
II. Detailed Risks
1. Aggressive Behavior
The probability of adult hamsters fighting when housed together exceeds 90%, with common outcomes including bites, tail amputation, and even fatal injuries.
Even if young hamsters (under 1 month old) are housed together, conflicts will still break out once they reach sexual maturity (2–3 months old).
2. Uncontrolled Breeding
Male and female hamsters can breed as soon as 18–25 days after being housed together, with a gestation period of only 15–22 days—this easily leads to overbreeding.
There is a high risk of inbreeding, which makes baby hamsters prone to genetic defect-related diseases.
3. Health Hazards
Weaker hamsters may suffer from malnutrition due to insufficient access to food (as they are outcompeted by stronger cage mates).
Diseases spread rapidly in co-housed environments; if one hamster gets sick, the entire cage population is likely to be infected.
III. Handling of Special Cases
1. Conditions for Temporary Co-Housing
Temporary co-housing is only allowed during the breeding period, using a "mating cage" (equipped with a partition). The hamsters must be separated immediately after mating.
Requirements to meet:
Cage area > 1 square meter (4 times the size of a standard single hamster cage).
At least 3 independent food bowls and hiding huts must be provided.
2. Hamster Species That May Be Attempted for Co-Housing
Roborovski hamsters (also known as "dwarf winter white hamsters") have a co-housing success rate of approximately 60%, but they still require an extremely large living space.
IV. Scientific Housing Recommendations
1. Single-Housing
Basic cage dimensions: Length ≥ 60 cm × Width ≥ 40 cm × Height ≥ 30 cm.
Provide enrichment items such as exercise wheels and tunnels.
2. Alternative Solutions
Use adjacent cages (with a gap of < 5 cm between them) to meet the hamsters’ social curiosity without direct contact.
Spend more than 30 minutes interacting with each hamster daily to alleviate loneliness.
Note: The co-housing of hamsters in pet stores is mostly a short-term display practice. In reality, there are often unremoved injured or dead hamsters in these display cages.