please help!!!

[ToriaRose]

Hi, my friend gave me a male Black Bear Hamster. I don't know exactly how old he is, but i do know that he is old. About a week later, I got another hamster, it is a female Teddy Bear Hamster. She was a baby at that time but i'm guessing shes an adult now. I wantedd to know if they could still mate. Also, i put them together and the male started like- I don't know, either cleaning the females fur or biting her. I don't know. But if you could help me with my questions, i would really appreciate it.

[rampart]

Hamsters and gerbils must get to know one another before sharing quarters, else you risk a good fight! There are several ways you can approach this. A good way is for them to be in separate cages that are side by side, or in one cage but with a screen separating them. They should be able to see and sniff, but not bite eachother. Let them get familiar with eachother this way for several days before permitting them to share quarters.

Another method, not my favourite, is to put a few drops of olive oil or perfume on the tips of their noses to disrupt their ability to smell. This method works quickly, but is not always successful. Keep an eye on them if you try this.

If the female becomes pregnant, you will need to remove the male and put her cage in an area where she has some privacy, although she doesn't have to be entirely secluded from the world. But you might put a few pieces of cardboard around three sides of her cage. After she has the babies, do not touch them for a while. If your scent gets on the babies, she might abandon them. You have to wait until they are a little older (although I forget the exact age. Might ask a pet shop owner).