Can a female rat and a female hamster get along in the same cage?

Question

im thinking i might get a hammy and my sister has a rat so i was wondering if they would get along or if rats or hamsters are really territorial....

Thanks!

Answer 1

DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE SAME CAGE.  Hamsters are very territorial, [I don't know that much about rats...].  

Hamsters are very solitary animals and get along perfectly without a companion.  The only hamsters that are to be kept together are dwarf hamsters.  Only under certain conditions though.  They must be the same s*x and born from the same litter.  If you are a first time HAMSTER owner I do not suggest a dwarf hamster.  They are very hard to cuddle and handle.  I would suggest a Teddy Bear, or a Syrian, [After having both they are great companions and you can build a great bond with them.

Costs can vary.  If you get a larger hamster, [long hair, tortoise, black bear, syrian, teddy beart]  I would suggest a Critter Trail 2 or 3.  Everything else is WAY to small.  I think the Critter Trail 2 is $40 and the Critter Trail 3 is $50.  Also if you have a 20 gallon tank I know PetSmart has a cage extender for $30 [I use that for one of my 5 hamsters]  A regular 20 gallon tank is too small.  I also suggest a 30 gallon tank, I used that for a hamster that recently passed and she seemed to like it.  Tanks can vary in price too.  I suggest before going to the pet store look at garage sale listings and craigslist.org.  They normally have GREAT deals.   If you decide to get a tank you will also need to invest in a house, food bowl, water bottle, and wheel.  If you decide to get a cage extender for a 20 gallon tank it comes with all of that.

After the initial month of getting all the stuff for it hamsters are pretty cheap animals to take care of.  Bedding can also vary in price by type and size.  NEVER get bedding that has a pine smell, this can give the hamster allergies that can become deadly.  I suggest Carefresh bedding Ultra.  Ultra is a dollar more than the regular but it is really clean and healthy.  Food is really cheap.  I use about 1-2 bags a month for 5 hamsters.  I have 5 hamsters so my total will be more than yours but I spend about $30 a month (i get a big bedding bag which is like $20)  The regular size is around $7.  Depending on the treats you get they can be cheap.  The bag I use is around $2 and I use about 2 bags a month.  I also get cotton for their beds (around $3-$5).  I love to spoil my hamsters so I get a couple toys here and there.

Hamsters do not need checkups.  The only time they should go to the vet is if they seem ill.  But with proper care that should not happen.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 2

no! the rat would kill the hamster, and or both would get very hurt. but you could still have one, just in a diffrent cage

Answer 3

Definitely Not! Especially if your hamster would be a syrian (The big ones) They would almost definately attack each other especially the syrian which is a lone animal and can't even be kept with another hamster. Hamsters don't cost that much. I feed my all my animals on a special diet designed to give them all their beneficial needs but the normal hamster food doen't cost much. And neither does the bedding and etc..

Answer 4

Rats are predators, and will kill your hamster.

Also, hamsters are solitary animals, and should be housed alone.

Your sister's rat, on the other hand, should have a cage mate (another rat of the same gender).

Cost of owning a hamster depends on the type of cage you purchase, what bedding you get, etc.

They should get a general check up when you first purchase them, to make sure you are getting a healthy hamster. After that, they do not need a vet unless they seem ill or injured.

Answer 5

EEEEERRRRR!!!!!! you cant do that hamsters lve alone and rats live in "SAME s*x PAIRS"!

Answer 6

No they need separate cages, the rat will kill the hamster

Answer 7

Absolutely not. Although your sister's rat would really enjoy another rat as a friend, hamsters are solitary animals and should be housed alone under all circumstances. Hamsters are not very expensive rodents to own, I'd say $25-$40 a month or so, but its been years since I've owned a hamster. They don't really need annual check-ups, but if you ever notice anything 'off' about your hamster you should definitely get her to an exotics vet.

Answer 8

I have seen them together and they got along great, try it out, you will soon know..one may be more territorial at first but I doubt they will harm each other.

Answer 9

That's a BIG no-no. Hamsters are SOLITARY, meaning they are housed alone. The hamster is likely to fight with a rat to the death. So please don't do that. You can house them seperately, and wash your hands before and after handling each one so the other doesn't smell one and get jealous. Good luck! :)

Answer 10

Better not, hamsters are solitary animals, they don't get along with other hamster nor with other rats!

Answer 11

i would say that both are pretty territorial..and hampsters are solitary by nature,they just seek out each other to breed..

i think the rat may eat the hampster,may just be better to keep em seperate.i dont know too much about rats,but i think they are omnivores..eat anything, hampsters are just seed lovers.so it would make sence that the rat may see the incroaching hammy as lunch.you wouldnt want either to get hurt..i say seperate it better..

better safe than lunch...