Assessing laboratory life for Golden Hamsters: Social preference, caging selection, and human interaction (1994)

Arnold, C. E., Gillaspy, S.

Abstract

Female hamsters preferred social contact with other females to solitary housing. Group-housing was associated with wounding from fights and higher rates of obesity. Since these animal prefer contact with conspecifics, and since group-housed hamsters are easier for humans to handle [less aggressive] than singly housed hamsters, perhaps pair-housing would be a suitable alternative. Regular handling made the animals less defensive. Hamsters preferred the solid-floor cages with [corn-cob] bedding [over wire-mesh floored cages or solid floored cages without bedding], spending an average of 70% of their time there.