Why are my boy and girl hamsters fighting?

Why are my winter white russian hamsters fighting?

• Just over a week ago I got two Winters. The pet shop owners were teens, just starting out their shop so they asked if I knew anything about telling genders of hamsters when I bought them. I had a look as I have experience with other rodents, I thought I bought two boys and did more research when I came home and it looked like they were actually 2 girls, however I still have no idea. Anyway as it says in the question earlier they were fighting. The little brown one was really nervous and squeaking and curling up to defend him/herself. It may sound stupid to say but just looking at the brown one she looks like a girl and the white one just looks like a boy, however I can't tell by their genitals. I separated them but I would really like it if they were back together. Does anyone know what happened, or is happening? They had no problem until today? Is it possible they are a boy and a girl and she just doesn't want to mate. The white one did seem to be climbing on the brown one. i am just really confused. They aren't really big. I have bred Gerbils, mice and other rodents but not hamsters. I don't wish to breed them but if need be I will know what to do. Has anyone got any personal pictures or a really good website to tell genders? or a way to put them back together, will they be ok?

• Answer:

  In regards to the gender ID side of your question (the easy one), it's easy to tell boys. Goes like this: There are three fleshy areas on their undercarriage. The top (on their belly closest to their neck) is their umbilical area, the middle area is their reproductive organ, and the bottom or back area is their anus. This sounds weird, but very, very gently press on either side of their middle area. If something springs out, then congratulations! You've got a little dude. LOL In regards to the fighting situation, you did the best thing by separating them. I wouldn't re-introduce them to one another. Even small fights may lead one of them succumbing to death. [See my other post on this subject: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao..dAhqojsymL4YtOdluYsjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20120227014622AAQGhwt ] So good job and keep them separated. If you don't want two separated, you can always bring one or both of them back to the teenagers' store and beg for a return or new set of twins if they don't do returns.