Effects of different opportunities for social interaction on the play fighting behavior in male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Abstract

After social isolation, animals play significantly more than nonisolated animals. However, it is not always possible to affirm that the effect of the social isolation is due to the lack of play. Experimentally, selective privation has been used, such as allowing the animals to play during periods of the day. In the present study, two experiments were carried out to verify the possible differences in the play fighting behavior of golden hamsters that were allowed to have different daily periods of social interaction (10 min, 1 hr, or 2 hr). Through the statistical analysis, it was shown that males play more than females and that periods of up to 2 hr daily for interaction are insufficient to avoid the short-term effects of isolation. It is concluded that a period of daily social interaction greater than 2 hr is needed to offset the effects of social isolation in golden hamsters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.