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About Sheila Adby
Expertise
Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com

Experience
I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com

Publications
Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)

Education/Credentials
Educated to A Level standard in the UK.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Exotic Pets > Gerbils & Hamsters > Teddy Bear Hamster

Gerbils & Hamsters - Teddy Bear Hamster

Expert: Sheila Adby - 10/28/2009

Question
My daughter bought to male teddy bear hamsters (brothers from the same liter) about 2 years ago. They have always maintained the same cage and been exceptionally close, never fought. Recently one of the males developed an upper respiratory infection. As soon as I seen he was sick, I separated them. The sick hamster died the next morning. I thoroughly cleaned the cage, water bottle, wheel, feeding dish, etc. and placed the living hamster back into the original cage. He has been displaying traits that I have never seen in him such as: biting (doesn't draw blood, really doesn't even hurt... but he does it all the time now. He also isn't eating his food. We have given him fresh carrots, bananas, cereal, and chicken nuggets and he will eat that... but won't eat his food. He is sleeping a lot more. He seems depressed. Does he realize his brother is gone? Can I introduce another hamster? Or, will he get over it? I'm worried about him and the way he is acting. Thank you for your time.
Robin

Answer
Hi Robin

I'm sorry to hear about your hamster.

I'm surprised you kept them together - Syrian hamsters are solitary and should be kept on their own and usually by the age of 6 weeks they are fighting. I'm sure your hamster is missing him - we don't realize how attached animals get to each other. I had a male hamster 'Scruffy' whose cage was situated next to a female 'Wheelie'. Every day Scruffy would come out of his nest looking for her and they would sniff through the bars. He even relocated his nest into the center of the cage so that he knew whenever she was around. When she died Scruffy's personality changed and he was clearly pining. Sadly just a week later he died although there was nothing wrong with him as such.

Unfortunately you cannot introduce another hamster as they will fight and you could end up making the situation even worse. When hamsters attack each other it is very distressing and they can cause serious injuries to each other.

I think your hamster just needs a lot of attention right now. What happens if you move your hamster back into the other cage? Is there any difference in his behavior? However well you clean the cage the other hamster's scent is still probably there - hamsters' sense of smell is incredible because their eyesight is so poor, so your hamster can probably still smell his brother.

Hopefully he will settle on his own in a few days. I think you should try and gain his confidence again and perhaps get him out of the cage and try and handle him more. Does he have an exercise ball? If not it would be worth getting one of these - make sure you tape over any joins in it as they do have a habit of opening if they bang into furniture. I let mine run around in their exercise balls for about 20 minutes each evening and it seems to calm down even the stressed ones.

I do hope you get on OK and he starts to settle.

Regards

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