Fungus???

[Crystalroborovski]

So I was browsing the forum this afternoon and I read a thread by Hamsterita, and it mentioned the Aspergillus fungus.

"The Aspergillus fungus grows on the bedding in the area of a hamster’s tank/cage where the hamster urinates. Once it starts to develop it will appear white and in time turn black. At this stage the fungus will send off airborne spores into the hamster’s environment that can damage the hamster’s health and once symptoms are noticed the hamster must be seen by a vet immediately because there is a high risk of death from breathing in the spores of this deadly fungus."

I am a worrier and after reading this thread I had some questions. Is this fungus common, and should I worry about it? Are there any precautions to take if necessary? Of course the most obvious thing to do would be removing dirty substrate, but I honestly have no idea where the boys pee, except in their wheels but they seemed to stop that behavior after I wiped their wheels down daily. It's probably nothing to worry about, just wanted to check.

[Drago]

I wouldn't worry about it to be honest. Diligence and regular maintenance will help ensure you don't run into any problems.

According to the CDC "Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus." [https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/aspergillosis/]

Hence is why I wouldn't stress over it. Fungus naturally grows in warm damp places so make sure you remove all fresh foods after 12 hours or less, clean up pee daily or every other day, and ensure there's proper ventilation in the cage. If you can't find where they're peeing, it's unlikely there's damp substrate sitting about thus making it unlikely fungus will grow. I personally just don't think it's worth worrying over. If you're super concerned, Id contact Hamsterita regarding it so she can provide you with some more info and perhaps put your mind at ease

[Crystalroborovski]

Thank you drago really I'm not freaking out over it, it just concerned me a bit. I decided to clean out a section of the bedding today, and guess what I found? The place where they pee. And boy, did it stink. I got it all cleaned up and now I know where they pee, though I will probably attempt litter training to make cleaning easier. I wasn't really concerned that I myself would breath in the fungus, I just know hammies have delicate respiratory systems and this that wouldn't bother humans would harm hamsters.

[Drago]

Glad you found the spot, I had the same issue with Duncan!
I included the quote to show that since we're exposed to it, our hams inevitably are as well, so both humans and hamsters should have some form of tolerance to it.

For more info, I'm sure Hamsterita wouldn't mind helping, she's very knowledgeable with hamsters and these things Hope tangerine and key lime are both doing well!

[Crystalroborovski]

Thanks again Key Lime and Tangerine are doing a lot better with fighting/squabbling. They sleep together and will sniff each other comfortably, there are only a few instances in which they pester each other but nothing major.

[Hamsterita]

I was the one that caused Crystal's concerns because I was paranoid too, Drago. I had read the other day an article about aspergillus and I was worried sick, but after researching a little bit more I hardly could find anyone that had a hamster that suffered that illness aside from some people that used corn substrate.

I'm sorry If I upset you Crystal, sometimes we worry too much, and I didn't want to alarm anyone unnecessarily

[Crystalroborovski]

Oh no you didn't upset me, reading anything online can send anyone into a panick lol. It seems like articles like that are way more dramatic and make things seem more dangerous than they are. It's all good now

[AmityvilleHams]

I think there are many overreactions that come when any creature is unfortunate enough to be capable of spreading some illness regardless of rarity.This has been seen many times whether it be reptiles spreading salmonella(not an issue with proper hygiene and common sense!),rat bite fever(extremely rare,essentially not even an issue),species appropriate raw feeding of dogs being incredibly dangerous(again not an issue just like reptile keeping with common sense),etc.

I think a lot of times when animals aren't the standard dog or cat you're more likely to find over-exaggerated articles on illnesses they spread.Of course,knowing that dogs and cats are generally more likely to spread any sort of illness including dangerous diseases makes it hilarious to see!

[Hamsterita]

I was worried about Blacky, and I suppose that Crystal was worried about her boys. I didn't think of catching it myself. I suppose that it could be a possibility, but being something in the substrate it sounds like a long shot. It isn't like I'm going to snort it or roll in it or anything like that

[Drago]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

I think there are many overreactions that come when any creature is unfortunate enough to be capable of spreading some illness regardless of rarity.This has been seen many times whether it be reptiles spreading salmonella(not an issue with proper hygiene and common sense!),rat bite fever(extremely rare,essentially not even an issue),species appropriate raw feeding of dogs being incredibly dangerous(again not an issue just like reptile keeping with common sense),etc.

There's definitely more to pathogenic diseases than just proper hygeine in my opinion. For example, having owned numerous reptiles for years, I can tell you that salmonella is somewhat more common than many reptile owners may think, but it's also much less of an issue than your average person would. Animals coming from mass breeding facilities (which is where a majority of your reptiles are from, lest you buy in person, directly from a breeder) come in contact with feces and bodily fluids of affected animals often, and the unknowing owner winds up with a sick animal. Then, all it can take is a bit of feces getting on one's hand while cleaning or simply touching the animal and having a slight open sore or cut on the hand. Salmonella also can infect you if there are even just traces of bacteria on your hands and you consume them, it's also able to infect you if inhaled (though of course the bacteria must first become airborne). Though yes it's rare, it's not so rare that somebody should say it's "not an issue". This is partly why so many people become misguided, because it is overdramatized, but it should also be respected and your new reptile should be taken to a vet for your health and theirs if they're not from a trustworthy breeder.

I don't mean this to sound rude or harsh, as in the case of rat bite fever and dogs on raw diets, it's true. However, I get pretty passionate when people discuss salmonella in reptiles and either over exaggerate or just brush it off as it being little to no issue.

All in all though, Hamsterita and Crystalroborovski, I wouldn't worry yourselves over this. It's pretty rare and with good hygeine, is almost no issue