r.i.p my little friend, but how did she die?

[PumpKinSpiceLatte]

I regret to inform my hamster, Millie B.B., passed away peacefully in her sandbox. However, she wasn't too old and I feel like there is some other reason than natural causes that caused her to die.
I fed her once a week (in quite a large bowl), refilled her water when it was near empty, and cleaned her tank once every two months (she had a large tank and lived by herself), she was a winter white dwarf. Fed her with the dwarf food from Viovet, and the sand I used was Tiny Friends Farm, and bought her from a tiny-ish Petco. Can someone please tell me if it was just natural causes or I did something wrong.
She was my first hamster I cared for all by myself, if I did anything wrong please tell me and don't hold back, i can take criticism. Thank you ♡

[Thin Lizzy]

I'm so sorry to hear about Millie, losing your first hamster is so painful, you feel numb and shocked. We as owners always wonder if it was our fault, what did I do wrong and why did it happen to me.
You did nothing wrong, please don't blame yourself. Every ham is diffrent, some die young, some live long, you gave Millie a very loving and wonderful life, her time may have been short but she knew how much you loved her. Grief affects us all differently, you'll have good days and bad days, you'll find yourself crying unexpectedly cause something reminds you of her. We've all been there, we feel your loss and we're here for you.
It's important you remember happy times, make up a memory box of Millie. Big hugs to you xxx

[cypher]

I'm so very sorry, losing your first hamster is always very hard.
You did everything right for her & gave her a life full of love, it's natural to question why they die but sometimes we just can't know & some do have shorter lives than others for no apparent reason.
Try not to dwell on that & cherish the memories now.

Run free & play well at the bridge little Millie.

[Josie]

Sorry to hear of Millie B.B's passing, losing your first Hamster is always so difficult, play well at the bridge Millie xxx

[CMB]

Sorry for your loss. It doesn’t sound like you did something wrong. Hamsters, like all living things have a wide range of lifespans.

[PumpKinSpiceLatte]

Thank you so much for the support, I'm happy to learn I did nothing wrong during the life of my first hamster. I believed something was always wrong with her, she'd let me hold her, but never pet her. I don't know whether that was the way she was or because of mistreatment.

[Pebbles82]

I'm so sorry you've lost your hammy. Most dwarf hamsters are hybrids if they come from pet shops - you only really find pure winter whites from breeders. A hamster may look like a winter white or look like a Campbell but they hybrids bred from the two species. Hybrid dwarf hammies often have hidden congenital conditions and are prone to diabetes. So it is nothing you have done. It is most likely she had some kind of congenital condition or a weak heart. She is playing free over the rainbow bridge now and it sounds like you gave her excellent care. She was lucky to have a loving owner.