Dwarf hamster biting his fur off

Devina · 04-10-2014, 03:01 AM

Hi all,

I adopted 2 brother dwarf hamsters in 2 months ago. They were born Christmas day, so they're still quite young.

Recently, the escape artist brother managed to escape (due to my negligence) and eluded capture for 2 days. When I finally caught him, he seemed really upset to be back in his cage. He was initially quite toilet trained. After recapture, I think he did his business all over the cage in protest.

Anyway, a few days ago, I suddenly noticed that he had dropped a lot of hair overnight! Then I realised he was biting it off himself. It's his front two arms and his genitalia area. I'm not sure if I'm thinking too much, but I think he's lost some weight as well.

I don't think it's due to fleas or mites because his brother is completely fine.

Could it be because he's unhappy or stressed?

Any helpful advice would be great, thanks all.

- very worried mummy

**kyrilliondaemon** · 04-10-2014, 01:02 PM

Just to ask... If they live together is there any chance his brother is (or has been) pulling it out or bullying him? After two days apart they could've started to forget each other and would have an increased risk of trouble - especially if he was just put in the cage with his brother without it being cleaned first or anything (in the two days it'd have come to smell a lot more like just his brother so his brother might've started to think he lived there alone now)

Devina · 04-10-2014, 06:50 PM

Hey there,

Thanks for replying.

At first I saw the balding and got worried. I sneaked over and watched them quietly one day. He is actually biting it off himself.

They seem quite okay with each other. Protesting squeaks do come out once in a while, but it's always in relation to food, or when they're squeezing past each other in the tube. I haven't seen a fight yet.

Devina · 04-10-2014, 08:48 PM

Hey there,

Thanks for replying.

After noticing the sudden overnight baldness, I snuck up on them and spied on him. He was biting it off himself.

So far I haven't seen the brother squabble that much. Protesting squeaks usually when it's dinner time and when they're trying to squeeze past each other in the tubes (his brother is a lot fatter than him - lazy and greedy).

His brother Brain kinda went a bit bonkers when Pinky escaped...