My new Dwarf Hamster keeps scratching/itching himself

[bread]

I got my first hamster two days ago, and I noticed he itched himself with his hind legs quite a bit (both at the pet store and once he settled in to his own cage). I can’t tell if this is his way of grooming, or caused by a possible underlying problem. He will be perfectly fine when he’s eating, sleeping, or walking around his cage. Then he starts semi-aggressively scratching himself, sometimes after a task, sometimes completely random. He seems to lick his feet and certain areas of his body, then use his feet to scratch all over, once or twice even rolling on his back. However, I have also seen him groom like most hamsters do (with both front hands, although this is always along with the scratching), but he currently scratches with his back feet five to six more times than with his front. This will go on for anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. I’m suspecting mites, but no other symptoms like red skin or fur loss have showed up yet. Is this normal, or should I suspect a health problem?

Hamster is newly bought, so im assuming he’s about over a month old. I use Kaytee Clean and Fresh bedding with no added scents or irritants, and his diet should not be affecting this. Also he was showing these symptoms before he was introduced to his cage at my house, although it seems to have gotten a little worse now then before possibly? I will include a video of some of his behaviors. (The video was recorded right after he ate, but his actual symptoms don’t seem to occur after any specific event.)

hamster scratching - YouTube

[Ria P]

Hello and welcome to HC!

He's a very cute hamster.
Licking the paws while grooming is normal and so is the combination of grooming and scratching. I'd give him a good check over and part his fur to see if there are any sore or red areas of skin that could indicate the presence of mites.

Does he have a sandbath? Dwarfs especially like a sandbath to roll around in and to clean their coats.

Is he drinking a lot or drinking normally?
Reason i'm asking is because i had a diabetic dwarf and excessive drinking, peeing and scratching were symptoms.

Hamsters tend to groom more when nervous and settling in. I'd make sure that he has a lot of enrichment and overhead cover in his tank to feel secure.

I'm sorry that i can't give you a definite answer but i'm not able to tell if he has mites or not because i'm not a vet.

[bread]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hello and welcome to HC!

He's a very cute hamster.
Licking the paws while grooming is normal and so is the combination of grooming and scratching. I'd give him a good check over and part his fur to see if there are any sore or red areas of skin that could indicate the presence of mites.

Does he have a sandbath? Dwarfs especially like a sandbath to roll around in and to clean their coats.

Is he drinking a lot or drinking normally?
Reason i'm asking is because i had a diabetic dwarf and excessive drinking, peeing and scratching were symptoms.

Hamsters tend to groom more when nervous and settling in. I'd make sure that he has a lot of enrichment and overhead cover in his tank to feel secure.

I'm sorry that i can't give you a definite answer but i'm not able to tell if he has mites or not because i'm not a vet.

Ill try to check his fur as soon as he seems to settle in a bit more. He doesn’t have a sandbath yet, but I’ll definitely add one. Drinking and eating seem to be normal, and there is a cover on the tank along with some hideouts in the back corner that he burrows in. I think I’ll give it some time and see if he settles in or if it gets worse. Thank you so much for the help!

[Ria P]

By overhead cover i didn't mean the lid. I was referring to hides, tunnels, platforms, bendy bridges, that kind of thing. Hamsters don't like too much open space or to feel exposed.