My Chinese Dwarfs

Question
I just read this woman's post about how she had two male Chinese dwarf hamsters and one went missing without evidence of escape or cannibalism. I had just purchased three females that were in the same family and same breed about a week ago. They were settled in there cage, I made sure there was enough room for them to have their own territories, I got an igloo, an attachment, and the cage had a built in petting zone for even more space. It also had a wheel in which they could sleep under. I kept the cage clean with fresh bedding, full large food dish and large water bottle also filled, with a few accessories such as the treat nibbler, and the chew stick. Everything was good, they were extremely friendly towards each other and myself when I would handle them (which I would do every day). Anyways about two nights ago I went to bed with three hamsters, and the next morning I looked at the cage everything seemed to be normal so I went about my business; but later on that day when I went to give them handling time one was missing. I searched that cage through and through, there was no carcass and no tampering with the cage such as chew holes, or holes in general, not even slightly pried bars for her to squeeze through. The only evidence I found was something that looked as if it were a bone but I can be sure. Even though I didn't find a place where she could have escaped I searched my room from top to bottom every little spot she could have been hiding and did not find her, my door is never left open either so I don't know how she could have left the room. So I keep an eye on the two, checking their behavior, and scoped there bodies for anything that look like scratches or bites and there was nothing. After I took all the bedding out I cleaned the cage and put the two I had left back in there. Today I woke up to check on them and one more was gone, so now all I have left is one. I believe the one that's left ate the other two but I didn't know if it was common for Chinese dwarfs to eat the entire body? Please help I'm devastated and could really use some closure. Thank you for your time.

(In addition to the cage itself the bars are only about a quarter of an inch apart, here is a picture, http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754667&lmdn=Product+Type)

Answer
Hi Kelly

I'm so thrilled they returned. I know it was hard to believe that they could have got out but it seemed too odd that they would have eaten one another.  I do hope you have sorted out the cage - perhaps a large plastic tank would be a safer option for them.

I hope that none of them decide to go walkabouts again!

Regards
Sheila







Hi Kelly

I'm really sorry to hear about your hamsters.  this is a real mystery and I'm honestly not sure if I can come up with an explanation.  I have known hamsters to kill one another but I have never known them to totally dispose of the body (apart from if a mother kills new borns as they are so tiny).  When I have had one die (for whatever reason) I have always found their body, even though sometimes it has been mutilated.

I had a look at the cage and this looks fine.  The likelihood of one hamster eating two others in the space of a couple of days is too hard to believe, but as you say there is no logical explanation as to their disappearance.  I would have thought that if this were the case there would be some sign of a struggle in the cage with the survivor, and also the bedding would definitely show signs of blood etc.

At this point I would be tempted to check again in case they have escaped.  I know that you checked the cage and there was no obvious sign of tampering, but right now I would set a trap for them in the room in case there is some mysterious way of them getting out.  If you put out some food - count out half a dozen sunflower seeds or nuts and put them on the floor close to the skirting board and close the door over night.  Check the following morning if any have been eaten.  If so you know they are on the loose in which case you the need to identify which room they could be in.  Remember that hamsters can get into tiny spaces behind furniture etc.  Another way of trapping them would be to set a humane mousetrap - these are the types that capture the creature alive - a plastic door comes down and traps them.  If  you bait one of these with their favourite food and leave close to a skirting board for a few nights and see if you catch one.

I appreciate that this isn't giving you closure but as this is such a mystery I personally would not give up on hoping to locate them yet just in case they did manage to get out.

Please let me know how you get on.

Regards
Sheila