hamster has mites? i hope not :(

Question
My hamster is a syrian long haired golden and he is very old (a
little older then two years) Over the time we have spent together
I have watched his once golden hair dwindle down to a mute tan
and as old age kicked in he started to lose it.

Recently though it seems like his skin is irritating him a lot and
he has even scratched it to the point of breaking skin and
bleeding in some areas...

I have two hamsters and I would assume that if one had mites
that my other one would have definitly gotten then by now but
she is healthier then ever...

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Answer

    I am positive that your hamster does not have mites based on the information you have given me. Old aged hamsters usually have very very dried out skin, it is just something that comes with the old age. I also had a hamster that made it past two years that skin had started to do the same thing. He did itch a lot too, there isn't anything you can do about it though.

Thanks for writing