I can't believe it... what am I doing wrong?

[Chaos]

My 5 month old dwarf Latte is dead. I found him last night, or what was left of him. Again, his cagemate cleaned up, I can't believe it. I'm still in shock I think, because he was so young, wasn't exhibiting any signs of being sick. I don't know or think it was a fight, since my other dwarf doesn't have any wounds, he just cleaned up after.

But what am I doing wrong? They always have ample food and water, cage space, and toys and hidey places. This is the second time I've had dwarves die prematurely, first was Hazel and then two months later, Nutmeg, both only a year old. But Latte wasn't even 6 months! I'm honestly at a loss here. Has anyone had dwarves kill each other before? Maybe they're not social animals like I've always believed. They've lived together since before 6 weeks old, so they were used to each other. I just don't understand. I've only had one syrian die prematurely, but she was sick first. I seem to have no luck with dwarves. :(

RIP Latte. I'm sorry I only knew you a short while.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/spiralcide/Hamsters/latte5765.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/spiralcide/Hamsters/dwarves2.jpg

[dwankrista]

i'm so sorry for your loss. :( unfortunately we can't always know the genetic backgrounds of the little ones and they could be harbouring illnesses and not showing symtpoms. i've learned theyr'e quite good at that. dwarves do kill each other but i've rarely seen it happen. it's common in a pet store here due to the conditions and tank size. how big was their cage? did they have a hideout each? unfortunately it's almost impossible to tell cause of death without a necropsy. i'm so sorry for your loss. :( it's so hard to lose our little furkids but sometimes all we can do is give them the best care possible for the short time they're with us, not knowing when they'll go.

[LMDH]

So sorry to hear about Latte.

I have had experience with fighting dwarfs. Usually they bicker and get small wounds before fighting escalates into anything serious. The only time I have not been able to separate in time was when a pregnant ww killed her mate. She did that overnight completely out of the blue. But most fights you can see coming and are able to separate.

Just because they have been together since they were 6wks doesnt mean their friendship will last forever. They can still fall out. Though to me from what you have said, I do not believe they fought.

Where did these hamsters come from? Did they all come from the same place? If so it could be a genetic fault. That would be the most likely explanation.

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I am sure Latte enjoyed his short life with you.

[Chaos]

The two female campbells I had before them would bicker all the time, but these guys NEVER did. That, with the fact that the one left (Cap) has no wounds, leaves me to believe it was a genetic disorder.

Both were my very last ever pet shop purchases, normally I'd be the last person to buy from a pet shop, but when I first saw Latte he fell into a huge water dish and nearly drowned. The pet shop did nothing. So he didn't die from cold or neglect (they had nearly 30 dwarves in a 10 gallon tank, it was disgusting) I brought him and Cap home. I guess this taught me, as much as I'd like to save them its not worth it in the long run. Now that I think about it a little more rationally, obviously I was upset and not thinking earlier, he WAS a runt, not sickly, though. But still, I'd put my money on a genetic problem.

My last two females that died were rescues, they never were paticularily tame even after 6 months of trying, but the two males never bit once.

As for their set up, they lived in a 10 gallon tank (so no breeze) with a wheel (wire mesh type), a wooden house, a plastic house, a wooden log toy, a long plastic tube, and of course a food dish and water bottle.

[PetLuver21257]

That's so sad! I am terribly sorry! :( That's terrible! Omg!

There seemed to be a lot of toys in a 10 gallon, was there enough room to roam around in? Anyways, I am so sorry, I remember when you first showed us the pictures and I was so happy for you that you got two young cuties! You didn't do anything wrong, possibly a genetic dissorder.