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After a hamster dies, should I clean the cage2007-11-24 21:57:26

I have two hamsters and they both live in the same cage; I found one of them to have died recently and want to know if it would be a good idea to clean the cage now.

I'd rather not the other one become ill, either.

Answers:

It is a good idea to clean out the cage with a diluted bleach solution. Bleach is the safest cleaner as it leaves no residue or chemicals after it has air dried. Be sure to allow the cage and all toys, etc to air dry.

You also need to keep a close eye on the remaining hamster. If they were living together the other one may have what the first one did. Watch for lethargy, decreased appetite, etc.

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Yea if you do not want the other hamster to die I would clean it out as soon as possible and take the other one to the vet and have it checked out make sure that it is not ill either.

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I think you should do an extremely thorough cleaning, possibly even more thorough than you regular maintenance cleaning. If the hamster that died had a disease of some sort, it's best to do everything you can so that the other doesn't catch it. Chances are, living in such close quarters that if the one who passed away had a disease the other may already have it, but I think it's best to do everything you possibly can to prevent it, if it hasn't happened. Hopefully the other little guy just died of old age.

Sorry about your little friend.

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Absolutely. A very thorough cleaning too. The smell of the other dead hamster may confuse and alarm the remaining.