Colour change

[Jain]

Pete went reclusive for 5 days recently I knew he was ok because his food kept disappearing but he took it sneakily and was avoiding us then suddenly he was at his door demanding to come out and was full of his own importance showing off his new winter coat

 

[Lovelyness]

Nice coat Pete

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aw, he is beautiful. Where you surprised to see his colour changed?

 

[Maz]

It’s lovely! So he disappeared to metamorphasise

 

[Socks' Mum]

Handsome fellow, and clever human to understand him so well!

 

[Daisy]

That's amazing. He looks so pretty!

I expect he didn't want to be seen mid-moult as maybe he looked a bit odd!

 

[Jain]

Aw, he is beautiful. Where you surprised to see his colour changed?

No not really surprised because he was that colour when I collected him and the breeder told me he would have a much darker coat come summer

 

[Jain]

It’s lovely! So he disappeared to metamorphasise

Yes although I did wonder afterwards if he was feeling a bit off colour during the change he's made up for it the past few days he's a little horror again think he used the downtime to gen up on how to become a mountaineer and escape his playpen he can now climb out so I have to use the zip up top unless I safety barricade the whole room and let him have his own way

 

[Zara]

How clever he’s changed coat. He looks so cute

 

[RainbowBrite]

Yes although I did wonder afterwards if he was feeling a bit off colour during the change he's made up for it the past few days he's a little horror again think he used the downtime to gen up on how to become a mountaineer and escape his playpen he can now climb out so I have to use the zip up top unless I safety barricade the whole room and let him have his own way

The songmic playpen is too tall for a dwarf hamster to climb out. I use that one.

 

[Frida]

Looking very handsome Pete

 

[Hank]

Lovely new coat

 

[Jain]

The songmic playpen is too tall for a dwarf hamster to climb out. I use that one.

I've got that one earmarked on Amazon but a bit concerned it would drive me crazy when I have to keep disassembling it I don't have space to leave it in situ he currently has a pop up one so easy to fold and shove under the sofa but he's learned how to climb out over the rim

 

[ilguy]

What a nice surprise, and polite to stay hidden while changing coats. You've taught him some good manners :O

 

[RainbowBrite]

I've got that one earmarked on Amazon but a bit concerned it would drive me crazy when I have to keep disassembling it I don't have space to leave it in situ he currently has a pop up one so easy to fold and shove under the sofa but he's learned how to climb out over the rim

It can be stored flat but it will require some assembly so I can understand why it may not be suitable for you. An alternative might be a wooden one. I have the Getzoo one and that may be an option for you.

 

[Jain]

It can be stored flat but it will require some assembly so I can understand why it may not be suitable for you. An alternative might be a wooden one. I have the Getzoo one and that may be an option for you.

Thank you I will take a look at Getzoo as it sounds like always having to assemble the other every time would a pain

 

[elusive]

That really is a very handsome new coat Pete!

Interesting that he’s changed now when the days are getting noticeably longer when the change is normally triggered by the days shortening.

 

[Maz]

I've got that one earmarked on Amazon but a bit concerned it would drive me crazy when I have to keep disassembling it I don't have space to leave it in situ he currently has a pop up one so easy to fold and shove under the sofa but he's learned how to climb out over the rim

That is one of my concerns too! Also I’m not sure it would work in our living room as the floor is lumpy in places and it can leave gaps under something like a playpen! It’s not an issue for me at the moment as Raffy free roams and is too big to get under the gaps anyway - but it was an issue when I had a Robo.

 

[Maz]

That really is a very handsome new coat Pete!

Interesting that he’s changed now when the days are getting noticeably longer when the change is normally triggered by the days shortening.

I was wondering about that too . It’s a “winter “ coat change though isn’t it? So maybe more about temperature than light perhaps? And with our human indoor lighting etc it might skew their natural biorhythms.

 

[elusive]

Winter coats in any animals rarely depend on temperature, I think our indoor lighting might have something to do with it too though, they probably still have some awareness of day/night changes but it’s not the same as being out in the wild.