Dandelion

[Riven]

The reason why they can get away with the small cages is because there isn't a law yet and in the small print they're called 'starter cages'. I also found out that p@h employees have almost like a script. A couple of people have been sacked because they advised customers not to buy certain products and gave them advice for better products which they can get elsewhere! I was shocked and disgusted when I was told.

I always keep a small cage by as a hospital cage or for a poorly elderly hamster where I need to be able to get to them with ease or following recovery before putting them back into their bigger enclosure. It can also be used for the initial home for any future hamsters as well. I've even gone as far as repurposing the cage and using it as a pot to grow vegetables.

 

[Maz]

It's sad that pet shops are still saying some of these things. But ultimately they just sell things! They are not experienced in hamster care and they sell things for a lot of pets. PAH do however have a good selection of larger cages (the Savic Hamster Plaza is great for a Syrian) - I wonder if they are trained to try and sell people PAH own brand cages first! I agree with Rainbow it sounds more like guinea pig advice!

The food is not the end of the world - there has been much umming and ahhing over the years over the benefits of nuggets and muesli but for a hamster to have a happy life and stay well, anything we do to enable them to have normal behaviours, keeps their immune system healthy because they are hard wired to forage, nest and hoard. And giving them opportunities to do that helps keep them healthy. Some people even scatter a bit of hamster food as well as putting it in the bowl so the hamster can enjoy foraging for it.

You can get Harry Hamster easily - that contains everything that's needed and includes whole peanuts in their shells - which they get quite excited about! So variety is the key. The only thing they tend to leave is the brown pellets but those are just roughage and not that important. Harry Hamster is also sugar free, which is quite important (they can get tooth ache and tooth decay just like us!) but more importantly is the protein levels. The right level of protein in their first year is really important to keep healthy and keep on muscle tone and fur health. They have incredibly fast metabolisms and can burn up fat too much if they don't get enough protein (plus can get hair loss and sickness). About 18 to 20% protein is needed in a mix.

The other thing many people don't realise is hamsters rarely actually eat anything from their bowls - they forage from them and pouch food and take it to their hoard and then snack in bed later . They seem to instinctively know what they need and I've never yet had a hamster with dietary issues using a muesli mix (providing it's a good one). Plus we can supplement their diet with healthy treats and fresh food - like a bit of veg daily.

The main thing now is she is cosy! That she has plenty of substrate, nesting material and a house, food and water. Carefresh is ok but there are cheaper options. It's fine for now. A lot of people use Kaytee clean and cosy which seems to be a bit less dusty (probably only available online though). I use Fitch, mentioned above - hamsters love it and it works out cheap!

 

[Maz]

I think as they need two or three weeks to settle into a cage anyway, to avoid stress from change, you can take a bit of time before upgrading her. I certainly wouldn't do it in the next three weeks, but possibly after a month or two when she's used to you.

There is the tissue trick for helping them get used to your scent. You put a few sheets of toilet paper up your sleeve or down your bra, leave them there for a couple of hours maybe, then tear them into strips and put them in the cage (but not inside the house). The hamster forages for them for the nest and has your scent in their favourite place - their nest.

Not sure if you've seen the home page It's a bit heavy with text but there's advice on there about cage cleaning (as in - don't do too much!). Main thing is - don't do weekly big clean outs or throw away their nest or hoard - it really stresses them and sets taming back.

 

[Maz]

How is Dandelion doing tonight? Just keep talking to her through the bars in a gentle voice. It sounds bonkers but it's a good way of them getting familiar with your voice and scent and I think they really do respond to tone of voice.

As for taming - a playpen type thing can be good as then you can get in it too and they run all over you and get used to you You can do that in the bathtub too.

 

[Madison]

Thanks again guys, poor hamsters living in smaller cages they sell than what I’ve gotten today, she seems happy enough in there for the time being to be honest, very busy ripping up bits of loo roll and running on her wheel, there is a symphony of wheels running and dogs snoring in my bedroom now I am going to offer her some cucumber tomorrow! - she is very cute I must say, luckily her wheel is silent!

 

[Maz]

She sounds very happy if she's ripping up toilet paper and running on her wheel . Just to warn you, some female hamsters are quite maverick and like ripping things up! If she's like that, then keep giving her cardboard! Cardboard kitchen roll inner tubes (they are best slit down one side so they expand and they don't get stuck), cardboard egg boxes etc. They also come on heat every four days and can get a bit maverick then as well.

It all sounds rather calm and nice though You probably know a bit about wheels if you have a hedgehog. What wheel does the hedgehog have?

 

[Maz]

I really want a hedgehog now! Needs to be a non allergenic pet that a teenager would think is cool!

 

[Riven]

I really want a hedgehog now! Needs to be a non allergenic pet that a teenager would think is cool!

I looked into it a while back. Minimum of 4ft, some rescues prefer the use of vivariums to keep them warm, heat pads ect. Getting hold of them is a nightmare unless you live in/near a city. Then there's vets. They do have a lifespan similar to guinea pigs though. They also have hair/fur on their tummy. Is it a particular animal that causes issues or is it dander?

You could always foster Maz. That way you and teen get experience with a variety of animals and you can see which may be more suitable long term for you both.

I was thinking of potentially adopting one in the future when I have less guinea pigs. They seem full of character and such lovely creatures. I've always had a soft spot for hedgies. So Madison if you decide to give cherry blossom her own thread we'd love to know more about the care side too.

 

[Maz]

I just seem to be allergic to all animals I've come across - except hamsters! Thankfully. Guinea pigs are unknown but I'm allergic to the hay. I think it's mainly fur/hair. Horses, dogs, cats. Dogs are my worst allergy which is SO sad. But I have the hamsters. The teen desperately wanted a dog - although I'm quite glad we haven't got one now as he's too busy doing other things to look after a dog. I literally end up on steroids and unable to breathe. It is so wonderful to have pets I'm not allergic to And hamsters are fantastic anyway!

 

[Riven]

Sounds horrible.

Have you thought about an animal which doesn't have fur? A turtle or lizard maybe?

 

[Maz]

I'm happy with hamsters

 

[Madison]

I'm happy with hamsters

Hello completely right the do live in a vivarium, a 4ft one is too small though I would say, for a baby one would be okay but would need a new one in a few months; very expensive to replace, they need a heater not a heat lamp, the need a big old 12 inch wheel (they’re £30 themselves) so much bedding! Luckily they’re not chewers like hamsters so all the lovely soft material bedding!, they need high quality cat food (hedgehog food is not actually good for them) mine had iams, they need regular soft warm baths for the poop shoes (where they stand in their poor while running - mine poos in one corner so we usually avoid this) they need good old worms and bugs, need lots of time out (mines exceptionally social but she was hand reared) lots of things to do so they don’t get bored (cat balls, small teddies mine takes hers to bed with her) - they’re so spectacular! Mine seems to be abit odd as I joined a forum before I got her and she is in no way an antisocial mare, she loves attention and a good old cuddle under your chin! They’re great pets to have, other animal proof and small child proof, and they won’t really care if you forget to get them out one night! - they take so much patience when you first get them, but confidence is the key! - I am so happy to tel you everything the good and the bad (when they loose a spike and it’s in your slipper!)

 

[Madison]

She sounds very happy if she's ripping up toilet paper and running on her wheel . Just to warn you, some female hamsters are quite maverick and like ripping things up! If she's like that, then keep giving her cardboard! Cardboard kitchen roll inner tubes (they are best slit down one side so they expand and they don't get stuck), cardboard egg boxes etc. They also come on heat every four days and can get a bit maverick then as well.

It all sounds rather calm and nice though You probably know a bit about wheels if you have a hedgehog. What wheel does the hedgehog have?

She seems much calmer today, I just kind of stood there with the door open for abit she went about her usual business, very big stretches! She has taken her bedding into her tunnel, doesn’t seem to have eaten much but there’s lots in that tunnel! I am going to offer her a bit of cucumber this evening after ive had CB out - I won’t get her out yet tho, I don’t want our first encounter to be a scary one

 

[Member ID2]

Totally fascinating write up about your hedgehog. Feel free to tell us more.

Glad Dandelion is starting to settle in. Stretches are always a good sign.

 

[Riven]

So would a 16" wheel be too overkill for a hedgehog then? I have one that did belong to my rats but they've since passed and I won't be getting any more. It can't be used for degus or chinchillas as it's made of plastic. I would like to keep it if it could come in useful for another animal. Obviously if it's not appropriate I'll sell it so someone else could have some use out of it.

 

[Maz]

Stretches are a sign she is contented. Yes the bedding in a tube is always an issue! And it might lead you to want to upgrade sooner than you planned!

This is the problem with hamster cages with tubes - the hamsters stuffs bedding and food in them and pees in them and they need constantly cleaning out - which then stresses the hamster who does it more and tries to block themselves in! The plastic connecting tubes skew their normal habits. So cages without tubes are better. The hamster heaven has the same issue - which is why most people remove the tubes and penthouse and block off the tube holes and just use it as a straight cage. Then they develop normal behaviours like nesting in a house, burying their hoards under their nest and having a toilet in the corner of the cage (where you can put a litter tray!).

Did the cage you have come with tube blockers? If so it could be an idea to remove the tube and block the holes. If you give her a nice big cardboard shoe box house in the cage, she'll nest in there. They will nest anywhere that's dark inside. They think tubes are tunnels and associate that with safety and their habits are skewed by those plastic external tunnels.

 

[Maz]

How is Dandelion getting on I didn't mean to suggest you HAVE to remove the tubes - but it can help! If she's just settling in then maybe just see how it goes.

 

[Madison]

Hello, dandelion is much more comfortable now, she is so NOSEY! As soon as you go to the cage she is straight over, she spends most her time ok her back legs staring at me, goes for a run and comes back to stare, I’ve given her some worms from my fingers, she likes them. I have started putting treats in when I first get there and open the door - she is so NOISY too! I am sure she was dreaming this morning, I could see her in her tube little feet twitching and making a squeaking sound, quite loud to be honest for something so tiny! She also still makes that purring sound if you listen really carefully, she doesn’t make it when I’m interacting with her but when she’s doing her own thing - super cute!, I put the top of her cage in the play oen last night and waited for her to come out, we’ve spent lots of time her sniffing the back of my hand she she doesn’t jump at all when my hand is moving things around in there, she investigates!, while she was out I gave her lots of treats and I picked her up with a snuggle sack over my hand and stroked her bum - I used her pets at home box to lift her a few times so she got used to the movement, she was super speedy and fast, didn’t seem scared tho I don’t think! She had places to hide and she didn’t - and she ate the treats I put in for her (hid them in her cheeks) - I didn’t pick her up with my hands as if I do it scared I am sure she will know I am, I would like us both to build our confidence with eachother - I’ve added her a new hide in there from pets at home and some little wooden stumps, she loves them and it was funny watching her drag them into her tunnel, kept her busy for ages! - I’ve looked at so many cages, I’ve thought about vivarium as, terraniams, fish tanks, and I’ve seen some lovely wooden ones, im struggling abit, up to £120 is fine by me - I’m sure you guys know some great ones! I have better pics of her but it won’t let me upload them! Her colour is really lovely, she almost looks like she should be Sandy but has rolled around in durt, lighter and darker in places like a calico cat

 

[Madison]

 

[Member ID2]

What a gorgeous little hamster! She looks so adorable and cheeky.

I know, getting the right cage isn't easy and often depends on the hamster and personal preferences.