Dusty the Robo dwarf hamster.

[Socks' Mum]

Looking at giant land snails, unfortunately they seem to be only allowed to be kept with a permit but invertebrates could be a consideration as they are fairly accessible pets and need lots of hands on mini gardening.

 

[Maz]

There’s a lovely article here about the best pets for children with autism

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs,rats. All are interactive and affectionate so I can see why. Rats and Guinea pigs do need large cages but rat cages can be more upright and taller rather than wider.

Benefits of pets for autistic children - Foster Care Associates

If you’re fostering a child with autism, here’s how pet therapy can have a positive impact on their wellbeing.

www.thefca.co.uk

 

[Socks' Mum]

There’s a lovely article here about the best pets for children with autism

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs,rats. All are interactive and affectionate so I can see why. Rats and Guinea pigs do need large cages but rat cages can be more upright and taller rather than wider.

Benefits of pets for autistic children - Foster Care Associates

If you’re fostering a child with autism, here’s how pet therapy can have a positive impact on their wellbeing.

www.thefca.co.uk

Yes, great ideas, it's a very good article.

 

[Maz]

While I would normally advise someone keep a hamster and persist with patience, you do have some very specific circumstances. And if you do decide Dusty needs rehoming, it would be better to do it earlier than later. From that list it sounds like a cat might be good as they tend to live a long time. Rescues often have cats needing good homes that are past the hard work kitten stage and the rescue will know their individual personalities - the affectionate, more docile ones etc. They could be more cuddly. Guinea pigs live longer than hamsters as well. But maybe fast movement might be an issue.

Reptiles, that Socks Mum mentions could be an option too. I looked into that once (due to dog allergy) but decided it wasn't something for us due to the need to keep a specific humid environment in a tank - it seemed quite high maintenance somehow.

But then if you've had gerbils before, he's maybe used to rodents and rats make lovely pets too.

 

[Socks' Mum]

While I would normally advise someone keep a hamster and persist with patience, you do have some very specific circumstances. And if you do decide Dusty needs rehoming, it would be better to do it earlier than later. From that list it sounds like a cat might be good as they tend to live a long time. Rescues often have cats needing good homes that are past the hard work kitten stage and the rescue will know their individual personalities - the affectionate, more docile ones etc. They could be more cuddly. Guinea pigs live longer than hamsters as well. But maybe fast movement might be an issue.

Reptiles, that Socks Mum mentions could be an option too. I looked into that once (due to dog allergy) but decided it wasn't something for us due to the need to keep a specific humid environment in a tank - it seemed quite high maintenance somehow.

But then if you've had gerbils before, he's maybe used to rodents and rats make lovely pets too.

True, reptiles are very specific in their needs. Cats are great pets, rats too. Certainly if you can find an experienced home for Dusty, that could work, but might take a while.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

I think it would be good, if you can afford it, to keep Dusty as a different sort of pet, with needs that must be met. The shelters should provide good advice about small pets that are hand tame. The problem with having a few small pets is the potential for large vet bills of course and that needs to be planned for. You could, if you can afford it and with plenty of research, consider a gecko or small snake. Feeding him or her needs getting used to feeding her gecko live crickets and grubs, which not everyone would like to do, understandably, so that is a consideration. There is also giant land snails, which are vegetarian and quite intriguing creatures. Creating a nice enclosure for them and watching them eat could be fun as well, depending on your grandson's interests and whether he likes this sort of animal.

Thank you Socks Mom, as a matter of fact my other grandson here has a Leopard Gecko. So we are familiar with those. Noah however is more drawn to furry cuddly creatures. We will continue to do research and in the mean time, depending on what we find out from the rescue, we will keep Dusty and love him as long as he is with us.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

While I would normally advise someone keep a hamster and persist with patience, you do have some very specific circumstances. And if you do decide Dusty needs rehoming, it would be better to do it earlier than later. From that list it sounds like a cat might be good as they tend to live a long time. Rescues often have cats needing good homes that are past the hard work kitten stage and the rescue will know their individual personalities - the affectionate, more docile ones etc. They could be more cuddly. Guinea pigs live longer than hamsters as well. But maybe fast movement might be an issue.

Reptiles, that Socks Mum mentions could be an option too. I looked into that once (due to dog allergy) but decided it wasn't something for us due to the need to keep a specific humid environment in a tank - it seemed quite high maintenance somehow.

But then if you've had gerbils before, he's maybe used to rodents and rats make lovely pets too.

Thank you Maz, I don't remember if I gave a full picture of our home pets. I own a Shih Tzu dog. We have another mutt dog that is a therapy dog for the grandkids since they are both autistic. That worked fine for a while but gradually the dog became the family dog and stays with me most of the time. My daughter, their mother, lives here too and she has 2 therapy cats, she is autistic as well. We have a pet door and both the dogs and cats use it.
My daughter didn't find out she was autistic until about 3 years ago. And that explained her kids behavior as well. They are what you might call high functioning, they don't like that term, but that explains it as best I can. They all have emotional issues and anxiety.

I got the Leopard gecko for the younger (10) of the grandkids and he is doing fine because a Leopard gecko is so easy to care for. No humidity issues and no heat lamp needed, just a heat mat under the tank. He gets fed about every third day. Noah is 14 and I orginally got him the gerbils. He was doing pretty well with them in his room but they kept knocking over their ceramic water bottle holder at night and it finally got to him, he couldn't take it any longer. That is the autism coming out. So he gave me the gerbils. I personally love many kinds of animals. So I gladly took the gerbils and did further research and found out the tank we had them in (the one Dusty is in now) was not nearly large enough. So I got the gerbil set up I showed you for them. They are very happy now. That left that cage Dusty is in empty and Noah was wanting another small pet. That is when we got Dusty. I admit before we did proper research. I really have no idea what this cage Dusty is in now is good for. It is a well made cage, but at 30 X 12 X 12 inches with a topper anything we put in it so far is not suitable. *sigh*

 

[Dusty's Mom]

There’s a lovely article here about the best pets for children with autism

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs,rats. All are interactive and affectionate so I can see why. Rats and Guinea pigs do need large cages but rat cages can be more upright and taller rather than wider.

Benefits of pets for autistic children - Foster Care Associates

If you’re fostering a child with autism, here’s how pet therapy can have a positive impact on their wellbeing.

www.thefca.co.uk

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank you Socks Mom, as a matter of fact my other grandson here has a Leopard Gecko. So we are familiar with those. Noah however is more drawn to furry cuddly creatures. We will continue to do research and in the mean time, depending on what we find out from the rescue, we will keep Dusty and love him as long as he is with us.

That's lovely, don't hesitate to come on here if you would like to chat about anything!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank you Maz, I don't remember if I gave a full picture of our home pets. I own a Shih Tzu dog. We have another mutt dog that is a therapy dog for the grandkids since they are both autistic. That worked fine for a while but gradually the dog became the family dog and stays with me most of the time. My daughter, their mother, lives here too and she has 2 therapy cats, she is autistic as well. We have a pet door and both the dogs and cats use it.
My daughter didn't find out she was autistic until about 3 years ago. And that explained her kids behavior as well. They are what you might call high functioning, they don't like that term, but that explains it as best I can. They all have emotional issues and anxiety.

I got the Leopard gecko for the younger (10) of the grandkids and he is doing fine because a Leopard gecko is so easy to care for. No humidity issues and no heat lamp needed, just a heat mat under the tank. He gets fed about every third day. Noah is 14 and I orginally got him the gerbils. He was doing pretty well with them in his room but they kept knocking over their ceramic water bottle holder at night and it finally got to him, he couldn't take it any longer. That is the autism coming out. So he gave me the gerbils. I personally love many kinds of animals. So I gladly took the gerbils and did further research and found out the tank we had them in (the one Dusty is in now) was not nearly large enough. So I got the gerbil set up I showed you for them. They are very happy now. That left that cage Dusty is in empty and Noah was wanting another small pet. That is when we got Dusty. I admit before we did proper research. I really have no idea what this cage Dusty is in now is good for. It is a well made cage, but at 30 X 12 X 12 inches with a topper anything we put in it so far is not suitable. *sigh*

Thank you Maz, I don't remember if I gave a full picture of our home pets. I own a Shih Tzu dog. We have another mutt dog that is a therapy dog for the grandkids since they are both autistic. That worked fine for a while but gradually the dog became the family dog and stays with me most of the time. My daughter, their mother, lives here too and she has 2 therapy cats, she is autistic as well. We have a pet door and both the dogs and cats use it.
My daughter didn't find out she was autistic until about 3 years ago. And that explained her kids behavior as well. They are what you might call high functioning, they don't like that term, but that explains it as best I can. They all have emotional issues and anxiety.

I got the Leopard gecko for the younger (10) of the grandkids and he is doing fine because a Leopard gecko is so easy to care for. No humidity issues and no heat lamp needed, just a heat mat under the tank. He gets fed about every third day. Noah is 14 and I orginally got him the gerbils. He was doing pretty well with them in his room but they kept knocking over their ceramic water bottle holder at night and it finally got to him, he couldn't take it any longer. That is the autism coming out. So he gave me the gerbils. I personally love many kinds of animals. So I gladly took the gerbils and did further research and found out the tank we had them in (the one Dusty is in now) was not nearly large enough. So I got the gerbil set up I showed you for them. They are very happy now. That left that cage Dusty is in empty and Noah was wanting another small pet. That is when we got Dusty. I admit before we did proper research. I really have no idea what this cage Dusty is in now is good for. It is a well made cage, but at 30 X 12 X 12 inches with a topper anything we put in it so far is not suitable. *sigh*

It can be useful to have a smaller tank or cage for convalescence, quarantine or other emergencies.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

That's lovely, don't hesitate to come on here if you would like to chat about anything!

Thank you so much! I appreciate this forum so much. It has been a god send for me. Keeping this cage Dusty is in now would be a good hospital cage. Great idea!

 

[Maz]

It sounds like you're well aware of therapy pets already It must be hard trying to get things right for the children but you're doing a grand job. Is there a petting farm near you at all?

 

[Dusty's Mom]

It sounds like you're well aware of therapy pets already It must be hard trying to get things right for the children but you're doing a grand job. Is there a petting farm near you at all?

No there is no petting farm near us that we don't have to pay $50 to enter a zoo to get to the petting zoo. And these kids have sensory issues and sometimes that is overwhelming. I appreciate the thought.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Well we have decided to keep Dusty and give him a nicer home and see how out relationship with him blooms. So today I bit the bullet and ordered the Bucastate cage that is 39X20X20 roughly. I think that will give him a very nice home. I also ordered some platforms and bridges and tunnels. And other deco for around the cage. We should have it put together by this week end. I hope to show you a photo then. Any thing I set up wrong or not that safe please let me know as I am always learning. Thanks everyone!

 

[RainbowBrite]

I am so happy to hear this. I cannot wait to see the new set up. Maybe you could take pictures and get some feedback before moving Dusty just in case anything needs changing. If you have bought any cork logs you can bake them before using them just in case they have any bugs. Dusty is going to be so happy.

 

[Maz]

I think that is a great choice You'll be able to watch him nicely in that and he may start coming to the front door for a chat as well - which is what my two did, once they realise there is a door on their level.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Thanks, RainbowBrite and Maz, I am excited to get it set up. Good idea about photos before we move Dusty into the new cage. I did get a camera set up it see inside his cage now. I was able to record a couple of short videos the other day. It seems to be a hit and miss thing depending on if we are both up at the same time. And the room he is in is quiet and darkened. Now I have a towel over one end of his cage to help darken it as it faces a window.
I haven't gotten any cork logs, they just look so dirty and crumbly. I did get a seagrass tunnel and some NiteAngel stuff. Now figuring a nice sand bath dish and I have some coco peat for a dig dish too. Have to figure size and where to put them. I also ordered several platforms. I may end up getting some cork logs or bark. I am sure I will need more variety. If I bake cork logs.....what temp and for how long? Thanks!

I added the you tube video. I guess you can't see it until midnight tonight. I don't know how to avoid that on you tube.

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[Maz]

Hi. You need to set the video to unlisted rather than private as it doesn't show up Unlisted just means it only shows where you paste the link (ie on here, but is still private on youtube).

100 degrees centigrade for 30 to 40 minutes for baking cork logs etc

Sorry for the brief reply - it's quite late here I'll reply properly tomorrow!

 

[Dusty's Mom]

I think that is a great choice You'll be able to watch him nicely in that and he may start coming to the front door for a chat as well - which is what my two did, once they realise there is a door on their level.

I had no idea you could keep two dwarf hamster together. If I had known that I might have gotten a sibling pair.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Hi. You need to set the video to unlisted rather than private as it doesn't show up Unlisted just means it only shows where you paste the link (ie on here, but is still private on youtube).

100 degrees centigrade for 30 to 40 minutes for baking cork logs etc

Sorry for the brief reply - it's quite late here I'll reply properly tomorrow!

Thanks, I will have to look for unlisted on you tube next time.