M
Member ID2
Come to think of it, Finley is my one and only true adoption failure. He was not meant to live out his days in the small foster tank and i tried for months to rehome him into a nice big eclosure. Nobody wanted him.
M
Member ID2
Finley is nearly 2 and i could have upgraded him to a Hamster Heaven or the Kerry before Bernard arrived but he's never shown any stress behaviours while in his tank. He only gets stressed when out of it and i mean stressed. He runs around in a panic squeaking loudly. He's an ex child's pet so was probably forcibly or roughly handled.
Whatever happened to him put him off humans for life it seems. He's becoming more anti human as he gets older even though it's usually the other way round.
He's become more active at night since Bernard's been here which I can tell by the state of their wheels in the morning. My OH gets up during the night sometimes and goes downstairs to watch both the Robos wheeling and running around.
I honestly don't know whether i should have upgraded Finley or not but i've never seen any signs that he wanted more space. Scottie was in the same tank initially (Finley was camping on my bedside table at the time) but with Scottie i could tell that he wanted more so i upgraded him.
Hamsters are quite good at communicating their needs.
Whatever happened to him put him off humans for life it seems. He's becoming more anti human as he gets older even though it's usually the other way round.
He's become more active at night since Bernard's been here which I can tell by the state of their wheels in the morning. My OH gets up during the night sometimes and goes downstairs to watch both the Robos wheeling and running around.
I honestly don't know whether i should have upgraded Finley or not but i've never seen any signs that he wanted more space. Scottie was in the same tank initially (Finley was camping on my bedside table at the time) but with Scottie i could tell that he wanted more so i upgraded him.
Hamsters are quite good at communicating their needs.
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RainbowBrite
I think you are the ideal person to care for Finley. You accept him for who he is and have never tried to change him. Many other people would not have accepted that he wants to be totally left alone and may have even returned him for that reason. For some robos they may like a bigger tank but I think Finley loves his tank and feels very safe and secure in it. I feel all hamsters are different and you have managed to find the ideal way to care for him and meet his needs.
His tank is full of enrichment and it is wonderful he seems to be more active since Bernard arrived. He also seems to be comfortable with your OH and will stay out when your OH is near by. Finley sounds happy and content to me.
His tank is full of enrichment and it is wonderful he seems to be more active since Bernard arrived. He also seems to be comfortable with your OH and will stay out when your OH is near by. Finley sounds happy and content to me.
M
Member ID2
Could well be that he's affected by his past. I find that when i get them young they get over their past but Finley was already well over a year old according to the info i was given.
M
Member ID2
Finley's obs hide had discoloured bedding because he has moved his toilet from his house to this hide so i had to clean it.
He's an old boy now and drinking and peeing a bit more.
I took him out and put him in the playpen but he absolutely hates being out. He races around squeaking and hates being handled and checked over.
I don't think he's in any discomfort and everything is fine physically but he just wants to be left alone. He's a big, 42g Robo but even weighing him is a major drama.
I took a short video for my own reference and was going to share it but won't. There's no joy in sharing or watching a video of a distressed Robo.
I put him back as soon as i had cleaned the hide and added the rest with Finley already in his house.
He's an old boy now and drinking and peeing a bit more.
I took him out and put him in the playpen but he absolutely hates being out. He races around squeaking and hates being handled and checked over.
I don't think he's in any discomfort and everything is fine physically but he just wants to be left alone. He's a big, 42g Robo but even weighing him is a major drama.
I took a short video for my own reference and was going to share it but won't. There's no joy in sharing or watching a video of a distressed Robo.
I put him back as soon as i had cleaned the hide and added the rest with Finley already in his house.
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RainbowBrite
Poor Finely. It shows how much his previous home has effected him. It is good to know he is physically well and he is an amazing weight. I am sorry Beryl. You must have felt sad to see Finley stressed but his bedding will be nice and fresh for him now.
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So sorry to hear Finley didn't like the playpen time. He might adapt better the next time, if there is no health check and weigh at the same time. Pip was a bit like this his first time and spent most of the time hiding or making a squeaking noise, but he did eventually get distracted by finding a pile of food. However I didn't try to handle him or do a health check on that occasion. The next time he was more confident and it was more familiar.
But as you say he may have had a past trauma as well. It would be nice if he could learn to feel safe in a playpen though.
But as you say he may have had a past trauma as well. It would be nice if he could learn to feel safe in a playpen though.
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It sounds as though he’s quite set in his ways now which is fair enough for an old boy, health checks & cage cleaning can be stressful but hopefully he’s soon over it & enjoying his private life.
It’s always sad to see them growing old but he’s happy enough & comfortable by the sound of things.
It’s always sad to see them growing old but he’s happy enough & comfortable by the sound of things.
M
Member ID2
I only take Finley out for a good reason like a health check. Or like today, i didn't want him to sit in a damp hide and did the health check at the same time to safe taking him out again.
Finley is set in his ways and probably affected by his past. I respect that and let him live his life the way he wants to. Inside his little tank and without playpen time.
Finley is set in his ways and probably affected by his past. I respect that and let him live his life the way he wants to. Inside his little tank and without playpen time.
M
Member ID2
I didn't explain why i put him in the playpen. It wasn't to get him used to a playpen. I wanted to weigh him and observe his mobility as part of a health check. Normally i clean his house, obs hide, sand etc with Finley left inside his tank.
M
Member ID2
Finley just now. I think he didn't expect me to be up so late.
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Frida
Lovely to see Finley. He looks a happy boy on his wheel 
M
Member ID2
Scenario: it was 18.35 and i sat in the chair by the window watching Finley hamstering about.
My OH was listening to folk music and the dog next door was barking which didn't bother Finley.
Then..I..sneezed.
And Finley run off into his house.
What have i ever done to this Robo that makes him dislike me so much, lol?!
My OH was listening to folk music and the dog next door was barking which didn't bother Finley.
Then..I..sneezed.
And Finley run off into his house.
What have i ever done to this Robo that makes him dislike me so much, lol?!
! They are funny little things.