R
RainbowBrite
Sneezes are scary and sudden. Orko runs when he hears a sneeze.
M
Member ID2
Oh! It wasn't personal then. That's good to know.
R
RainbowBrite
Yesterday Orko was happily pottering about. My partner sneezed and he fled into his burrow. It is really not personal. 
M
Member ID2
I cleaned Finley's damp substrate out in his house and picked him up for a health check. I knew that he would dig his teeth in so wore a thick gardening glove.
Of course he kept squeaking but then he calmed down (or played dead) in my hand. I talked to him and very gently stroked him with my ungloved finger which set him off again.
He truly hates human touch or contact so i kept the health check short but took a quick photo.
Glad to report that his teeth, nails and the rest of him look fine for a Robo who is probably around two years old now.
I feel really bad for wearing a glove when handling a hamster. It feels hostile and wrong. Robos don't normally bite like that either. Sure, Robo Scottie bit me when i trimmed his nails which was fair enough.
Of course he kept squeaking but then he calmed down (or played dead) in my hand. I talked to him and very gently stroked him with my ungloved finger which set him off again.
He truly hates human touch or contact so i kept the health check short but took a quick photo.
Glad to report that his teeth, nails and the rest of him look fine for a Robo who is probably around two years old now.
I feel really bad for wearing a glove when handling a hamster. It feels hostile and wrong. Robos don't normally bite like that either. Sure, Robo Scottie bit me when i trimmed his nails which was fair enough.
- Messages
- 19,252
- Reaction score
- 36,314
- Points
- 1,373
Aw hello Finley. That's good news he is healthy and all is fine. You shouldn't feel bad wearing a glove - it's very sensible. If he still squeaks and tries to bite with just a gentle stroke then it does seem like he's had some kind of early trauma or something and is particularly scared.
F
Frida
Glad Finley's health check was ok. I dread to think what his previous owner did to him to make him not like the human touch. At least he's safe with you Beryl 
R
RainbowBrite
So good to hear Finley is well. He really is the cutest little bundle. I love it when you manage to get pictures or videos of him.
E
elusive
Good to hear Finley’s doing well even if he did find it all rather stressful, he still manages to look really cute if a bit peeved!
I know what you mean about the gloves & it’s sad to wonder what may have made him so untrusting of human hands but I’m sure he’ll get over the health check handling soon enough.
I know what you mean about the gloves & it’s sad to wonder what may have made him so untrusting of human hands but I’m sure he’ll get over the health check handling soon enough.
M
Member ID2
He was a child's pet until the child got fed up with him. Not the child's fault to be given an unsuitable pet and sadly that happens all the time.
Last edited by a moderator:
F
Frida
Every time I'm in a pet shop and see a parent buying a hamster for a child I cringe. I wish I had the courage to say to them "do you know what your doing?"
M
Member ID2
I avoid pet shops that sell hamsters for that reason. Small, independent pet shops often have more interesting stock anyway.
- Messages
- 19,252
- Reaction score
- 36,314
- Points
- 1,373
As long as they have done their research and are prepared for the right set up it's ok. But we did exactly that with stepson's first hamster - although had decided to get one before going to look and went to a small local pet shop. But my cage needed upgrading really quite quickly!
M
Member ID2
A rare photo of Finley. I think that he is starting to show his age.
E
elusive
Lovely to see you Finley 
He does look like an older ham maybe, hard to tell from the photo, he looks good though.
He does look like an older ham maybe, hard to tell from the photo, he looks good though.
R
RainbowBrite
Finley really is a beautiful boy. I love seeing pictures of him. You are lucky to have managed to get a picture.
F
Frida
Hello Finley, you are very cute
I seem to have missed some of Finley’s thread, loved seeing him running on his wheel, those little legs going super fast
. Such a shame he does not enjoy any touch as he’s in such great hands. I’m sure he knows he’s very well cared.
. Such a shame he does not enjoy any touch as he’s in such great hands. I’m sure he knows he’s very well cared.
M
Member ID2
I think he's happy in his own little world that does not include humans, lol.
M
Member ID2
A sighting of Finley. Ok, the video shows his disappearing tail end but good to know that he is alive and well.