Friedrich Vogel Smol-Boi Nietzsche

[Mossie]

Are you in the Uk? My preferred dwarf hamster mix was the rodipet hybrid one - which is suitable for all dwarf hamsters. It's supposed to be tailored to diabetes prone species, but apart from that it contains about the right level of protein and not much supplementing needed really. The Bunny Dream one is nice too but the protein does need supplementing with that.

I am in the UK and love the look of Rodipet, but I can’t find a source of it in this country. I’m not opposed to spending money to take care of Smol Boi, but when the shipping is more than the food, it seems a bit more dear than I’d like, especially if there are other good alternatives. Do you have any recs for a good supplier of Rodipets food that won’t kill my hamster budget with shipping?

 

[RainbowBrite]

You will only be able to buy Rodipet food from their website. I know what you mean, shipping from Germany is the same or more then the food.

I prefer mixarama food but the shipping is a lot there too sadly.

 

[Maz]

No you can't buy it in the Uk. Same with the Bunny Dream food - although postage isn't too bad from that - from Vetsend in Belgium. When I did get rodipet food I'd buy 3 or 4 in one go to save on postage. Strangely the postage cost is the same whether you buy one item or lots of items.

 

[elusive]

Delivery for all the German websites seems to just keep going up now so it is a very expensive option, like Rainbow I prefer Mixerama products if I do go the German route.
If you do want to buy multiple packs you can just keep them in the freezer (it’s always best to freeze bags of food, sprays etc for about a week anyway, just in case you weren’t aware) food will keep for several months in the freezer so it does make things a bit cheaper if not a lot!

 

[Mossie]

Smol Boi did it! He ran in his wheel! I left a bit of cucumber on the platform and on the rim of his wheel last night, so I knew that he had been in that area when I woke up, but checking through the hamster cam footage confirmed that he did, in fact, run on it! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who recommended the move! I think he will be a much happier hammie now!

Would there be any toxicity issues if I put a dot, maybe 3-4mm in diameter, of permanent marker on the outside of the wheel to make it easier to track is he sitting in it or running? There were a couple of times that I spied his eyes and it made it clear that there was running, but beyond that, it was hard to tell a still wheel from a moving one on the camera at night.

 

[Maz]

I think it would probably be better not to put a marker pen dot on it. I doubt it would cause much issue unless chewed but it might put him off using the wheel again - he will know something is different (and may smell it too as they have such a strong sense of smell). But you have a nightcam don't you? I use that to see what they've been up to. In the first 2 or 3 weeks that is sometimes all you get to see of them! On the nightcam.

It sounds like he's settling in He will be loving his wheel now.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I am so happy to hear Smol Boi used his wheel. He sounds very happy. You could put a little sticker on his wheel to see if he is using it or put a bit of tissue or bedding on the top of the wheel.

 

[Maz]

I wouldn't put a sticker either personally! The bit of bedding on the top is always a good test before going to bed - if it's gone in the morning you know he's used the wheel And the usual thing - talking to them through the cage daily even if you don't see him - so he gets used to your voice and presence.

 

[elusive]

I wouldn’t worry tbh, now you know he’s used the wheel I’m sure he’ll keep on using it.

 

[Mossie]

So, we’re just past the two week mark and he still won’t come out to the main area of his cage when the lights are on. Sometimes he’ll get a sip of water from his bottle, but he always scurries back to his burrow afterwards.

I’m continuing to talk to him even if I can’t see him (husband is too!) and I refresh his water and add food to his enclosure around seven each evening.

If I sit in the same room as him any time after nine or so with the lights off, but my phone streaming hamster cam, he’ll usually come out in around ten minutes. For what it’s worth, I’m usually doing something on my iPad, not just staring at my phone until he appears! He appears to be getting more accustomed to my voice when he’s out. He only pauses for a moment now rather than for several minutes straight. If I attempt to turn a light on though, even a very dim light, he scurries back underground.

Any thoughts or should I just keep doing what I’m doing?

 

[RainbowBrite]

I think that sounds really promising and you should carry on what you are doing.

 

[elusive]

That sounds promising to me too, it can be hard to be patient sometimes but it does pay off in the end so I would just keep doing what you are & go at his pace.

 

[Maz]

That sounds like real progress! Baby hamsters are so skitty at the best of times!

 

[Mossie]

I think I need someone to tell me to be patient again!

Smol boi is now at the four week mark of living with us and around four months old.

I know that not all hamsters are happy to be handled regularly, but I'm worried that he still seems really nervous about being out and about in his enclosure while we are in the same room. I see him get water once or twice a week, but all other evidence of him being in his home is indirect...hearing him move, food disappearing over night, the hamster cam, etc.

If he's never a cuddly hamster, that's okay, but I want to be able to handle him if there is a need to do so, like taking him to the vet or, ideally, periodically checking his weight. Right now, I'm worried that I'd have to completely empty his cage of bedding if I needed to handle him, which is far from ideal.

I think I'm rambling, but the crux of the matter is that I'm happy whatever his personality is so long as it doesn't prevent me from taking good care of him. Every hamster is different, but is there any loose guideline of what to expect from a Chinese hamster for settling in and feeling confident enough in his home to explore even if the humans are still around?

 

[Maz]

I think they often are like that in their cages, but different when out of the cage I'd suggest playpen time a couple of times a week. Maybe tempt him into a tube with a bit of cucumber at the far end and lift him out that way. If he's not visible, then putting it over the house door often brings them out and into the tube!

 

[HamsterMumMo]

Hi Mossie!

I totally know how you feel, it's been 5 weeks since I brought my Syrian Rory home and he's still shy with me too! Funnily enough, around 2/3 week mark, I sort of used to hunt him down with a tube for some free roaming time on my bed, and once he was out he seemed okay (he'd climb over my hands, arms, etc.) But it was still a chase/hunt every time, he didn't come out naturally, so I stopped that and am peddling back a bit.

I think they really do behave differently when out of their enclosure as Maz and others have suggested. So maybe try a playpen and you might be surprised by his behaviour outside. I had some luck with a playpen the other week so am planning on doing it a few times a week. But I know the hardest thing is seeing them and willingly getting them out in the first place, it can be frustrating!

It's difficult sometimes when you hear/see other people who have hamsters that are still happy to explore their enclosures with their humans (and lights!) around and even coming to the front for interaction/to be let out, I know the feeling! But I'm just hoping all the patience pays off And hopefully it's at least somewhat reassuring that you're not the only one in this situation

 

[elusive]

I can understand your concern, it is worrying when you think you may not be able to keep an eye on them, do health checks etc but it is still quite early days really, some Chinese can be particularly timid to begin with so he may just need more time.
I had another look at your cage photos & I would suggest trying to put more cover in, they don’t like to feel exposed so if you can set things up so they can easily get around with a hide/tunnel or something always near by to dive into if they feel like it it can really help.
I find cork tunnels really good for that. You could probably get a couple in there still if they aren’t too big, I prefer the tunnels to the full tubes as you can easily lift them up to check underneath for cleaning or if you’re looking for a hidden ham! With tubes they just tend to stuff them full of substrate.
Not sure if it will help but there are some photos of my set up here that might give you some ideas.

Setting up Plaza for a Chinesey.

Still a hypothetical Chinesey at this point, no imminent arrivals just yet. I’ve been trying to get my head around Zak not being here any more but being without a hamster for the first time in nine years is hard but I’ve been slowly making plans. I found the Plaza easy to put together but first...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Maz]

Apologies - I was forgetting you had a Chinese Yes taming can be a bit slower with Chinese as Elusive says

 

[Mossie]

Thank you all for the reassurances!

I went to the pet shop and picked up a new grass tunnel and grass hut. Those have been added to the cage along with a couple more bendy bridges. I wasn’t able to find cork tunnels at my local pet shop, but I’ve ordered some fro m Amazon and they’ll arrive tomorrow.

Here’s a pic of the current setup:

 

[Maz]

That looks great