Hello! I'm a Beginner Hamster Owner

[Zenshii]

Hello everyone! I have never had a hamster before. I just adopted my hamster yesterday from a rescue.

He was originally from Petsmart, but he had mites and was bald on his head because of it. Luckily, he was given medicine from employees daily. Now he is mite-free and healthy. ( He just got a vet check! ) But because he was sick and had a bald head no one wanted him, so they put him up for adoption.

He is a Winter White Dwarf Hamster with the pearl fur pattern, although the adoption place called him a Syrian...Just because they didn't know the different breeds, I guess.

I've done a lot of research into hamsters before getting one...before I got him I set up a 75 gallon aquarium enclosure with enrichment and about 13 inches of bedding at the highest point. He has about 950 square inches of floor space and a 9½ inch Niteangel wheel.

Could anybody give me some tips? Is the enclosure I have for him decent? He is my first hamster...and this is my first time raising one. I'd love some advice if possible! I am trying to leave him alone for the first few days until he gets used to his surroundings.

Sorry for writing a novel! Thank you so much for reading. I would love to meet some fellow hamster lovers!

 

[elusive]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
What lovely photos, Dango is absolutely gorgeous & looks like a happy hamster
It looks like you’ve done a great job with the enclosure, lots of enrichment for him there.
There’s lots of advice on everything here if you have a browse around the forum but if you have any questions just ask & someone will always help.
One thing I have to say is that coming from a pet store Dango won’t be a Winter white but a Russian hybrid, all pet store Russians are hybrids, not that it matters they are lovely hamsters but can be a bit more prone to health problems so regular health checks are important, diet is very important too as they are prone to diabetes so a low sugar diet, no actual sugars like treats with honey or fruits & a good quality hamster mix.
Take your time with getting to know him, taming & bonding can take some time so just go at his pace, they usually need a couple of weeks to really settle down into their new home so to begin just spend time talking to him & begin to offer some treats or just drop some into the enclosure while you talk to him, I wouldn’t try getting him out just yet.
It’s best to avoid any cleaning other than maybe spot cleaning a bit of pee during this time too, they need very little cleaning anyway so don’t worry about that.

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you so much for saying Dango is gorgeous and looks happy!! I know he's probably really scared of me right now. I am so happy you think my enclosure set up looks alright too. I'm new at this and I'm super worried I'm not doing things right!!

Oh wow, I didn't realize that pet stores only sell the hybrids...It makes sense though...I don't personally like supporting pet stores selling small pets, because they come from rodent mills and usually are not treated very well, so I really wanted to rescue...And hybrid or not I really love him already!

Do you think Dango be alright and live at least a couple of years if I take good care of him? I read online just now that hybrids don't live very long, on top of that, hamsters only live 2-3 years already...I have him on 18% protein Teklad lab blocks and Sunburst Hamster mix. I will certainly avoid sugar and now I will avoid fruit too!! Thank you so much for that advice...I really hope he will be okay...I want to give him the enriching life he deserves, you know? I hope him being a hybrid doesn't make him not be able to be tamed or held? I mean, I'd love him and take care of him even if he never wanted to be touched....But I would love to hold him or let him free-roam in a hamster safe room.

Again, thank you SO much for your kind words and advice. I really appreciate your willingness to teach me proper hammy care!

 

[elusive]

Please don’t worry about him being a hybrid.
I’ve had quite a few in my time & they have all been easy to tame & form a really close bond with their owners so nothing to worry about there if you take your time with him.
Being a hybrid doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t live so long either, even though they can be prone to more health problems their life span is similar to most hamsters, it’s not something you can predict, I had one who live to close on 3 & most of the others lived to at least around 2.
You are such a caring owner there’s no reason to worry unduly & if you have any concerns this is a great place to get help so just enjoy your lovely little man!

 

[RainbowBrite]

Welcome to the forum. Dango is so cute. I love your set up! You have a great size tank, lots of bedding, plenty of enrichment. I love the different substrate you have and how you arranged it.

If I remember rightly, I think there are two different sunburst mix. I would check to make sure you have the one without fruit.

Hybrid does not mean you cannot tame or hold Dango.

You did adopt Dango. I see an adoption part of the store as adoption. Sounds like Dango was very lucky you found him.

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you so much elusive!! You've encouraged me so much. I'm really happy that you were the first person I got to meet on this forum. I'd love to see photos of your hamsters! I already see your adorable profile photo. ♡ What a beautiful face!

And thank you very much RainbowBrite! I really needed that encouragement. Thank you for saying Dango is lucky, but I feel like the lucky one! Also, thank you for saying you like my set up! That made me feel really encouraged! I'm glad I'm doing alright so far. I really appreciate your feedback too!

 

[RainbowBrite]

If you like you can start a diary for Dango where you can tell us all about him and post pictures and videos. Many members have diaries for their hamsters.

 

[Frida]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Dango is very cute I'm so pleased you've adopted him and he's got a lovely home.

 

[Zenshii]

That is an amazing idea RainbowBrite, thank you! I would love to do that and also look at other member's diaries.

Hi Albert! Thank you so much! You are seriously too kind. I promise I'm going to do my best to give him a happy life.

 

[elusive]

That would be lovely if you start a thread for Dango in the Russian section (if you need help finding your way around the forum just ask) look forward to seeing more of him & following your progress together.

I'd love to see photos of your hamsters! I already see your adorable profile photo. ♡ What a beautiful face!

Thank you, that’s Zak my chinese boy, you can see him here.

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome. Dango has an amazing set up! You have clearly taken great care with that and got everything sorted and ready for him so he had a good start. He is lucky to have such a thoughtful, caring owner. I am sure, in your care, he will thrive. Eriathwen on here had two hybrid dwarfs who lived to three years old! Which is a long life for any species of hamsters. These things are always uncertain.

He is a gorgeous hamster and he already looks happy and contented It can be a bit nerve wracking thinking about taming and handling when you're a new owner, but I'm sure you will gain his trust quite quickly. It's probably best to give him two or three days on his own at first, and then for the first two weeks, not disturb anything in his cage. I doubt you'll need to spot clean before then but if you have that's probably fine too - the main thing is no big clean outs for a while as that can be quite stressful for them.

During this time it can be good to talk to them through the cage so they get used to your presence and tone of voice and you might want to try offering the odd treat by hand. But don't be surprised if he runs away sometimes - it takes them time to build confidence and most hamsters aren't keen on a hand in their cage, which becomes their territory, but they gradually gain in confidence.

After a couple of weeks you could try letting him walk into a "taxi" - ie some kind of receptacle you can lift him out of the cage in safely, that's easy to walk into. I use a snooze cube. You can use a hamster ball lowered into the cage (even though they're not good to use for exercise they can be good for transportation) or a large tube (then you need to put your hands over the ends when lifting it out). And take him to an enclosed area for some hand taming and out of cage time - eg a playpen or sectioned off part of the room or the dry bathtub with the plug in. Having a few toys and hidey places there can help (cardboard boxes and tubes are good for this) and possibly a second wheel or flying saucer. Then it's just time and patience.

Diet wise, the Higgins sunburst does contain fruit. Fruit does contain sugars and a sugar free diet is best with hybrids. If you can get Higgins Vita Garden, that is a better mix for a hybrid and doesn't contain any fruit or sugar. The protein for that is 15% so although you need to supplement the protein a bit, you don't necessarily need to use lab block (although I know that's popular in the US). Instead, if you like, you can supplement the protein with fresh food extras like nuts (walnuts, unsalted peanuts etc) which are high in protein - and things like freeze dried chicken or shrimp and mealworms. Maybe one of these two or three times a week. The protein only really needs supplementing in the first year - after that, 15% is an ok amount of protein - they just need the building blocks in the first year. It's entirely up to you how you supplement the protein though, but things like the freeze dried chicken and shrimp and nuts can make nice healthy treats as well. A bit of scrambled egg once or twice a week can also be used as a protein supplement.

Keep treats for taming and generally to healthy sugar free ones, like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.

The idea of a sugar free diet is to try and help prevent diabetes, which they can be prone to but there is no way of telling. It's likely to be the part Cambells genetics that make them prone. Hybrids are a genetic mix of Campbells and Winter Whites but maybe more of one than the other in the genetic mix.

I am sure he will thrive in your care and you will enjoy a close bond with him. Have a look at Albert's thread and some of Beryl's threads - they both have hybrid dwarfs who are quite tame

This is the Higgins Vita Garden - I don't know where you can buy it from - it doesn't seem to be on Amazon.

Vita Garden Hamster Gerbil — Higgins Premium Pet Foods

www.higginspremium.com

 

[Maz]

The other thing you can do to help supplement the protein and ensure he gets all the correct nutrients, is add 2 or 3 pellets of Science Selective to the daily food. That's an all in one food that contains everything needed and the correct amount of protein.

It's an "either/or" thing though - either the lab block or the other option - as you don't want to give too much protein either. Personally I think the fresh extras are very welcomed!

In addition to that, a tiny piece of veg daily. By tiny - no bigger than 1cm cubed - I actually give a bit less than that. They usually eat it straight away rather than hoard it. If he hasn't had veg before then maybe every third day for a couple of weeks until his tummy adjusts, then every day. Broccoli and cucumber are favourites here (and they keep well in the fridge for a while).

 

[Member ID2]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

In an ideal world, all new hamster owners were like you. I know that i wasn't.

Cute little Dango moved into a fabulous forever home where he will be given all the love and care he deserves. That's the kind of happy ending i look for when rehoming my own rescue hamsters. See 'Second chance hamsters' thread.

Feel free to write as much as you like and ask as many questions as you like. You are amongst likeminded people here.

All hamsters are individuals with their own little personalities. In time you will get to know each other and become lifelong friends.

I have two dwarf hybrids, a girl called Lilly and a boy called Eddie. They have their own personal diary threads.

You'll soon find your way around here.

 

[Zenshii]

elusive - Thank you so much for showing me Zak! Oh my gosh my heart is melting watching his videos!! He is so silly and adorable! I wish I could meet him in person!

Maz - Hello! I'm honored an admin would talk to me so kindly. Thank you so much! My goodness, you've just given me all the information I need to know to keep my Dango healthy!! I instantly went to Amazon and bought the food you suggested. I didn't realize that hybrids were prone to diabetes, so I'm DEFINITELY keeping sugar out of his diet at all costs! I want him to be as healthy as possible. I know I can't prevent it completely but I'd like to at least try to do my best. Thank you for the tip about fresh vegetables! I'm going to be getting some tomorrow morning and see how he takes to them. Thank you so much for all these suggestions!! I'm going to do my best to raise a happy and healthy Hammy.

Beryl - Wow your message really touched my heart...Thank you so much for encouraging me and saying that Dango has a good home. I'm really happy that you rescue hammies too! I am excited to read about Lilly and Eddie! I bet they are adorable, and obviously you know how to treat them amazingly. I'm really grateful for all the advice and tips! I hope to learn a lot while I'm here on this forum!

 

[Maz]

Re the diabetes - your hamster may or may not get it - that is genetics. But if he is genetically predisposed to get it, then the thought is that a sugar free diet could help delay any onset so it's guidance given generally for hybrids. It doesn't mean he will get it but it's best to take precautions

 

[Hamster Haven]

Welcome! What a beautiful cage setup! That's so lovely that you found a rescue/ adoption opportunity. I can't even tell that he has (or had) some baldness in the pictures. He's beautiful! Welcome to the community! You'll find a lovely support group here. It's highly likely you'll be able to do some taming for petting or holding. Just give him plenty of time and follow his cues (Maz has posted an article in the forum on taming). You sound like you have plenty of patience for that!

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you so much clacombe!! That means the world to me. I'm so happy you approve of my set-up, and thank you for calling Dango beautiful!! I've already gotten some amazing advice and I'm excited to learn more. Thank you so much for all your encouragement and your kind words!