Mr Nibbles Diary

[Amy]

Nibbles was up at 7.44 pm! Two hours earlier than normal, he kept peeping out of his house, impatiently waiting for it to get darker. I pulled the blinds down and he came out at 8.30 pm
He came straight to the door I was waiting with the jug, he sniffed it looked at me and as if to say: I don’t like that. I got the little basket as he was trying to climb in my hand. He jumped in without hesitation. I am learning then I put him in the playpen, I had placed his new toilet in there (with two collected pee lumps), well he freaked out jumped up my arm clinging to my jumper! I took the toilet out and he climbed down, inspected and sniffed the area making sure it was really gone and started cleaning himself.
So the toilet is a nogo…. As many other things! He’s now happily playing as if nothing happened.

 

[Maz]

He's learning it's nice to come out

 

[Vanessa1]

Oh I do think nibbles is brilliant! If only he knew how entertaining he was,he'd be charging us for watching Ness

 

[Amy]

He's learning it's nice to come out

Yes he loves it

 

[Amy]

Oh I do think nibbles is brilliant! If only he knew how entertaining he was,he'd be charging us for watching Ness

Hi Ness, it’s me Nibbles. I am happy you like to hear what I am doing. My mum told you I was frightened of that horrible toilet. That’s not true, I was of course protecting her, I am fearless like a lion
I love going out at night, I have got a holiday house it smells so good and it’s got a nice wheel. How dare mum put a toilet in there! I don’t need a potty I am big and strong. I hope Teddy likes his treats, please let us know. I like Teddy I am going to run on my wheel now, I hope the pee is dry I don’t like getting sticky paws

 

[Amy]

His little fingers

 

[Vanessa1]

How absolutely brilliant, I'll tell Teddy all about what nibbles has been doing in abit I'm sure he'll be intrigued Ness

 

[Socks' Mum]

Nibbles is a very charming and wonderful hamster

 

[Socks' Mum]

Your rapport is lovely

 

[Vanessa1]

I think nibbles needs to give teddy some tips on socialising. Nibbles is a lot braver than teddyNess

 

[Amy]

I think nibbles needs to give teddy some tips on socialising. Nibbles is a lot braver than teddyNess

Nibbles may be more sociable but he’s got a mind of his own last night I managed to get him out of the playpen at 1.30!!! And it was a hard discussion believe me. He was very annoyed and turned his back on me when I got him back in his house/cage.
This morning he was still up at 6.00 foraging his breakfast and daytime snack. So tonight as I have to go to bed earlier, I will leave him in the playpen if he refuses to come out and then put him back at five in the morning. What else can I do?

 

[Amy]

Nibbles is a very charming and wonderful hamster

I would not have agreed on this last night at 1.30 but we were friends again this morning.
He certainly thinks I need no sleep!
Ahhh and the expensive freeze dried chicken, well he didn’t like that. He threw it out of the food dish in disgust.

 

[Amy]

Is there any pet you worry more about his/her wellbeing than a hamster? I doubt it
I have grown up with animals and had budgies, ponies, horses, dogs, cats and even rescued a squirrel
They all cause grey hairs when they are not well ect but a hamster! a hamster is a constant worry is he happy? Eating drinking sleeping enough? Does he feel happy, is he healthy what more can I do to make his life enjoyable?
I thought about this last night whilst waiting for Nibbles to finish his playtime… I came to the conclusion: they have such a short life, maybe that’s why it’s such a concern to make this short period of time as nice as possible.
If I had not taken Nibbles, they would have waited just a few more weeks and then sold him as snake food. This is what the girl at the pet shop told me she said she couldn’t take him, as she already had five of those who weren’t sold!
I am sure Nibbles has a good life, as best as I can offer him, but I am really confused about the playtime situation. He was in there for four hours last night and he doesn’t want to come out!
I must go to bed at the latest 10.30 tonight and there’s no way he will leave the playpen after one hour.
He’s has everything he needs in there, water food and a hideout, a small house with bedding.
I am torn between leaving him in there until five (when I get up) or setting an alarm clock frequently and asking him if he’s had enough….
He’s causing me more grey hairs than my mum, and that is not easy to top.
Tubes, taxis and treats don’t work neither can I take the wheel out as he squats in it for dear life.

 

[Socks' Mum]

That is very sad about the snake food, but true. I try to avoid the big name places. It makes me very sad to think of it, but it is a fact I think no matter what you go through, you will always be glad Nibbles is safe. I'm sure he will be fine in the play pen. Perhaps hamster proof the kitchen in case he escapes and open the door carefully when you return

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, there is the pressure to make their short lives as good as possible

 

[Maz]

However nice an enclosure he has, they do love to be out and about and explore It would be interesting to see if he was the same with a much larger enclosure, but I suspect he would be. My maverick Syrian Raffy, I upgraded to a 120cm cage and he was exactly the same! Still wanted to be out every night. I think he really loved the human company and being part of the room we lived in as well. Plus so much space to run around and rummage in. For some hamsters, no enclosure is big enough!

 

[Amy]

That is very sad about the snake food, but true. I try to avoid the big name places. It makes me very sad to think of it, but it is a fact I think no matter what you go through, you will always be glad Nibbles is safe. I'm sure he will be fine in the play pen. Perhaps hamster proof the kitchen in case he escapes and open the door carefully when you return

Yes it’s awful that they are sold for snake food of course it’s difficult to sell them when they get older but surely they could sell them on order. People who are prepared to wait are surely better than those who buy spontaneously.
I will see how he behaves tonight, but rather than forcing him out I will leave him in the playpen. The kitchen is safe, and I can see through the glass door before I open it. Bet my sleep won’t be the best, but my rhythm is completely gone to pot any way

 

[Amy]

However nice an enclosure he has, they do love to be out and about and explore It would be interesting to see if he was the same with a much larger enclosure, but I suspect he would be. My maverick Syrian Raffy, I upgraded to a 120cm cage and he was exactly the same! Still wanted to be out every night. I think he really loved the human company and being part of the room we lived in as well. Plus so much space to run around and rummage in. For some hamsters, no enclosure is big enough!

I was thinking of buying the Bucatstate 120 but I doubt it would make any difference. His cage/house isn’t that small. I don’t know what he loves so much about the playpen he doesn’t mind if I am there or not he is just very happy in it. I have searched the cage incase there are mites or anything else that could bother him. But there is nothing. He is clearly unhappy when I put him back before he decides he wants to go back.

 

[Maz]

It all sounds normal to me Once they have a taste of freedom they like it! And it seems he likes being around you as well. Nothing to do with the cage or the type of wheel. They just behave differently away from their territory, to in it. I suppose if you've been in the same place all day (all night for a hamster) it's quite nice to get out.

 

[Maz]

Is there any pet you worry more about his/her wellbeing than a hamster? I doubt it
I have grown up with animals and had budgies, ponies, horses, dogs, cats and even rescued a squirrel
They all cause grey hairs when they are not well ect but a hamster! a hamster is a constant worry is he happy? Eating drinking sleeping enough? Does he feel happy, is he healthy what more can I do to make his life enjoyable?
I thought about this last night whilst waiting for Nibbles to finish his playtime… I came to the conclusion: they have such a short life, maybe that’s why it’s such a concern to make this short period of time as nice as possible.
If I had not taken Nibbles, they would have waited just a few more weeks and then sold him as snake food. This is what the girl at the pet shop told me she said she couldn’t take him, as she already had five of those who weren’t sold!
I am sure Nibbles has a good life, as best as I can offer him, but I am really confused about the playtime situation. He was in there for four hours last night and he doesn’t want to come out!
I must go to bed at the latest 10.30 tonight and there’s no way he will leave the playpen after one hour.
He’s has everything he needs in there, water food and a hideout, a small house with bedding.
I am torn between leaving him in there until five (when I get up) or setting an alarm clock frequently and asking him if he’s had enough….
He’s causing me more grey hairs than my mum, and that is not easy to top.
Tubes, taxis and treats don’t work neither can I take the wheel out as he squats in it for dear life.

If that was a pet store, I'm sure that would be illegal. That kind of thing does go on but usually under the radar or privately, not via pet stores.