Mr Nibbles Diary

[Amy]

This is hamster pov (me lying on the kitchen floor a bit bored)
Nibbles is running a marathon
Why do they want us to watch them all the time? It’s like a child on a swing: look mummy how high I can swing

 

[Socks' Mum]

This is hamster pov (me lying on the kitchen floor a bit bored)
Nibbles is running a marathon

View attachment 13883

So sweet His little feet are a blur. He keeps up his training. Socks never missed a night, but he was never as active as Nibbles

 

[Amy]

So sweet His little feet are a blur. He keeps up his training. Socks never missed a night, but he was never as active as Nibbles

He runs for about 2,5 hours then he wants to roam in the kitchen and then he runs until about three o’clock in the enclosure he’s crazy.
In the week he has to make do with two hours playpen. But it’s a nightmare to get him out

 

[Amy]

So tonight same procedure 2,5 hours playtime, then he hops of the wheel for a snack I take the wheel out (aunties trick ) he doesn’t want to leave so I open the panel to let him explore the kitchen. After a while he realised the stone floor is quite nippy so he moves on to the carpet only to find! A wheel he sniffs it, yes yes definitely my pee smell! Hops on and is as happy as Larry! What more could he want? Free roaming in his beloved wheel. After a while he hops of runs back in the playpen to have a drink and a snack and then straight back to the wheel I might as well just put the hemp mat and his food and water together with the wheel and leave the playpen away!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Sweet It is nice to know where he is though if you are doing other things. Yes, for many hamsters their wheel is a central aspect of their lives

 

[Amy]

Sweet It is nice to know where he is though if you are doing other things. Yes, for many hamsters their wheel is a central aspect of their lives

Yes that’s true, I will leave the playpen up and just let him out for a roam before he goes to bed

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes that’s true, I will leave the playpen up and just let him out for a roam before he goes to bed

Lucky Nibbles

 

[Amy]

Lucky Nibbles

I am lucky to have found him, he has such a sweet nature and he’s so much fun sometimes a bit of a handful of mischief, and then so sweet and affectionate.

 

[Vanessa1]

I think nibbles was lucky the day you found him you've given him a wonderful life! Such a lovely hammy with personality. You have a lovely relationship Ness

 

[Amy]

I think nibbles was lucky the day you found him you've given him a wonderful life! Such a lovely hammy with personality. You have a lovely relationship Ness

Oh thank you that’s very kind. I do try to make his life as sweet as possible.
I have spent some time thinking what to do about the ac when it arrives. I would have never bought one for myself, this is mainly for Nibbles safety although I will definitely get the benefit too.
The problem is: the ac is a small unit and will only cool one max two rooms.
I was going to set it up in the kitchen hoping it would also cool the living room. That would mean my bedroom will not be cooled.
On second thoughts I could move Nibbles into my bedroom and we would both have the most benefit of the ac. I would keep the kitchen and frontroom as cool as possible with the fans and blinds, but would not be under as much pressure as Nibbles would not be in there.
The second problem is the winter, i have underfloor heating and the kitchen tends to get rather warm. The pipes would be under his cage. If he stays in the kitchen, i would have to leave the heating off. I don’t heat the bedroom. It’s usually a constant 20 degrees in winter. Maybe on very cold days 18, but then I have the option to put the heating on.
Free roaming would be no problem in the bedroom. Only cleaning the cage would be less comfortable but manageable.
In the bedroom it would be very quiet during the day, during the night he would have to put up with my snoring
My mum pointed out that the kitchen is not ideal for him, neither in summer nor winter.
But my bedroom is a slight darker room and I was worried about that. I would be grateful for advise.
A change will not upset him, he’s very chilled about that. But I want the best option for him. I have a deep sleep so noise would not affect me.
I have added two pictures the cage would be next to the cupboard near my bed

 

[Socks' Mum]

Nibbles could have the bed and Mum, well there is room for a cushion in the cage if the wheel is on the floor...

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think he will be happiest where he can have most company when he is up and about

 

[Vanessa1]

I'd hang on awhile, see how the weather changes and see how you get on with the air con? Ness

 

[Amy]

Nibbles could have the bed and Mum, well there is room for a cushion in the cage if the wheel is on the floor...

That would probably the outcome, Nibbles on the bed with his wheel and me on the floor with a cushion or two if I am lucky.

 

[Amy]

I'd hang on awhile, see how the weather changes and see how you get on with the air con? Ness

The bigger concern is winter, I won’t be able to heat the kitchen as the pipes will be directly under his cage and his sleeping area. Unfortunately the kitchen is the hottest room if I put the heating on. Unusually around 24-25 degrees. That’s maybe a reason I get more visitors in winter, they like to warm themselves up
the front room is cooler and the bedroom. The bathroom has cosy 26 degrees.
Underfloor heating is great but difficult to regulate.
You can see on the foto where the regulator is, that’s also where the pipes enter the kitchen.
I had never thought about that, my mum pointed it out and asked what will you do in winter.

 

[Vanessa1]

The bigger concern is winter, I won’t be able to heat the kitchen as the pipes will be directly under his cage and his sleeping area. Unfortunately the kitchen is the hottest room if I put the heating on. Unusually around 24-25 degrees. That’s maybe a reason I get more visitors in winter, they like to warm themselves up
the front room is cooler and the bedroom. The bathroom has cosy 26 degrees.
Underfloor heating is great but difficult to regulate.
You can see on the foto where the regulator is, that’s also where the pipes enter the kitchen.
I had never thought about that, my mum pointed it out and asked what will you do in winter.

View attachment 13897

Gosh ! I never realised what a problem under floor heating can be suddenly I'm glad I don't have it. I wish I could come up with a solution but at the moment I can't Ness

 

[Amy]

Gosh ! I never realised what a problem under floor heating can be suddenly I'm glad I don't have it. I wish I could come up with a solution but at the moment I can't Ness

It’s not a problem for humans or cats and dogs, my cat loved it

 

[Amy]

I found a post on the German forum (there is a lot of underfloor heating here). Apparently the hamsters love the warm floor in winter (free roaming) and as long as the cage isn’t placed directly on the floor and has air to circulate and the heating is set at a moderate temperature, there is absolutely no problem. That is a relief. If the ac does not manage the kitchen and front room area, I can always change the setup at a later date. Most likely that will be next year, if the weather stays this cool. At least it won’t be difficult to place him in the bedroom as I can just wheel it over.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Underfloor heating is nice As long as he has wheels on his cage, then that creates flexibility. That is good news. It seems that the temperature issues are working out OK. Yes, I can imagine a kitty very much enjoying warm flooring

 

[Vanessa1]

Yeah, there you go.. sorted! Brilliant news Ness