Paŭ's thread

[Maz]

Ooh he'll like that! And he does seem to! I think it makes them feel more secure to be able to dive into things in the middle of the cage. I would still add something else He still dived behind the wheel when he was in the open bit between the new little house and the digging tray! they are quite capable of climbing over things in the way lol. If they feel confident enough, but usually run through them. An egg box hide with a hole in each end could make another tunnel maybe?

It's up to you of course I know it's early days but they do seem to have less fear if there is plenty of clutter to dive in and out of . Or maybe another rainbow bridge eg. I don't use bendy stick bridges with robos because of the gaps they have sometimes and their tiny feet.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Ooh he'll like that! And he does seem to! I think it makes them feel more secure to be able to dive into things in the middle of the cage. I would still add something else He still dived behind the wheel when he was in the open bit between the new little house and the digging tray! they are quite capable of climbing over things in the way lol. If they feel confident enough, but usually run through them. An egg box hide with a hole in each end could make another tunnel maybe?

It's up to you of course I know it's early days but they do seem to have less fear if there is plenty of clutter to dive in and out of

Yeah, I'm still figuring out how to maximise use of the available space. I am considering giving Snowy her big substrate box back which would free up one of the small ones to give to Paŭ. Snowy's coco soil box has ended up completely stuffed full of bedding and is basically useless at the moment! I have also just got a 21cm Bucatstate wheel which has an adjustable stand which will give me a bit more flexibility. I usually have someone sleeping in this room once a fortnight and as much as hamsters love those plastic trixie wheels they're certainly not silent!

 

[Maz]

I think if it was me I wouldn't adjust Snowy's cage again for a while as she so clearly gets stressed by change and is adapting to her neurological episode. There's no rush with Pau anyway - it was just a suggestion. Robos are not quite like other hamsters IMO! Hidey places are generally the way to go

 

[Banned Member 1]

I think if it was me I wouldn't adjust Snowy's cage again for a while as she so clearly gets stressed by change and is adapting to her neurological episode. There's no rush with Pau anyway - it was just a suggestion. Robos are not quite like other hamsters IMO! Hidey places are generally the way to go

Yeah, you might be right that it's a bit early to be changing things with Snowy... Kinda tempted to order a second medium sized substrate box for Snowy so I could swap it for one of the small ones without having to move anything else... Already spent a lot on hamster stuff this week though!

I am glad Paŭ is feeling safe against the edges of his bin. Putting a dwarf in that might be kinda like putting a syrian in a detolf. Sometimes it works and sometimes the huge amount of glass and limited ability to get away from it freaks them out.

 

[RainbowBrite]

What I have noticed is a hamsters wheel is their most important thing. I think it is best to only change a wheel when it is not working well or has a fault of some kind. Yesterday I used a tissue to wipe out Orko's wheel as it had bits of seeds in and that alone has caused him some stress. He keeps standing up in the wheel and is not using it so much just down to me doing that.

 

[Banned Member 1]

What I have noticed is a hamsters wheel is their most important thing. I think it is best to only change a wheel when it is not working well or has a fault of some kind. Yesterday I used a tissue to wipe out Orko's wheel as it had bits of seeds in and that alone has caused him some stress. He keeps standing up in the wheel and is not using it so much just down to me doing that.

Thanks, that's a valid concern. I guess I'll leave it in then unless it proves to be a problem. Just occurred to me that if he stays with the cheap trixie wheel it's no problem for it to go with him when it's time to find his forever home.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Thanks, that's a valid concern. I guess I'll leave it in then unless it proves to be a problem. Just occurred to me that if he stays with the cheap trixie wheel it's no problem for it to go with him when it's time to find his forever home.

Oh are you not keeping him? I did not realise that.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Oh are you not keeping him? I did not realise that.

I took him in because he needed to be out of that bad situation he was in asap. I'd love to keep him but if a good home that can provide him with a larger enclosure and lots of enrichment is available it'd be unfair to deny him that. As long as he doesn't start to demonstrate any stress signs due to enclosure size there's no rush and I'm happy to look after him for as long as it takes to find the right home. I suspect it's going to be super hard to not get too attached though!

 

[Maz]

Yeah, you might be right that it's a bit early to be changing things with Snowy... Kinda tempted to order a second medium sized substrate box for Snowy so I could swap it for one of the small ones without having to move anything else... Already spent a lot on hamster stuff this week though!

I am glad Paŭ is feeling safe against the edges of his bin. Putting a dwarf in that might be kinda like putting a syrian in a detolf. Sometimes it works and sometimes the huge amount of glass and limited ability to get away from it freaks them out.

It may just be time, but creeping round the edges is usually a sign of feeling nervous about open space. It can happen when people have large cages, like detolfs, with not much to fill up the space. It leads some people to think hamsters prefer smaller cages when they just need added enrichment in a larger cage, to feel secure.

They do usually accept a wheel change - as long as it's a change for the better and they prefer the new wheel. But can have a complete fit if a favourite wheel is taken away! However if they like the new wheel it's usually fine.

 

[Maz]

Don't go spending a lot on extra stuff Square tissue boxes or cardboard egg boxes make good hides - and are chewable - anything cardboard really would do. I've sometimes just used a mug on it's side as an extra hide. He definitely likes digging in that sand!

 

[Banned Member 1]

I guess I forgot to mention that I wasn't planning to keep him when I created the thread. Was a bit of a hectic day!

 

[Maz]

I assumed you were keeping him and thought it was a nice idea in case Snowy wasn't around too long. I like to have two hamsters as it helps me cope if one of them dies.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I understand that. It was a hectic day. I have a feeling you will fall for him and not be able to rehome him

 

[Banned Member 1]

I assumed you were keeping him and thought it was a nice idea in case Snowy wasn't around too long. I like to have two hamsters as it helps me cope if one of them dies.

I mean... part of me does want to keep him and then upgrade him to the Maxi Duna after Snowy passes but it's so hard to know with hamster life spans how much longer she has left. It's not impossible she might not have any more neurological episodes and manage to live another 18 months. Similarly we're planning on stopping having rats after our current trio but we're all hoping they have a lot of time left too. I will have a Criceti 15 spare once that happens but 9.5mm bar spacing sounds a bit risky for a robo?

 

[Maz]

The Criceti 15 would be a bit small for a Robo as well. If anything they need more space than Russian dwarfs as they are so incredibly active and fast. Our first Robo was in an 80 x 50 Savic Mickey 2XL (I found the Kerry Terrarium too small and awkward with the top opening). It had 7mm bar spacing which reassured me. It was ok but he really could have done with more space.

When I adopted Pip, Happy Hamsters persuaded me to use the 100cm Plaza. It needed a lot of adjustment due to the height, to reduce the overall height to be safe for a robo. I was also concerned about the 9.5mm bar spacing. Some people have happily kept robos in that sized bar spacing - providing the robo is not too small. I still think it's a risk so you need to know the hamster really. I was told Pip had shown no interest in climbing or trying to get through bars - he had been in an Alaska previously. So I went with it. He has not had any issues with the 9.5mm bar spacing. Ideally it would be mouse bar spacing though. 7mm. Or solid sided.

I think his current bin cage is probably a better option - it's a good size.

 

[Banned Member 1]

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[Banned Member 1]

I heard him awake so I started gently talking to him and he poked his head out of his burrow a few times. Later I wasn't in the room so had the light off and he came out midday a couple of times and found that I'd given him his first whimzee.

I need to stick some cardboard under his enclosure at the bedding end as I saw him burrowing up to the bit that overhangs the table but no further. This will give him more dark space to burrow in.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Was cute to see this though:
(content warning for hampter butt!)

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[Maz]

He's having a good dig there

 

[Banned Member 1]

Little guy was almost brave enough to take a seed out of my fingers this morning. He is obviously very curious about me and wants to check me out but still wary. Of course he still got his pumpkin seed treat which I dropped where my fingers had been.