Pip the Robo

[elusive]

I use hemp mat on top of houses & larger shelves without glue, small pieces might go adrift but larger pieces seem to stay put & I f ind it tends to get a lot of seed shells, sand & debris in it so I take them out to shake it off now & then.

 

[Maz]

Maz, do you glue the hemp mats onto the shelves or are they loose?

It depends. With a fairly narrow shelf they can slip about, and the same with the little step shelves, so with those I paint a little bit of plastikote on the shelf first (not the whole shelf, just some of it and put the hemp mat on. When the plastikote dries it sticks the hemp mat in place. So glue isn't necessary. You can peel it off again if needed but it will leave a few hairy bits stuck to the shelf.

With the large shelves they are just loose, but usually held in place by a heavier item like something ceramic.

 

[Maz]

I do the same as Elusive - take the larger pieces out and shake them off a bit when they get covered with debris. For the small ones I just brush it off in situ. The only reason I have hemp mat on the little step shelf is because the wood is too slippery for them.

 

[Member ID2]

Oh yes, i forgot about the plastikote. That's a good idea and will keep that in mind. I saw a Langham XL (shelves unused) locally thinking of Bernard but that cage is too high.

Sorry Pip for chatting on your thread but Bernard could do with a lovely big cage like you have.

 

[Maz]

Do you mean the tall version of the Grosvenor? Not sure where the doors are but you could reduce the height with cardboard in the bars and more bedding maybe.

 

[Maz]

Just had a look - it looks like a good option if it's cheap! It has two small doors next to each other at the front and the top comes off and it's 61cm tall. You'd need about 30cm of bedding! So the height was safe. And both shelves. Or - you could use the shelves to make a full level - which could be awkward but you're good at diy, and have 20cm of bedding instead.

Pip doesn't mind Bernard hijacking his thread as he likes discussing engineering.

 

[Member ID2]

I was thinking of acrylic panels half way up but a cage with that height with small front doors is too awkward to spot clean. I like the shelves and ramps though.

 

[Maz]

Yes I think if I was doing it I'd have 20cm of bedding - the two shelves on the same level with one ladder leading up and the other ladder across the shelves and a bit of plywood covering the remaining gap. Then you have a whole second floor as well. People used to put a small shelf on the top level bars over the ladder entrance so they couldn't fall from the top through the hole.

Although - that would still be awkward to spot clean the bottom half. So maybe not! 30cm of bedding and just using the top door might be better.

 

[Maz]

Pip has been awol again since thinking he wanted to come out. Not a sign of him! I'll need to do a spot clean under his house at some point soon. And maybe need to add something new - haven't got round to making him another treat yet

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aw, I bet you miss him. I hope you get to see him soon. He is so sweet.

 

[Member ID2]

Pip has been awol again since thinking he wanted to come out. Not a sign of him! I'll need to do a spot clean under his house at some point soon. And maybe need to add something new - haven't got round to making him another treat yet

Are you running out of spoons?

 

[Maz]

Funnily enough yes I can't find any small teaspoons

 

[Maz]

I haven't seen Pip for two weeks while I've been upstairs isolating myself while unwell - I feel a bit guilty saying this but I haven't really missed him like I've missed Raffy - but that's partly because it's fairly normal not to see Pip for two weeks at a time!

OH has been feeding them both the last couple of weeks but didn't tell me Pip's food had run out, so he had to have Harry Hamster last night! Poor Pip! I have some special seeds though he can have. I've ordered more food but it won't be here till at least Tuesday and then needs to go in the freezer. I do have some of the Syrian Bunny Dream mix which is at least smaller pieces than Harry Hamster so I'll mix some of that with his Rodipet seeds for now.

 

[elusive]

I’m sure Pip will enjoy the rodipet seeds & he’ll manage ok until the new supplies arrive & get done in the freezer.

 

[Member ID2]

Pip lives in his own beautiful world and you know that he'll be fine whether he sees you a lot or not so you don't worry about him the same way you worry and miss Raffy.

 

[Maz]

I've decided I'm not infectious any more. It's day 13 - almost 2 weeks and I've had a negative test. Everything I've read says you're not infectious after day 10. So I decided to feed the hamsters myself this evening, but wore a mask and washed hands obviously.

Maybe it's the other way round this time - maybe Pip was aware I wasn't around. He came out when I was feeding and he looks very peaky. Skinny and ropey looking. I think he needs some treats and tlc. He was actually due a part cage clean before I got sick as well.

Anyway he has had a piece of strawberry, hard boiled egg white and a bit of fresh coconut as well as the strange mix of syrian bunny dream and rodipet seeds. And I've stuck seeds over his old pyramid again. That's drying at the moment and I'll give it to him later tonight.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aw sounds like Pip missed you. Making him another pyramid sounds like such a nice way to lift his spirits.

What lovely treats too.

 

[elusive]

Pip’s going to be happy with his treats, I’m sure he’ll soon get back to his normal self with some extras & tlc.

 

[Member ID2]

Things always look worse when they are not up to our standards.

I think once Pip finds his treats he'll look happier and once you've given his home a bit of a tidy it will look more like it should be.

 

[Maz]

I watched the nightcam footage of Pip last night. He didn't seem to notice his new pyramid treat at first and did a bit of zooming and quite a lot of wheel running. But then he went to investigate it I chopped some bits out of the video where he was just sat nibbling it out of sight for quite a long time!

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