Sprite

[RainbowBrite]

Sprite could not resist munching yummy forage from his sand bath.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Maz]

Aw Sprite really loves his forage. He has so much to do in there and looks like an intrepid explorer

 

[ilguy]

I see he's made a good dent in his roller toy. Is another wrestling match with it coming up? I would put my money on Sprite, he has experience now

 

[RainbowBrite]

I see he's made a good dent in his roller toy. Is another wrestling match with it coming up? I would put my money on Sprite, he has experience now

He actually totally ignored it! I think he realised there is his seed mix inside and it was not worth wrestling with.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Looks like Sprite changed his mind about trying his puzzle.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Coco61]

Don’t give up Sprite - try again later!

 

[Maz]

He’s a good little wrestler

 

[ilguy]

He gave it a pretty good go, I bet he's just regrouping in his corner for round two. You got it Sprite!

 

[RainbowBrite]

A little observation I have made about Sprite. He does not seem very aware of where I am. For example, I wait in his playpen and if he wants to go back to his cage he tries to leave his playpen himself. I tell him I am here but he does not seem aware. In the morning he never seems to realise he has ground flax waiting for him unless he exits by the hole in his MCH. I usually pick him up and put him beside the bowl and then he will happily tuck in.

Once he was in his playpen and my partner offered him food by putting it in front of him and Sprite did not realise there was food there. I am sure his eyesight is fine.

Is this a dwarfie thing? I am only used to Orko who knew where everything was at all times including me.

 

[Maz]

It's maybe just a hamster thing when they are being a bit independent. Who knows what is going through their minds. He probably did realise there was food there, he just chose not to have it at that moment. Hamsters can be very contrary! Raffy does similar things out of the cage. If you put food in front of him he'll ignore it. But sometimes he might come back to it if you're not looking. Other times he'll just ignore it because he has something else to think about at that time. I also think they are quite intelligent and may be thinking - ha - you're not going to fool me with treats!

 

[RainbowBrite]

It's maybe just a hamster thing when they are being a bit independent. Who knows what is going through their minds. He probably did realise there was food there, he just chose not to have it at that moment. Hamsters can be very contrary! Raffy does similar things out of the cage. If you put food in front of him he'll ignore it. But sometimes he might come back to it if you're not looking. Other times he'll just ignore it because he has something else to think about at that time. I also think they are quite intelligent and may be thinking - ha - you're not going to fool me with treats!

Sprite would always be fooled with treats!

 

[elusive]

I don’t think it’s species specific either, more of an individual thing.
Some hamsters can be quite independent like that & won’t always respond to us or to food immediately but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not aware of things.
I was a bit surprised by the flax though, if he was ready for it I would have expected him to go for it without you putting him there.
There are also instinctive behaviours related to being wary of predators which aren’t really appropriate behaviour when kept as pets but the instincts are still there.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I don’t think it’s species specific either, more of an individual thing.
Some hamsters can be quite independent like that & won’t always respond to us or to food immediately but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not aware of things.
I was a bit surprised by the flax though, if he was ready for it I would have expected him to go for it without you putting him there.
There are also instinctive behaviours related to being wary of predators which aren’t really appropriate behaviour when kept as pets but the instincts are still there.

Thats what puzzles me. He genuinely does not realise the flax is there. If he wants a treat, he will not realise one is there unless I put it directly in front if him.

 

[elusive]

It is a bit odd, I guess it is possible his sense of smell isn’t quite as good as it usually is, I can’t really think of any other explanation as they don’t rely on sight very much as their eyesight is poor anyway.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is a bit odd, I guess it is possible his sense of smell isn’t quite as good as it usually is, I can’t really think of any other explanation as they don’t rely on sight very much as their eyesight is poor anyway.

Perhaps that is it. He also is always cleaning himself on the edge of things and falling off. I am not sure if that is related. He will clean himself on the very edge of his MCH and fall onto the bedding. I put a small cork piece there and now he just ends up sitting on that by accident and looking suprised.

He is just so sweet and lovely natured. I hope he never has any of the health issues that dwarfies often have as he means the world to me.

Anyway, he appears very happy and healthy. He was in his playpen for over two hours this morning. Most of that time was spent in his tube.

 

[elusive]

I was just thinking about it again & how he wrestles with his boredom breakers, if he couldn’t smell the treats inside he probably wouldn’t bother so I’m not really sure.

Falling off things does seem to be a bit of a trait with Russian hams, not sure why as all hams are very short sighted but they seem to do it more than most, as long as they only have short drops onto a soft landing it doesn’t seem to bother them!

He is a very happy ham & I’ve never seen anything in your videos of him that would suggest he isn’t perfectly healthy.
Any hamster can have health issues & hybrids maybe a bit more than most but I don’t think you have anything to worry about at all with Sprite.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I was just thinking about it again & how he wrestles with his boredom breakers, if he couldn’t smell the treats inside he probably wouldn’t bother so I’m not really sure.

Falling off things does seem to be a bit of a trait with Russian hams, not sure why as all hams are very short sighted but they seem to do it more than most, as long as they only have short drops onto a soft landing it doesn’t seem to bother them!

He is a very happy ham & I’ve never seen anything in your videos of him that would suggest he isn’t perfectly healthy.
Any hamster can have health issues & hybrids maybe a bit more than most but I don’t think you have anything to worry about at all with Sprite.

Thank you so much for replying and thinking it over. That is very kind of you. Maybe it is one of his little quirks. I am glad you do not think there is anything to worry about.

I often add more bedding to surround his things so he does not have far to fall. They really do seem to like to sit on the edge of things!

 

[elusive]

Hamsters are definitely quirky so maybe it is!

 

[Maz]

I'm sure it is nothing wrong too. Sometimes they just have moods. I am sure there is nothing wrong with his sense of smell anyway! They can behave completely differently out of the cage than in it.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I'm sure it is nothing wrong too. Sometimes they just have moods. I am sure there is nothing wrong with his sense of smell anyway! They can behave completely differently out of the cage than in it.

Thank you.