Sprite

[Maz]

Meerkating is a fairly standard hamster term

 

[Hamster Haven]

Meerkating is a fairly standard hamster term

The world agrees that that's what hamsters look like when they're curious!

 

[elusive]

Sprite looks fine on his wheel to me, he doesn’t seem to be slipping.
Some do prefer sn enclosed wheel but he seems ok on that one.
What size are Orkos wheels? Russian hams are quite chunky but they're not that long so they don’t need a huge wheel, 9” should be big enough, 10” plenty big enough.

 

[RainbowBrite]

What size are Orko's wheels?

They are 8.9 inches.

 

[elusive]

Those should be big enough Rainbow.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Thank you all for the advice on Sprite's wheel. I heard him use his wheel a lot during the night. It was lovely to hear while I was lying in bed. Silly me forgot to switch the camera mode so I cannot see what he got up to last night.

When I was chatting to him yesterday, I saw this! He squashes himself behind the platforms! He also squashes himself to get behind his MCH sometimes rather then take the conventional route of using the entry holes.

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[elusive]

They do seem to like the little gaps to squish into, I found that even more with my Chinese but some of my Russians too think doors are for blocking up & get quite creative with making their own entrances!
He looks really sweet in the video, quite strong too pulling himself up there & I love that little tail when he goes into the tube!

 

[RainbowBrite]

They do seem to like the little gaps to squish into, I found that even more with my Chinese but some of my Russians too think doors are for blocking up & get quite creative with making their own entrances!
He looks really sweet in the video, quite strong too pulling himself up there & I love that little tail when he goes into the tube!

I am learning a lot about dwarfies thanks to Sprite.

 

[Jain]

They do seem to like the little gaps to squish into, I found that even more with my Chinese but some of my Russians too think doors are for blocking up & get quite creative with making their own entrances!
He looks really sweet in the video, quite strong too pulling himself up there & I love that little tail when he goes into the tube!

Is amazing how flat they can make themselves when wanting to fit through a gap I underestimated this and to my cost it took me quite a while to retrieve Pete from where I didn't think it possible to go

 

[elusive]

Their ribs are a lot more flexible than ours so they can really flatten themselves quite a lot!

 

[Frida]

Sprite sounds like Albert. Albert likes to make his own entrances and exits.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I bought some sandstones and after washing them well and letting them dry, I put them in Sprite's cage. I did not realise he was in his mushroom hide and he came out to investigate.

 

[Frida]

Sprite's little face is so cute. I love the way he looks up at you.

 

[elusive]

He does have the cutest little face & expressions
Have you tried offering him a treat when he looks at you like that?

 

[RainbowBrite]

He does have the cutest little face & expressions
Have you tried offering him a treat when he looks at you like that?

I was not sure because I did not want him to end up biting me if he sees my hands. Last night he came close to me and I offered him my fist to sniff me. He then tried to climb it so I put my hand flat and he went crazy biting my fingers. I was not sure if he thought I had food or he wanted my hand out his cage.

I remember Beryl saying she prefers not to offer food with her hands so hamsters do not associate hands with food.

 

[elusive]

I always offer food with my hands & I don’t think biting is associating hands with food usually.
Biting is often just their way of exploring something new & they tend to grow out of that fairly quickly although you do get the odd one that nips sometimes, more usually females than males.
If you just offer something he can take like say a pumpkin seed from your finger tips to begin with then move on to putting food on your palm or fingers. That way I think they’re more likely to differentiate between fingers & food.
He seems so confident & doesn’t appear to be bothered by you putting things in the cage like that so I would give it a go & let him have a nice reward.

 

[Frida]

I agree with elusive. Offering a treat between finger and thumb and keep the other 3 fingers curled in. Sprite may try and open the other 3 fingers thinking you've got more to offer. That's when I moved on to palm feeding.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I always offer food with my hands & I don’t think biting is associating hands with food usually.
Biting is often just their way of exploring something new & they tend to grow out of that fairly quickly although you do get the odd one that nips sometimes, more usually females than males.
If you just offer something he can take like say a pumpkin seed from your finger tips to begin with then move on to putting food on your palm or fingers. That way I think they’re more likely to differentiate between fingers & food.
He seems so confident & doesn’t appear to be bothered by you putting things in the cage like that so I would give it a go & let him have a nice reward.

That is a great idea! I will try that later.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I agree with elusive. Offering a treat between finger and thumb and keep the other 3 fingers curled in. Sprite may try and open the other 3 fingers thinking you've got more to offer. That's when I moved on to palm feeding.

Thank you for the tips. I will try that tonight.

 

[Frida]

Thank you for the tips. I will try that tonight.

It was funny when Albert first opened my 3 closed fingers when he thought I was hiding more seeds. He looked up at me in disappointment and walked off. That's why I moved on to palm feeding. But be ready incase Sprite runs up your arm when you palm feed. Albert did that to me a few times. Sprite seems very confident so he may decide to get friendly with you quite quickly.