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Small pets

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Original poster

Hamster experts - advice re new hamster pls

21 replies

lilolilmanchester · 13/04/2008 21:03

So, our first hamster died after only 4 months (and several vets' bills!). We're super neurotic now. Picked up new hamster today, male, 5 weeks. Following all the instructions re leaving him alone to settle in, rest, not do too much etc. but the little chap has not stopped climbing the bars, running around in his wheel etc. Now instinctively, I think that means he's fit and healthy. But DD is still panicking after death of DH1 (that's hamster, not husband) and tho I keep saying he's just fit and healthy, she's worried that he's overdoing it. Perhaps she's even right. Any ideas, anyone?

OP posts:

southeastastra · 13/04/2008 21:04

that's normal hamster behaviour

theUrbanNixie · 13/04/2008 21:05

Yep, totally normal. Hamsters always try to escape - it doesn't mean there's anything wrong, it's just what they do!!

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 13/04/2008 21:10

thanks - I know this is completely normal hamster behaviour, but our first was only like this when she was a few weeks older, not at 5 weeks. Am just worried that he's wearing his little heart out. Honestly, we've had him home 7 hours and he's not stopped. The first one slept for the most part during the day

OP posts:

callmewhatyoulike · 13/04/2008 21:13

If he's doing lots I would guess that he's probably settling in quite well. I would only worry if they're hiding all the time.

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 13/04/2008 21:15

thanks. Thought we'd feel like experts second time around but he is SO active at a time I'd expect him to be asleep. And really don't want DD to lose another one so quickly!

OP posts:

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 13/04/2008 22:05

little love is STILL running around in his(very creaky) wheel!!!!

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Beauregard · 13/04/2008 22:07

lol he wont be a "little love" at 3a.m

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 13/04/2008 22:08

ha ha you're so right! Will move his cage downstairs before we go to bed. DD is sparko, not sure how given all the noise in her room!

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Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 14/04/2008 11:36

mmm, so forgot to move the cage and as pelvicfloor predicted, from 3:30 - 6:30 was PLAY TIME. "Little love" no more indeed!!

OP posts:

Beauregard · 14/04/2008 22:56

avenanap · 14/04/2008 23:03

My ds's hampster lives in the living room. We've only had him a month, he spent the first week shivering and backing into the corner of the cage. He's up all night on the wheel, sleeps all day. I put him in the bath (it was empty) with ds so they could get to know each other. If he fell, he couldn't go far and couldn't escape. He now comes to the front of the cage when I go over, it's quite sweet really. He likes carrot and cabbadge.

avenanap · 14/04/2008 23:03

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 14/04/2008 23:06

thanks avenanap. We did the bath thing with our first hamster and will do it again with this one tomorrow, we thought we'd give him a couple of quiet days first. "QUIET?" did i say "QUIET"!!! . DD got a bit upset last night because the new hamster reminded her of her beloved dearly departed first hamster. Hopefully the bath exercise will help her bond with this one a bit.

OP posts:

avenanap · 14/04/2008 23:13

My friend gave me a tip, if you are going to put your hand in the cage, rub the sawdust at the bottom of the cage on to it first, then move very slowly so it's not frightened. When you clean the cage out put some of the old sawdust back in. Also hide some food. Put a towel and a bit of soft stuff in the bath, it will want to hide. Mine did poo though, it was frightened at first. They will eat most things, just not chocolate (can get hampster chocolate though). A mineral bar will keep the teeth short. If you drop it go very slowly to pick it up or it will run off.

Original poster

lilolilmanchester · 14/04/2008 23:23

sound advice! Thanks.

OP posts:

pinkyminky · 14/04/2008 23:36

Always put a bit of old bedding back in the cage.
Hamsters memorize their surroundings by going over and over them- this could be what he's doing. You can train them to come to you when you tap your finger. Mine used to come and it next to me while I worked or sat on the sofa.

avenanap · 14/04/2008 23:38

There's one mnetter that trained hers to pee in a jar. Wow. I wonder how she did that.

pinkyminky · 15/04/2008 15:05

Sounds precarious!

LittleB · 15/04/2008 15:33

You can train them to pee in a jam jar by putting soiled bedding into the jar - put the jar in the corner of the cage, you may need to do this for a while. They tend to wee in the same place so if they smell the urine in the jar they should hopefully go there. Not guaranteed, but can be really helpful when they do this as its easier to keep their cage clean. One of my hamsters did this, and gerbils too. I'm looking forward to dd being old enough that I can get her a little pet (we have a dog though), but she's only 2 at the mo so it'll be a while yet.

pinkyminky · 15/04/2008 16:14

Oh I see. Yes I can see how that would work as they tend to have a favourite corner for toilet. I was imagining hammy balancing on the edge of a jar trying to pee in.

avenanap · 15/04/2008 17:11

Mine keeps weeing in his house, he keeps hiding food in there aswell. It's gross.

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