New arrival......Phoebe the troublemaker!

[Emma]

Well, I bought home my new syrian on Saturday, a banded cream female from our local rescue centre, who I've called Phoebe. She has odd eyes - one black and one red!



She was quite timid at the rescue, but she settled in almost straight away at home and we had her out for a short time Saturday night. Sunday night, there was no stopping her! As soon as she woke up, after having a wash and some food, she was straight to the door in the cage chewing the bars to be let out.



We hamster-proofed the room (or so we thought!) and let her have a run.....well I took my eye off her for half a minute, and she disappeared! I looked under the bed, under the wardrobe, behind all the furniture I'd blocked off......she was nowhere to be seen. Then I heard a little sound coming from my printer! She'd managed to get inside! I've no idea how, as I had to get my tool kit out to let her out! She's definitely going to be one to watch.



She didn't seem worried at all by being inside the printer, just a little look of "look where I am!!". In the same evening she managed to climb shelves to reach Merry's cage (who has since been moved higher up!) and get stuck head first in a jar that was on the floor. She's already getting a nickname of "you tinker!!".



I can't post a photo yet as I'm not using my own computer....I think she's quite pretty, I always like creams. She's not a particularly brilliant specimen of a hamster (if it wasn't for the fact she has pouches she could be a tailless rat!) but I think she's pretty.



Does anyone know about having one black eye and one red? I did read about it but can't find the info again, and I don't have my own favourites links at the moment.



Em x

[SnuggleHam]

Wow your really racking up the hamster pets aren't you :P how many do you have now? Were you planning on getter another or just happened on this new one?



Anyway congratulations, this new one sounds like it has lots of personality! And I'm glad you managed to find it!

[furrynavel]

She sounds beautiful! What a pretty colour.

I have no patience, I really want a rescue hammie, but I fear I will succum and buy one from a petshop, although I would rather not!

[babyboos]

I am very glad you didn't as I am sure Mimosa is :lol:

I had something on odd eye syndrome a while back Emma I will have a dig around and see if I can find it - can't remember much of what is said off the top of my head sorry.

[Emma]

We've been planning on a newcomer since we lost Alfie - I was hoping for a syrian to be available too.



I do think it's well worth waiting and looking around for a rescue hammie - just see how quickly Phoebe has settled in compared to a baby. It can also be really rewarding to see a hamster change from a timid shy thing to a complete cuddle monster, and it's also nice knowning you gave a home to a hammy that needed one rather than supported the mass commercial breeding of hamsters for the pet trade.

[flogging_molly]

Always better to go with the rescue rather than a pet shop, but I will be the first to admit that Pet Shops are evil places, I'm sure they subliminally send out the message "Come on, look how cute the hamsters are, you know you want that little one in the corner there, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON" over and over again. :lol:



Pheobe does sound very unique and beautiful, can't wait to see pictures. I have heard of the odd eye thing before from PWS when Jennawing had a litter of babies, I'm sure one of her's was odd eyed.

[Cazza269]

I dont know how our local shop sells ANY, I was looking at them with my youngest and the lady squeeled from the other side of the shop "Please dont touch them dear, they all bite" :shock: so if they are all such biters how does she convince anyone to have one

[babyboos]

Sorry Emma just realised I hadn't posted the information I said I 'd look out;

The Odd Eyed condition in Syrians is seen in conjunction with the Banded phenotype. Aside from this association, it is not known to have a simple genetic basis or even a genetic basis at all. In a Banded hamster it may be a random occurrence or may be influenced by unknown modifier genes. In Black-eyed hamsters the affected eye is red to dark red. In normally Red-eyed hamsters, the odd eye will be light red to pink.

My Satin Banded Dove Tort Syrian has very slightly different coloured eyes but both are quite light pink to start with so it is harder to see. Neither her parents or grandparents had this, nor her aunts and uncles.

[Emma]

Thanks Babyboos :) Phoebe is banded so that fits. Having had her a while now and seen her in different lights, her light eye is a clear bright red, and her dark eye is a very very dark red, which usually looks black. I'll be able to post a picture soon now we have internet working at our house :)

[babyboos]

Make sure you get her in the Halloween Photo Contest (http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=718) :wink: