newhamstermummy
01-19-2009, 11:56 AM
I should explain, Im a hamster lover, but only ever owned Syrian and never anything else. I have a Syrian hamster, and told myself that was my only pet as I rent a room and my housemate already has a pet too. Anyway!
My little sister moved out her flat because her flatmate ran away and left her to pay the rent, I went to move her sofa as she doesnt drive, and was amazed to find her flatmate had taken everything, except her hamster! It was badly in need of a clean out, a whole bag of food had been left in the cage, and the flat was freezing cold as it was empty! Of course I took the hamster, in its incredibly small cage, with NO WHEEL and hardly any toys. It even had the bedding they arent supposed to have (is it cedar?)
Anyway, I took it home (my partner went a bit mad at first, but after I explained I couldnt leave it there, she said I could keep it.) I grabbed the hamster, which was VERY tame, such a lovely, friendly little thing. But its a pearl winter white russian dwarf (i looked on the net!) Its incredibly skinny (even with that huge mound of food?) but apart from that seems well. I have since given it a new home, with lots of room, toys, sand bath, etc.
Anyway! My question is this, I never wanted a dwarf hamster, but now I have it I will love it as my own, however is there anything different I need to do which is different to my syrian? i thought these were supposed to be kept in groups?
It hasnt eaten a thing since i got it home, and i havent seen it put one thing in its pouches, even tho i scattered a bit of food about? And how much food am i supposed to give it? i give my syrian a tablespoon full a day, not including treats, but this poor little thing is tiny and so skinny, not even an ounce of fat!
erm, any ideas to make its life a little better? ive never had one before!
Thanks in advance, and sorry for such a long post!
My little sister moved out her flat because her flatmate ran away and left her to pay the rent, I went to move her sofa as she doesnt drive, and was amazed to find her flatmate had taken everything, except her hamster! It was badly in need of a clean out, a whole bag of food had been left in the cage, and the flat was freezing cold as it was empty! Of course I took the hamster, in its incredibly small cage, with NO WHEEL and hardly any toys. It even had the bedding they arent supposed to have (is it cedar?)
Anyway, I took it home (my partner went a bit mad at first, but after I explained I couldnt leave it there, she said I could keep it.) I grabbed the hamster, which was VERY tame, such a lovely, friendly little thing. But its a pearl winter white russian dwarf (i looked on the net!) Its incredibly skinny (even with that huge mound of food?) but apart from that seems well. I have since given it a new home, with lots of room, toys, sand bath, etc.
Anyway! My question is this, I never wanted a dwarf hamster, but now I have it I will love it as my own, however is there anything different I need to do which is different to my syrian? i thought these were supposed to be kept in groups?
It hasnt eaten a thing since i got it home, and i havent seen it put one thing in its pouches, even tho i scattered a bit of food about? And how much food am i supposed to give it? i give my syrian a tablespoon full a day, not including treats, but this poor little thing is tiny and so skinny, not even an ounce of fat!
erm, any ideas to make its life a little better? ive never had one before!
Thanks in advance, and sorry for such a long post!