Re: Sexually Frustrated Male Hamster?!? - Page 2

Sams Mum · 01-17-2010, 01:58 AM

The advice on here has been invaluable, thank you! Sam seems happier already and is bar chewing a lot less. I think it also helps that I finally noticed why he was behaving "odd" with his wheel, trying to turn it round using his teeth!

I had used rapeseed oil to keep the wheel running without squeaking. The oil had gone sticky and was stopping the wheel from turning freely. I scrubbed the moving part section of the wheel with detergent then oiled it again with rapeseed oil. Ever since, Sam has seemed both surpirsed and excited that he can run in his wheel again!

I have attached some more photos of him, these are a little bit old. I will see if I can get a recent photo of him from the top showing his tail!

As for the taming process, it is going well! I alredy tamed him to use a drinking glass as a little "taxi" months ago so that I could transport him around but didn't have to touch him and get near his teeth! But I will progress to handling him.

So far he lets me stroke him on his back but will look round after a number of seconds (2-10) to see what I'm doing! I then withdraw my hand quick. He also lets me help him up when climbing back into his cage when he's tired or has had enough! Just one worry though - he stands at the top of the cage and throws himself in

Could he injure himself? There is a ladder in there for him to clmb down but he seems to have trouble using it since it is at a 90 degree angle.

Thanks again,

annie81 · 01-17-2010, 10:07 AM

oh, your sam is so cute

is there any chance that you could lower the angle degree of the ladder?? maybe he starts using the ladder instead of jumping

souffle · 01-17-2010, 10:16 AM

Awww how cute is Sam

He looks closest in type to a Pearl Winter White hamster I'd say. We had a pearl and he did have a little cotton bud tail! As the testicles develop when he matures you can sometimes see the tail more clearly as they push it up so maybe that is what you have noticed.
How high is the jump into the cage? He could hurt himself if he fell badly. Maybe you could get one of those bendy log things and make a ramp down for him?
Sounds like you are making great progress.

Sams Mum · 01-24-2010, 03:06 PM

Hi Annie and Souffle,

I did lower the angle of the ladder and he still refused to use it and hurled himself into his cage tonight! The drop is about 9 inches. He always lands on a thick layer of Carefresh cage litter, so hopefully he can't hurt himself. I can't seem to catch him in time! I've attached a photo of the cage showing the drop(from the top of the cage onto the litter at the bottom) so people can hopefully see what I mean.

As for the tail and testicles issues, I obviously got Sam as a youngster without realising it. I re-homed him in April 2009 and I've just noticed the change in his tail. This seems very slow for sexual maturity to happen. How old is he probably now? Just wondering since I know the life-span tends to be 18 months to 2 or 2.5 years max

Thanks,

annie81 · 01-24-2010, 04:05 PM

he apparently doenst take the hint and loves jumping

as long as he only hits the bedding he should be fine i think. maybe you can put extra bedding there and build a little hill...

Sammybingo · 01-25-2010, 09:38 AM

I'm so pleased I read this - thanks Souffle. I am currently experiencing a bit of Chewy chomping on his bars. He has quite a lot to do in his house, but when I am in the room, isn't really interested (anyone else though, he's happy as larry). He's already been out today for a scamper in his ball, and he seemed quite tired so I popped him back home. I think I am pandering to the chomping too much! Going to try and ignore him a bit more and not give up and play with him every time he chews, or I will never get any work done. Grr. Chew the things you are meant to, you naughty hammy! lol.

Edit - Just to say Sam is gorgeous

helenf · 01-27-2010, 10:52 AM

Incidentally, does it matter if a male hamster can smell a female one nearby? My robo cages are right next to each other, and I tend to use the same playbox for them (not at the same time! Only it has carefresh in so is not cleaned after every run in it). The little boy seems perfectly fine (he is very active whether in the cage or not, but seems very happy), but I just wondered after reading this? He clearly can smell her in the playbox but seems to 'enjoy' (I know that's not the right word for animals) sniffing out where she's been.

souffle · 01-27-2010, 11:53 AM

It is fine for him to smell the female. All our hammies can smell each other and they never seem bothered at all. The males are often more active when they can smell the female in season.

Sams Mum · 02-03-2010, 12:41 AM

Hi all,

That post by Souffle made me giggle! Aren't human males more active when they think they may be about to get lucky?!?

The ones I know are! They become a lot more attentive, buying women drinks, paying them compliments, etc!

Hope I haven't offended any men here!

Just wondering if anyone can respond to my question about how old Sam might be? I rehomed in April 2009 from the RSPCA and I've only just noticed his physical changes (e.g. the tail changing from a teeny, barely visible rabbit like tail to like a botton bud tip and the testicles becoming more visible). I'm really confused about why it would take 9 months for his testicles to develop. Surely sexual maturity is much younger in a hamster? That's assuming I got him as a baby. He wasn't small though, he was the same size he is now. I really don't understand!

Thanks,

souffle · 02-03-2010, 03:33 AM

He looks about 12 -14 months to me. He likely looks bigger as he has his winter coat on which in an already white hamster will become more sort of dense and almost wooly.
If you have had the heating on a bit more than usual in this cold weather the testicles will drop when it is warm.