Introducing: Burrow! My second hamster ever!

Pandas Pets · 06-20-2016, 06:52 PM

This is Burrow my second ever hamster.
He is a 1 year old Chinese Hamster.

He got his name because he likes to dig holes and tunnels (Burrowing) I realize I'm not the greatest at coming up with names but he doesn't really know the difference I guess.

I’ve built him a couple of cool toys/hideaways and he seems to enjoy them.  I put tutorials on my YouTube channel of the stuff I make for my hamsters. Not all of the stuff I’ve made will have tutorials because I only just recently got the idea to do so. But for all future toys and hamster things I will be putting them up. 

I have burrow on a strict diet which I learned from ErinsAnimals and I weigh him weekly to make sure he isn’t gaining or losing much weight. I’m concerned he will get/has diabetes. Again I didn’t do my research on his species before getting him and for the first 6 to 7 months I had him on a regular diet that hammy eats and it worries me because I gave him the same treats and never picked out the peas & corn from his dish.
I give him:
1tsp of fiber: 3 times a week
1tsp of his regular seed mix (after picking out the corn and peas): Daily
1tsp of low/no sugar hamster safe vegetables: Daily
He mostly will only eat asparagus which I grow myself in my window…I’ve tried so many other veggies and he just won’t eat anything else. But I try a new veggie when I get the chance to.
1tsp of protein (chicken, eggs, boiled mealworms): Daily

I also got him at the PetSmart. I wish I had gotten from a shelter because he is just as scared as my Robo hamster. The difference is, Burrow doesn’t bite. He sits in my hand for like 2 min shivering like a Chihuahua and once he realizes I’m not going to harm him he washes his face and then starts exploring, climbing up my arm and under my legs (when I am sitting in the hamster pen) and he doesn’t mind me picking him up from there. Only the initial taking him out of his cage. Literally every time.

I’ve spent a great deal of effort trying to get him not to shake like that but it never seems to change.

I have him in 2 large joined bin cages with a tunnel connecting them, I have tape on the bottom side of the tunnels because he wouldn’t cross them without it. I guess he’s scared to fall or something? I’m not sure, but the moment I put tape there he started crossing over between the cages.s

cypher · 06-20-2016, 07:36 PM

Aww Burrow is gorgeous!

What a lovely boy, looking very cute there although he does look rather petrified by the big empty play pen!
His name is very appropriate for a Chinesey lol! They certainly do love to burrow

I think your feeding info is a little bit out of date, it did used to be commonly thought that you should take peas & corn out of the mix but it really isn't a good idea, not necessary & actually removes nutrients they really need, just feed his mix as it is, unless it's one of those US mixes that contain dried fruit, that I would remove.
What are you giving for fibre, I'm curious!
Now he's a year old you probably don't need to give quite so much protein maybe that much two to three times a week.

They can be very nervous but you've made good progress with him, have you ever tried using something like a small fleece pouch for him to climb into when you hold him? They really seem to like that & he might find sitting in a nice cosy space in your hand a little less intimidating.

AmityvilleHams · 06-20-2016, 10:26 PM

A little hint on US mixes:Higgins Vita Garden is diabetes friendly and high quality.It does need extra protein,but that can be achieved with meat and freshwater shrimp and other low fat protein sources.

If you don't want to pay 10 dollars for Higgins,you might be able to get it at Pet Supermarket instead of Petco for a lower cost.Not too sure on other retailers that sell it,but it should be easy to find if you take a look at online retailers and you can get a good idea of different prices that way as well.

Lala Noma · 06-20-2016, 11:37 PM

Hello and welcome! Burrow is really cute! I like his bin cage too, it looks big and funny!

SKB_Hamsters · 06-21-2016, 04:39 AM

Burrow is really cute all these photos of him are adorable.

Pandas Pets · 06-21-2016, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Aww Burrow is gorgeous!

What a lovely boy, looking very cute there although he does look rather petrified by the big empty play pen!
His name is very appropriate for a Chinesey lol! They certainly do love to burrow

I think your feeding info is a little bit out of date, it did used to be commonly thought that you should take peas & corn out of the mix but it really isn't a good idea, not necessary & actually removes nutrients they really need, just feed his mix as it is, unless it's one of those US mixes that contain dried fruit, that I would remove.
What are you giving for fibre, I'm curious!
Now he's a year old you probably don't need to give quite so much protein maybe that much two to three times a week.

They can be very nervous but you've made good progress with him, have you ever tried using something like a small fleece pouch for him to climb into when you hold him? They really seem to like that & he might find sitting in a nice cosy space in your hand a little less intimidating.

Thanks for the info i'll do some more research! He hasn't gotten much left in his jar of seed mix that has been sifted through, after its empty i'll just give him regular with the others again

. Also i've made plans to lower the protein to 3x a week already XD I was planning on it at the end of the month since he will be officially 1 year

Pandas Pets · 06-21-2016, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

A little hint on US mixes:Higgins Vita Garden is diabetes friendly and high quality.It does need extra protein,but that can be achieved with meat and freshwater shrimp and other low fat protein sources.

If you don't want to pay 10 dollars for Higgins,you might be able to get it at Pet Supermarket instead of Petco for a lower cost.Not too sure on other retailers that sell it,but it should be easy to find if you take a look at online retailers and you can get a good idea of different prices that way as well.

I'll have to order online since i havent gotten a way to go anywhere but walmart and petsmart. my walmart only has 1 type of food mix and petsmart is of course expensive! Thanks! I have a farm of mealworms that i usually just boil them for a quick second to kill them and then feed them to him.

Pandas Pets · 06-21-2016, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lala Noma

Hello and welcome! Burrow is really cute! I like his bin cage too, it looks big and funny!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

Burrow is really cute all these photos of him are adorable.

Thanks so much ^_^

AmityvilleHams · 06-21-2016, 06:27 AM

Mealworms are pretty good in moderation,but shrimp do have less fat if you can find any.Definitely try and order Higgins online,it's honestly one of the best you can get in the US!

cypher · 06-21-2016, 09:10 AM

I just watched your cage cleaning vid, cool toys btw, he must love those! I was wondering how often you do that & if you always remove all the substrate?
If you do that's probably making him more stressed & nervous, you really only need to remove a little of the substrate at any one time, maybe a third every two to three weeks or even less if he uses the litter tray/sand bath to pee in, if you clean out his nest & or hoard it's best to put at least some of it back too.
If you do that you would save a lot on substrate & he would probably be a much more relaxed little man! If you could I'd give him some deeper substrate at least in one bin so he can have a really good burrow!