My Valentines present!

[Hamsterita]

At some point I also had problems to make Blacky pee where I wanted, he used his potty, but only if it was in the corner that he had chosed, so I would try to put the potty in the exact same place where she pees. Another thing that helped me, is that I had to use A LOT of wet substrate. When I was watching the tutorials to know how to train him people sprinkled a few peed bits on the potty and it was enough for them (or that's what they were saying) but I had to put ALL the peed substrate that I could find to make it work the first time. Thankfully later he got used to use it and I haven't have more problems ever again.

I've read that some of them like to have a covered place to do it. And some only use things with a corner shape, but I don't know the veracity of those tips.

I hope you make it work. Good luck!

[Cinnamon Bear]

I have a bowl I could use, just like Heaven's bowl that she uses for a potty. That's a good idea to put lots of bedding in the bowl. That's alot if sand in her cage. Sand bath & sand potty. Can't hurt to try it, if it doesn't work back to the store she goes, kidding, partly

Update: ok there is a ceramic dish on top of her potty spot filled with sand & wet bedding. I'll let you know soon

Next update: 15 min later, she used the bowl Yay! I blocked off a spot with paper towel. So thanks Hamsterita, your idea worked I don't see why she wouldn't keep on using it. Fingers crossed xx

[Cinnamon Bear]

New subject: what is better, Burgess 750 or Burgess 700 hamster harvest? What is the difference?

I bought her Burgess 750

[AmityvilleHams]

Did it specifically say dwarf hamster harvest on the one you bought?That one is diabetes friendly,while the regular hamster harvest isn't.Regular hamster harvest also has unspecified poultry fat,which isn't as terrible as something that said for example animal fat(completely unknown source,could be just about any fat even from rendered/unethical sources whereas poultry must at least be a specific type in some form).

[cypher]

I just googled it & all I could find were two different weights, 750/700g.
I think both have poultry fat Amity but that's the least of your worries trying to find a good mix for diabetic ham, I wouldn't over complicate things.

[Cinnamon Bear]

It said dwarf hamster harvest on the bag, but a different pic than the 700 on the bag. I'm thinking it might be weight too. I asked them about expiration date, don't want food past that date. Maybe they are phasing out the 750g. ?

[cypher]

Could just be that CB. As long as it says Dwarf on the bag it's the right one.

[Thin Lizzy]

I've been noticing that products are shrinking in size to sell at the same prices.

[Cinnamon Bear]

I'm glad I got the right one, Cypher & your probably right TL. I hope Ivy likes it, I'll to switch her over slowly

Doesn't look like she'll be potty trained. I've tried everything & she won't cooperate. After today I'll take the sand potty out. I'm not going to let her stress me out anymore. I don't know why my Russians are always sick? Maybe all of them are sick in my area?

[Drago]

I'd say the sickness is due to lack of proper care, but more so, due to faulty genetics. There's not nearly enough caring and responsible breeders in the US and consequentially, pet stores and owners are left with sickly animals. Most hamsters from pet stores are from mass breeding facilities where they're treated as items just to make a profit. Which is very unlike responsible breeders who love and care for each and every one of their animals and want to improve the health of the species as a whole. I think that it's incredibly sad that this is the reality, but at least you've saved little Ivy! Now she'll live out her days happily and well loved by you and never have to face the conditions of her earlier life. I hope as the years go on, more breeders start popping up and we can help hamsters as a whole, but until then we'll have to work with what we've got I suppose. Good luck with little Ivy and keep letting us know how everything's going