Little Niko Rosberg

[_nod]

I'd like to introduce Niko Rosberg:


I visited a p@h on the way home from work a few days ago and saw this tiny ball of white fur in the adoption section. I'd been thinking of him for the last couple of days and returned tonight. When I arrived there he yawned, got out of bed and wandered over to the edge of the cage and looked out at me. At that point my mind was made up, he was coming home with me.

Since I got him home he's spent all most the entire time running about 9 inches along the side of his tank leaping up and runs back again, and repeating that cycle at various points at the side of his tank : (

I've put in a, water bottle, a few cardboard tubes, a flying saucer, a sand bath, a wooden hut to match the one he was nesting in at P@H, a dog biscuit to chew on, a little wooden toy and I also returned the box he came home in as I thought that might smell like him.

But nothing seems to distract him from this repetitive behaviour for long, I've only really seen him stop to pouch some food and have a little rest in his house.

I've turned the lights out and left him aline as i hope this might help him relax! But I'm worried about the little guy :/

Any ideas!?

[Sanctuary]

Have you tried putting your hand in? Maybe he wants some attention?

[_nod]

I did notice he didn't have a wheel at P@H, and he couldn't work out the flying saucer ( he just kept running at the centre). I wonder if this repetitive running is just his way of burning off energy as he didn't have a wheel?

[_nod]

Originally Posted by Sanctuary

Have you tried putting your hand in? Maybe he wants some attention?

I'm seriously tempted, but I've read you should leave them be for a day or two to get used to their environment before handling them.

[Sanctuary]

It could be the wheel thing I agree.

Yes most people will say to leave them for a few days. (I never did with willow lol because she was so happy when held )

[_nod]

Woke up this morning to find him sat on his wheel (I replaced the fs). I wasn't able to watch him for long as I had to go to work, but he ran for a while on his wheel before retuning to the safety of his cardboard box to eat. And didn't display any repetitive behaviours in the short time I watched him.

[racinghamster]

Hi nod, lovely to hear about your little one and that he`s found a lovely home with you. The repetitive behaviour could be due to the fact that he`s in a new environment (or even a larger one?) and this has brought about this behaviour. It shouldn`t be anything worrying as he should settle once he`s got his new barings!

I have an adopted older male robo from PAH aswell and he had to have a flying saucer wheel as he was a little too hell bent on crashing onto the floor of his silent spinner! So I opeted for the safer option. Robos are great little hamsters as they are very much their own characters and live life in the fast lane! Try also spot cleaning his tank rather than removing all of his substrate and bedding as this will help with any stress. I`ve never done a full cage clean in all the time I`ve had my lad and that`s over a year now. It`s not necessary. Removing parts of the substrate some at a time is better than replacing the whole lot. Or even half and half.

Enjoy him. x

[_nod]

Thanks Racinghamster, I also have two female Robos too, they were about 6-8 months when I adopted them (last Novemeber) and were VERY timid when they came to me. I basically didn't see them at all for a week or two, just the odd dash from their bedding to grab food and drink, before they'd dart back again.

Rosberg is very different so far! I'll see how he gets on tonight.

[Sanctuary]

That is great to hear he has settled down now he knows what his wheel is for

Also I love the name. My WW is called D.C (David coulthard) even though she is a girl. lol

[icklemunch]

Awww nod he is gorgeous!! Love his name. So rewarding isn't it bringing the little fluffs home, where they will be loved and a forever home. Bet he's so glad you brought him home, he sounds like a right little character