Empty Tank Syndrome - Page 2

de4life · 02-03-2014, 05:24 AM

Everyone copes differently. Don't feel like you should rush out to get another ham until you're ready. You'll only be able to devote your full love and care to it if you're prepared and not still grieiving for Boo. You should take as much time as you need, and you'll know when the time is right to get another.

I removed Hjalmar's cages as soon as he passed, I couldn't bear to see them empty. I've put them out of sight for now, but one day I think they will be home to another ham. My little girl Minnie's cages became home for my adopted ham Axel, and him using them did not erase my memories of Minnie occupying them. It just reminded me that the circle of life continues on, things are born, live, die and are then renewed and reused. We're all destined to return to the universe one day, and the material things we once used will be utilised by the Earth and other people to help them where they once helped us.

JBH316 · 02-03-2014, 06:12 AM

I think it's responsible to wait until you are ready to welcome a new hamster into your life. I think whether you reuse the tank or not is a personal decision. I have an Alexander sitting empty at the moment which was home to my little hybrid. We lost her 4 weeks ago and, as she was a rescue, it was decided that her cage would only be used for future rescues. A little legacy if you like that they too can get to enjoy the comforts of a large cage.

You just do what feels right for you and you won't go far wrong x

**kyrilliondaemon** · 02-03-2014, 01:43 PM

Yeah, when we've been ready for another ham has varied depending on the situation. When Skip passed it was a few weeks before we found the right ham to join us, the same happened when we lost Scamp, but when we lost Scruff we took her to be cremated and within hours I got the phonecall that led to us getting Peep. The next day I offered to take one of the three (he was with his two sisters at the time) and it was less than a week later that Peep moved in.
(Interestingly all that happened before we'd found the ham who got Skip's cage - and Skip passed before Scruff. Its just the way things worked at the time, Peep was right for Scruff's Alexander and Nut was right for Skip's - we just found Peep first.)