My new baby!!!

[moocow123]

I have a new hamster !!!!! He is a black dom spot syrian and I've called him Domino. I got him from my dad's friend who couldn't cope with him and I got him yesterday. He is currently living in a p@h large plastic hamster home which he came in and he seems quite friendly. I have just replaced the wheel the cage came with, as his back was arching in it. I have swapped it for a 6.5 inch silent spinner (as I had it already) and he is loving it!! I don't think he is that old as his back doesn't arch in it. I would assume he is only a few moths old. I do plan to change his cage, wheel and tame him but he is still settling in at the moment. I will try and upload pictures tomorrow when I get time. My questions are, is it ok for him to have a wheel full time or do I need to take it out?, when should I start giving him fresh food? and his nest is full of fluffy bedding, so when do you think is the best time to replace it without causing him stress??

[vulpecula]

Congrats on your new hammy! Domino sounds super cute.

I'm glad to hear that you're going to upgrade him into a bigger cage!
I think you'll need to get a bigger wheel soon, these babies grow really quick and the 6.5 inch Silent Spinner was already too small for my syrian at the age of two months. Keep a close eye on him on the wheel and you'll see when his back arches too much.

You can keep the wheel in full time as long as it's not too small for him. Hamsters need a lot of exercise. You can already give him fresh food, just start slow if he's never had any veggies before. Give him a tiny piece of fresh food once a week to begin with and then you can slowly give him more.

I'd take the fluffy bedding out as soon as possible, it is very dangerous to hamsters! Give him lots of toilet paper and leave him alone to settle and get used to the new nesting material.

I hope Domino will settle in quickly and happily and you can start taming soon!

[Yzma]

Congratulations on your hamster!! Domino is such an adorable name
Hamsters need a ton of exercise, so there is, as said, nothing wrong with keeping the wheel in full time. I am awaiting a silent spinner that I order a few days ago, but have put up with the noisyness of the first wheel for a week, just because I don't have the heart to take it away from my little Yzma xD
I would also take the fluff bedding out asap. If your hamster still isn't tame, it's a great trick to give him toilet paper that smells like you. Shove it up your sleeve for a while or something to get your scent on it. That way your smell will become familiar and comforting once he uses it to nest

[Thin Lizzy]

Great news about your new addition Domino.
The cage will do for now, get the taming out the way then introduce him to a bigger cage.

[cypher]

Congrats on getting Domino!
Sounds as though he is going to have a much better life now with you!