Rescuing a hamster - advice on transitioning living arrangements please!

[InkyPen]

I've been very weak today and one way and another I'm going to attend my evening schlepping to the other side of city to rescue a ham that's sorely in need of an upgrade.

The current owners are clearly clueless - she's advertised as a Russian but is clearly a LH female Syrian. Her substrate consists of shredded credit card receipts 😢😫😤 Reason for sale: "I don't have time to do the cleaning" She was listed as being free to a good home. They didn't ask any questions about me or what I was going to do with her when I phoned. I don't have high hopes for anything she comes with - I suspect the cage is a P@H monstrosity as apparently that's where she originally came from.

She's going to have an hour on public transport (tube and national rail) later, with her cage covered by a black tablecloth (not sure if this is to minimise the disturbance to get or because I don't want to be seen carrying a hamster in such conditions...)

Given that she's housed on unsafe substrate, what's the received wisdom about putting her into a new cage pronto vs letting her settle in? Until a new Barney arrives I was planning on housing her in Inky's travel cage (60x40 bin cage), Fitch and various spare toys I have. Obviously I want to minimise her stress!

I'll post pictures later, but I think she's a long haired cinnamon banded Syrian ❤️

[Vectis Hamstery]

When I get a rescue ham, I don't feel there's a rush to increase cage size, and have found that too much space change on top of moving home, changing food, changing substrate etc. can cause the hammy extra stress. After all, the hamster's been living in that cage for a while so another couple of days isn't going to harm while you get to know the hamster's preferences and while s/he settles in (you'll need to check sex as species isn't the only thing people get wrong on FTGH ads ).

My preference is to check the cage and substrate for safety. If the cage is safe although not ideal, I'd clean the unsafe substrate out and put in safe substrate. I'd also check any enrichment in the cage and take out any unsafe/inappropriate items, and ensure the ham has a nest box, even if it's a cardboard box (but I like to make sure it has an open base in case I need to access the ham).

I then monitor the ham for a few days to a week and see how they are. If they are confident, not overly skitty and perhaps showing signs of wanting more space then I'd upgrade them into a slightly larger cage (the 60x40 bin would be good) and probably keep them in that for another 1-2 weeks to allow them to settle and to finish quarantine (do quarantine the new ham away from your existing hamster(s) for at least 2 weeks). After that, if all is well, further upgrading can be done according to the temperament and health of the hamster.

Food-wise, I tend to feed plain mix for the first 2 weeks with no extras to let them settle. With a very poor condition hamster, I've even used just a plain commercial mix rather than my own mix which is richer and then weaned them over to my mix (but that was a 70g adult Syrian who ended up being 130g after proper feeding). Introduce wet foods/egg/meat in small portions and gradually.

Good luck with your new addition

[InkyPen]

Luckily they were helpful enough to provide a 'does my bum look big in this' photo, and I can't see any balls �� Am I along the right lines with thinking long haired cinnamon banded Syrian girl? Some of the colours are a bit of a subtlety



Thank you for the advice on helping her to settle in.

I'm thinking tonight I'll remove the shredded paper, and replace it with fitch and shredded loo roll. I've also got a spare (unused) corner house from Inky's Alexander, a 20cm wheel (can't see anything bigger fitting) and I'll leave it at that tonight (or perhaps she'll get an unused whimzee too)

I'll ask what she has been eating, and try to take some with me, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she has been living off mars bars and lettuce leaves tbh. If it's actual hamster food, I'll try and take the remainder and mix it with Harry hamster in increasing proportions so it's not too sudden

Inky lives in our kitchen / lounge area, and this ham will go in our bedroom - it's the next room, but as far away as you can physically get in our tiny flat! We'll wash our hands inbetween times and that's about the best we can do quarantine wise, unless you have any extra helpful tips

Now... any ideas for names for a hamster that nearly became snake food? ������

[Vectis Hamstery]

She looks more like a golden banded to me. With those lovely locks, how about Medusa?

[souffle]

Vectis has given good advice, The length of the coat suggests that is a male hamster to be honest but once in your hands you will be able to check properly. I'd say that is more like a golden banded in colour. Hammy likely carries cream or other genes paling the golden as does the long hair. I'd replace the bedding maybe leaving a little bit for the scent and play it by ear how quickly you can upgrade but don't do it right away I'd suggest. Hope it all goes smoothly.

[BoredHamsters]

Haha I just saw that post earlier, I'm 24 miles away so I was eyeing it up too.
I'm in slough
Anyway I'm glad she's getting a nice home,

[Pebbles82]

Lots of good advice there I'm sure he or she would appreciate some nice fitch and toilet paper bedding, a wheel, chew and toy or two until they are ready to be upgraded and also used to you a bit.

[InkyPen]

FML. Got there, and it turned out the hamster in the picture is very much not the hamster being advertised. She spoke very little English and presented me with.... a dwarf hybrid. I took the hamster anyway, but I'm not sure it'll be staying with us forever. I'll upload pics as soon as I get home.

Apparently it has been eating Wagg hamster food. Does anyone know how bad that is for hybrids? I'll be getting some Burgess dwarf food pronto, but it's too late tonight.

[AmityvilleHams]

Wagg food isn't that great for any hamster,especially not hybrids They don't even bother specifying their "antioxidant"(equally likely to be BHA/BHT/ethoxyquin known to cause cancer or a safe alternative of citric acid for example,however as it is unspecified it definitely isn't safe),and that's one of many issues along with potential use of poor quality grain biproducts(oatfeed and such tend to be the remnants rather than using the whole grain,which gives minimal nutritional value and is a very cheap way to bulk foods up,in my experience)and more.

You're probably fine for a night without food,as long as you get the Burgess tomorrow

[AprilPearl]

Poor little thing. Sorry that I don't have any advice, but I think you did a wonderful thing by taking her in.