Meet Emoji! - Page 3

emojimom · 05-07-2017, 09:06 PM

Emoji still hides from me as soon as he sees/hears that I'm in the room, but signs all around his cage prove that he is living a happy little hamster life.

He has eaten all the food I've given him so far (or, more likely, stashed it away), so I'm pleased not to have a picky eater. From the sound of it, his entire cage is a series of underground burrows and it is so cute to hear him go from one side of the cage to the other. But it does make it harder to see him/find him. Obviously I don't want to upset him and cause him undue stress, but eventually I'll need to change out the bedding (I've been doing daily spot cleaning, which seems to stress him out enough as it is). I can tell he's using his sand bath and drinking water and eating, so I'm not too worried. It's interesting to contrast his personality with Beatrix, who seems entirely different. Of course I understand they are different species, it's just fun to have them to compare and contrast. Beatrix is so friendly and curious and eager to get to know me. She comes out to seek me out whenever I am around and has already figured out that Mom=treats. I wish I'd gotten a photo of it but as I lowered a peanut down to her, she reached out her little paw greedily. So sweet. I can hear her right now running in her wheel.

But she has her own thread so I don't want to take up Emoji's thread bragging about his sister.

I really appreciate this forum and being able to quell my own anxieties by reading that patience is necessary and their behavior is normal. Everyone here is so helpful, so thanks for that!

cypher · 05-07-2017, 10:33 PM

Definitely sounds as though he's enjoying his cage

I wouldn't worry thinking about how you're going to clean just yet, you don't need to do more than spot clean for at least a month, they usually pee in the sand bath which makes things easier.
I would just spend as much time in the room as you can so he gets more used to your presence, it might help to just be in the room & not even talk to him for a while if he's that easily spooked, the more he can learn that your presence isn't any kind of threat & won't stop him from going about his usual things the better really.

emojimom · 05-09-2017, 07:48 PM

Ok, I feel weird about this question, but I can't figure out where Emoji is peeing or pooping. I spot cleaned his cage and cleaned out his sand bath, which he was using, but since then, a few days ago--no signs of pee or poop anywhere. But I can tell by smell that he is peeing somewhere. Would he have it buried somewhere? There's no wet corners, and I don't want to upset him by digging through his nest and disturbing him, but I really want to clean tomorrow.

AmityvilleHams · 05-09-2017, 07:59 PM

I would just not worry about it and let it stay as is for now

A lot of people spot clean,I personally don't,but in some cases just waiting for a partial clean is fine.Of course,cage size and ventilation along with substrate depth are going to impact things,but it doesn't really hurt to wait a few months and do a partial clean rather than spot cleaning frequently as a lot of people do(which is also perfectly fine even though it isn't the right solution for every hamster,unlike frequent cleaning of larger areas).

emojimom · 05-09-2017, 09:36 PM

Ok, I will let him settle in a bit longer. He does still seem so timid, and I don't want to spook him further!

cypher · 05-09-2017, 11:00 PM

There's a good chance he'll be peeing in his wheel, they usually pee in sand so a sand bath & a tray with sand close to the nest if you can find the nest that is usually helps.
I wouldn't worry too much for now, they can pee in various places for a while as they settle.

Hamsterita · 05-10-2017, 01:35 AM

It is very soon, so don't worry if he runs away every time he hears you. Anyway some hams aren't social. As you said, the important thing is that he sounds happy. As cypher suggested, he could be peeing in his wheel or in his nest, it's probably that he eventually will end up peeing in the same spot

emojimom · 05-10-2017, 10:43 AM

The elusive Emoji appeared today! I went in to put a new wheel in Beatrix's cage, and guess who was out running around, getting a drink, having a snack! He's hoarding his sunflower and pumpkin seeds (his favorites) in this little wooden house I set up on the other side of the cage from his bed, and he went to have a nibble, then ran around the cage, checking on things, and went back to sleep. I don't think he saw me, but I was happy to get a glimpse of him in the daylight, to see how fit he is. Such a cutie pie.

He isn't peeing in his wheel--I checked that. My childhood hamster always peed in his wheel, and I hated cleaning it--but maybe he is going in the sand bath. Oh well. I'll try not to be such a nervous new mom.

Stealers Wheel · 05-10-2017, 02:08 PM

Hi Emoji!

emojimom · 05-11-2017, 08:35 AM

I'm not usually home at this time of day (10:30am), but today I was, and decided to check in on the hams before I went back to work. Emoji came out of his burrow to get a drink and ran around checking out his cage. I watched him pull his Whimzee chew from where I'd put it into his puzzle playhouse, and go to town on it, and I decided to try to give him a treat. I put some flax seeds in my hand, and boy did he love those! Just like his sister.

He's definitely still learning what is food and what is finger, but he crawled all the way up into my hand to eat them! Such a change from the timid guy I've been used to the past two weeks. I'm glad I was patient and let him adjust to his new home. He seemed so much more confident and unafraid, and even let me pet him a tiny bit. Definitely making progress!

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