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Old 06-19-2019, 10:21 PM   #1
CharlieHamHam
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: California
Posts: 64
Post Charlie’s first week!

I adopted my sweet little Charlie a week ago today! He is a male short hair Syrian and he is black and white. I got him at Petco because there are no local breeders or shelters with hammies in my area.. He is my second hamster. My first hammy (RIP Waffles) died a few months ago. When I got Charlie, he was very scared and stressed. Here is a log of everything noteable that has been going on with Charlie this week!

-For the first day, he made his nest in the corner. From the second day foreword, he sleeps in his hut.
-Today (literally 10 minutes ago) I saw him drink for the first time.
-He does not eat a bunch, but I’m not worried.
-He bit me today for the first time when I was hand training him.
-Yesterday, our of nowhere, he started screaming while he was sleeping (a hamster scream, not like a human scream). I think he had a nightmare and it broke my heart because he was terrified.
-He runs on his wheel at night a lot.
-He got his cage cleaned for the first time today. He was in a good mood.
-He doesn’t like the toilet paper I gave him with my scent on it. Guess I stink.
-He hissed at my dad on the first day (sorry dad)
-He takes treats from my fingers!

Please reply if you think I should do something different or if you have any recommendations!
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Old 06-20-2019, 04:52 AM   #2
Schwartzie
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 385
Default Re: Charlie’s first week!

When I had hamsters as a child I was ignorant. I used the shavings you buy in petshops and cleaned the cage every week...the entire cage...I did, I’m embarrassed to confess. I didn’t know any better.

You mentioned you cleaned your cage. Was this spot cleaning? It would be great if other hamster owners wouldn’t mind sharing their cleaning routine. I would also like to know how others balance cleaning out small sections of the cage at a time. There is lots of information in this forum about not cleaning too much at a time to keep the hamsters scent on things around it without stressing the hamster.

He bit you...did your hands smell of food? Think about the moment so that you can avoid that happening again. If you hadn’t washed your hands he may have bit you because you smelt of food or maybe he got a fright or there was lots going on. Can anyone add information on the best environment to handle your hamster in? I’m assuming lightly dimmed, quiet and after your hamster has woken up? I see lots of hamster owners using a mug during the initial stage.

So exciting to have a hamster! Can’t wait to have mine!
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:59 AM   #3
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Charlie’s first week!

You probably don't stink, LOL!!
My hamster found my hand cream offensive and then he had issues with my scented hand soap so i had to buy plain unperfumed soap to wash my hands with before i rubbed my hands on the loo paper to give to my hamster. He likes the paper torn into strips to use as bedding.
Try that, they can be fussy little creatures.
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Old 06-20-2019, 08:05 AM   #4
Grace6446
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
Default Re: Charlie’s first week!

I can share my cleaning routine!

Currently I spot clean any visible spots daily and sift through the sand bath - as long as my hamster is asleep. If she’s up walking around I don’t, just because I don’t want to stress her and it’s likely I’ll be able to get those spots later in the day or the next. I clean her wheel every other day as she is a wheel-pee-er. Then once a week I do a deeper clean where I remove my girl for some bath tub playtime, remove all the toys and check for chew damage, lift all the bedding and get the soiled bedding out (my hamster doesn’t have a pee corner so I just take out where the poo is unless it smells), refill the sand bath and fill the bedding back up.

If your cage is big enough, you should very rarely if ever have to take out large portions of bedding - there’s just no need!
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Old 06-20-2019, 08:49 AM   #5
CharlieHamHam
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: California
Posts: 64
Talking Re: Charlie’s first week!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartzie View Post
When I had hamsters as a child I was ignorant. I used the shavings you buy in petshops and cleaned the cage every week...the entire cage...I did, I’m embarrassed to confess. I didn’t know any better.

You mentioned you cleaned your cage. Was this spot cleaning? It would be great if other hamster owners wouldn’t mind sharing their cleaning routine. I would also like to know how others balance cleaning out small sections of the cage at a time. There is lots of information in this forum about not cleaning too much at a time to keep the hamsters scent on things around it without stressing the hamster.

He bit you...did your hands smell of food? Think about the moment so that you can avoid that happening again. If you hadn’t washed your hands he may have bit you because you smelt of food or maybe he got a fright or there was lots going on. Can anyone add information on the best environment to handle your hamster in? I’m assuming lightly dimmed, quiet and after your hamster has woken up? I see lots of hamster owners using a mug during the initial stage.

So exciting to have a hamster! Can’t wait to have mine!
Hello! Thanks for the response.

When I cleaned the cage, I moved Charlie to a separate bin and dumped out all the bedding. I did not wipe down the interior of the cage so that his smell was still there. I did wipe down his wheel though because he peed in it. (:

This was the first day I had put my whole hand openly in his cage. I had made sure to wash my hands so that the smell of his food would be removed. I tried to relax as much as possible while my hand was in the cage, because they can pick up on fear. He willingly approached my hand and nibbled on my fingers. I didn’t move so he bit a little harder and caused me to bleed. I think that when I do his treat training today I will wear cotton gloves with my scent on them.
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Old 06-20-2019, 08:52 AM   #6
CharlieHamHam
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: California
Posts: 64
Wink Re: Charlie’s first week!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
You probably don't stink, LOL!!
My hamster found my hand cream offensive and then he had issues with my scented hand soap so i had to buy plain unperfumed soap to wash my hands with before i rubbed my hands on the loo paper to give to my hamster. He likes the paper torn into strips to use as bedding.
Try that, they can be fussy little creatures.
Good to know, thanks! Currently he put the paper in his trash pile! Haha! What a silly boy. When I rubbed my scent on the paper I used my arms instead of my hands because my hands did smell of soap. I thought that he would tear it into pieces himself but I will tear it for him next time. Thanks again for the reply!
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Old 06-20-2019, 08:54 AM   #7
CharlieHamHam
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: California
Posts: 64
Red face Re: Charlie’s first week!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace6446 View Post
I can share my cleaning routine!

Currently I spot clean any visible spots daily and sift through the sand bath - as long as my hamster is asleep. If she’s up walking around I don’t, just because I don’t want to stress her and it’s likely I’ll be able to get those spots later in the day or the next. I clean her wheel every other day as she is a wheel-pee-er. Then once a week I do a deeper clean where I remove my girl for some bath tub playtime, remove all the toys and check for chew damage, lift all the bedding and get the soiled bedding out (my hamster doesn’t have a pee corner so I just take out where the poo is unless it smells), refill the sand bath and fill the bedding back up.

If your cage is big enough, you should very rarely if ever have to take out large portions of bedding - there’s just no need!
How interesting! I have always just emptied out all the bedding once a week. Maybe I should start cleaning out his pee corner every few days. My Charlie is a wheel-pee-er too! LOL.
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Old 06-20-2019, 09:04 AM   #8
Grace6446
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
Default Re: Charlie’s first week!

Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlieHamHam View Post
How interesting! I have always just emptied out all the bedding once a week. Maybe I should start cleaning out his pee corner every few days. My Charlie is a wheel-pee-er too! LOL.
This is very dependent on size of cage! Mine is about 550 inches and this works for me. If you have a critter trail or tiny tales cage, cleanings will have to be much more frequent and thorough!

Essentially the bigger the cage the less frequent you will have to do “full” cleans.
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