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Old 10-01-2019, 07:06 AM   #1
Ria P
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Default Percy

New boy Percy, an adopted Russian dwarf hybrid is a spirited little fellow as already mentioned in the Henry and Gordon thread.

He attacks my fingers/hand soon as i put it in his cage to offer him a seed. Not sure what's up with him, maybe he is just very terratorial, insecure or simply a bolshie little dwarf?

Yesterday i set up a playpen and got him out with a mug to see how he'd react out of his cage.
He run around, through and over tubes, climbed over things and nose butted others. To me it looked like he was having fun. I didn't try and interact with him because i thought that would be stimulation overload.
He bit my hand or glove rather, covering the mug when i put him back. I wore gardening gloves because i didn't want to be nervous of getting bitten.

He was the same in his tiny pet shop cage. The girl couldn't touch him either and used a box to transfer him into my pet carrier.

This morning i gave him a bit of porridge in an egg cup and in true Percy fashion he lunged at the cup and bit it. The porridge wasn't a success. He twice dipped his nose in it then retreated twice to wash his face and that was that.

He is so different from my other two. He is overweight and a diabetes candidate so needs exercise and out of cage time. He is on a healthier diet already and eats his greens too.

Any idea what i could or should do for this hamster and how best to attempt to tame him? He's wild at the moment and i wonder what made him that way.
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Old 10-01-2019, 10:26 AM   #2
10Minutes
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Default Re: Percy

Wait, what? You adopted a Russian dwarf hybrid? You're certainly planning to collect all hamsters eh, now I'll be expecting to hear about a new adopted Chinese hamster soon!

I've hear that hamsters can become more aggressive because they don't have enough space (and the actual space required really does depend on the hamster's personal preference). Maybe more toys/ hideouts might help to reduce boredom?

I hope he gets used to you and becomes tame soon! Maybe he just needs time.
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Old 10-02-2019, 10:01 AM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Percy

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Originally Posted by 10Minutes View Post
Wait, what? You adopted a Russian dwarf hybrid?
I know! Last night i set up a big playpen for Percy and he was into everything. Then i found Henry sitting by his front door which is most unusual so i asked my OH to keep an eye on Percy while Henry had a roam on my bed. Percy had been out for a while and sat in his box filled with paper flakes so i put him back to give Henry a chance to freeroam. Henry had a very close sniff up of Percy's toys before running around. And then i couldn't catch the little devil for ages and my early night turned into a late one.
I got up at 05.45 to get a chance to see Gordon before leaving for an early shift and Gordon came onto my hand without hesitation to get some linseeds. What a lovely start to a day!

Percy has lots of enrichment and i've changed the set up by replacing plastic items with wood ones but he is a hamster who needs more space. I totally agree with you in saying that cage size depends on the hamster's personality.

I keep looking for an exo terra but i'd need to be able to temporarily move Percy's cage because the room he's in doubles as a guest room. I think an Ikea Sambla bin cage may be the best option with the window or windows placed higher up to allow for deeper substrate and long bendy bridges runs.

I've never seen a Chinese Hamster up for adoption, maybe just as well, lol.
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:40 AM   #4
Rads
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Default Re: Percy

Ria, are you going for the title " Crazy Hamster Lady"?
But good going rescuing your crazy Robo and giving him a loving home.....
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Old 10-02-2019, 12:32 PM   #5
Coco61
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Default Re: Percy

Welcome to HC, Percy. You are set to have a wonderful life in a loving home. Lucky boy.
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Old 10-03-2019, 01:34 AM   #6
Ria P
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Ria, are you going for the title " Crazy Hamster Lady"?
Lol! Looks that way. Not sure what happened because i had only planned on one....
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Old 10-03-2019, 01:55 AM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Percy

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Originally Posted by Coco61 View Post
Welcome to HC, Percy. You are set to have a wonderful life in a loving home. Lucky boy.
I hope Percy's going to have a good life. I'll try my best but this wee soul seems to have some serious issues. He is so angry. Bites, kicks and throws himself about when i try to touch him so have put that on hold for now.

He attacks his whimzees like a hungry lion attacks his prey.
He's just not right and i can see why he didn't find a home.

He has slowed down on his excessive drinking and he doesn't have cage rage that requires an immediate upgrade of his cage. He's just as 'aggressive' and angry out of his cage.

There could be an underlying medical problem but i don't think he's in pain and he looks well with a shiny, fluffy coat and clear eyes and nose. He doesn't look quite so overweight since he's been on a good diet. I can't weigh him unless i'd weigh a box first and then weigh it with Percy trapped in it. He would throw himself about though and the box off the scales.

Bit of a problem kid this one.
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Old 10-03-2019, 02:43 AM   #8
10Minutes
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Default Re: Percy

I'm so glad to hear that Gordon would come onto your hand! I remember the days when you'd just gotten him and he was afraid to take treats from you, so you just had to leave the treat on the substrate for him. It is such an amazing moment when you get such a shy little creature to start trusting you.

A Samla sounds great, it's easily portable if you need to move him temporarily.

If there's a Chinese hamster for adoption to be found in your vicinity, he's probably as good as yours already.

I don't know if he has a medical condition, but they're quite good at hiding it, apparently. My wounded Robo has clear eyes and nose, perky ears, and was just as active as usual on her wheel, eating and drinking normally. Apart from the obvious wounds on her butt.

For Percy, I would just keep him under careful observation, maybe he needs more time to adapt to you and his new home. Maybe he had a stressful life prior to this.
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Old 10-03-2019, 05:55 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Percy

If his history isn't known he could well have been treated badly in the past to cause this kind of behaviour. You will need to take things very slowly with him. He may always be scared of humans and hands but take it very slowly and see if he eventually starts to trust you. Have you done the tissue trick? So he starts to get familiar with your scent.

Space may make a change as well. What is he in at the moment? It is possible it is cage aggression and some hamsters hate anything coming from the top.
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Old 10-03-2019, 06:39 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: Percy

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Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
If his history isn't known he could well have been treated badly in the past to cause this kind of behaviour. You will need to take things very slowly with him. He may always be scared of humans and hands but take it very slowly and see if he eventually starts to trust you. Have you done the tissue trick? So he starts to get familiar with your scent.

Space may make a change as well. What is he in at the moment? It is possible it is cage aggression and some hamsters hate anything coming from the top.
No, haven't done tissue but have stuffed some in my bra right now. He's in a 70cmx40cm bin cage and i was planning to convert a large Samla but you made me rethink now.

Maybe a front access cage like a Hamster Haven would be a better idea. A cage fairly low to make him feel more secure.

He goes into a mug for out of cage time. Thought the exercise may help his aggression and he does run around and use all the toys.

He is one disturbed little hamster and i really want to give him a better life.
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