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Old 03-16-2005, 10:09 AM   #1
Emma
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Default New arrival in my house!

You may remember I posted just over a week ago about a Campbell's I met at the local animal rescue who rather liked the taste of my fingers too much......when I rang them up today, he was still there.



I thought about it some more, and decided to go and see him again. I am looking for another hamster anyway but was concerned about him not being particularly handleable.



Well - he had chilled out a lot! One of the volunteers there had been handling him, and when I got him out today he was a complete sweetie, even though we'd just woken him up. Not perfect but much better. So - home he came!



His previous owners had become too ill to look after him any more, and he hadn't been handled in a while, all he needs is some TLC.



We've decided to call him Alfie, it seems to suit him. His old name was Frankie which we didn't like - it's a bit feminine and I know someone I don't really like with that name!



He's settling into his new cage now, exploring the wheel and dust bath, rearranging the bedding and food and generally making himself at home. He seems quite confident which is nice.



So welcome home Alfie! I'll try and get some photos of him next week when we visit my parents, so I can show him off. He's a normal Campbells, not particularly well marked but I think he's rather attractive .
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Old 03-16-2005, 10:44 AM   #2
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Yay, Alfie!!



I just love little rodents, I always love brining a new one home and knowing its got the best home ever! And I specially like to watch them. I can’t wait to see some pictures!



Im glad hes settles down and not agressive. You just need to work with them.
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Old 03-16-2005, 02:03 PM   #3
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Welcome little Alfie! yey. How lucky he is Keep us informed with what he's up to!
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Old 03-16-2005, 02:49 PM   #4
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Congrats Emma!
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Old 03-16-2005, 03:10 PM   #5
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I'm sitting on my hands resisting the temptation to get him out to play tonight - don't want to overwhelm him on his first day. He has been pottering about his cage quite a bit.



I don't know his age unfortunately - his notes at the rescue just said "unknown". He's a big mature male though - very prominent scent gland. He's not especially young or old. Does anyone know any good ways to guess a hamsters age?



Can't wait to be able to have a bit of a play . I also can't believe the size of him compared to the Robos.
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Old 03-16-2005, 03:29 PM   #6
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Emma, I know what you mean about resisting that temptation! You just wanna hold them and stroke them! It killed me the first week with being patient but it payed off



Other than their teeth being white up to about 3 months of age I'm not sure on telling ages, and thats for syrians, I'm not sure whether that applies to dwarfs also? Probably? If so, after 3 months the teeth begin to yellow.

Also their ears can help sometimes - a young hamster will still have fur growing around the opening of its ears but after 6 months can not be relied upon. When they're older, again 18 months + they will be bare, sometimes dry looking.



I know that beyond about 18 months the hair may start to thin around the hip area. (I'm sure yours is probably not close to this age yet!).



Other than this, ???????? I'm also not sure regarding the dwarfs... maybe someone else has some clues.
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Old 03-17-2005, 09:39 AM   #7
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His teeth are the usual dark yellow colour. I think he could be any age that isn't a baby or ancient! Ah well.



I found out a bit more about his background today - his owner suffered with mental health problems long term, and kept several hamsters. They were forced to go into long-term psychiatric care, and had to leave their home, so the hamsters were sent to the rescue. Alfie did live with a brother, but the owner was so distressed giving them up she was a bit careless and he managed to escape between leaving home and arriving at the rescue, and he was never found. So poor Alfie not only had to cope with an owner that has been going downhill for a while and probably not able to care for him fully, then lost his brother, and now had to change home twice in just over two weeks. I don't think I blame him for being a bit fesity when we first met. Alfie's previous owner never meant him any harm though, and did the best by him bringing him into the rescue.
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Old 03-17-2005, 10:58 AM   #8
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What a sad story. But hopefully things will go well for him for the rest of his days!
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Old 03-17-2005, 02:01 PM   #9
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Default Age of Campbells

It is hard when they are fully mature to tell. Experience helps but not via the internet! The bare hips is something sometimes seen in Syrians but as dwarf hamsters have only one scent gland on their tummy this does not apply unfortunately, although the state of the gland and the feet may help, but it really is a whole package thing I look at when in your situation. You will probably not be able to tell really Emma sorry.
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