Help! Housing/living options with a baby hamster! Opinions needed ASAP!

chesca_27 · 06-11-2016, 05:33 AM

Hi everyone

So tomorrow I am getting my WW but I need to arrange a few things first. My situation is quite complicated so please help me consider both carefully first and don't assume I'm a terrible owner for considering this.

Basically, my hamster is supposed to live with my dad, who I see less than my mum due to their divorce, where he has a large cage full of toys and bedding. He will be able to stay at my mum's house when necessary and I have a small commercial cage for this (the Pets at Home small wire home) but I'm wondering whether or not he should stay with me, at my mum's house for a week or so while he gets used to me and settles in.

My reasoning is that I can tame him, make sure he settles in ok and is behaving normally if he stays with me at my mum's. It will be his first time away from other hamsters. Also we can pick him up in this cage, so he won't need to be moved from a carrier to a cage. The downside is he will be in a small cage (how most people start out with a hamster) and I don't know how long it can be until I can move him into his big cage without stressing him out.

The other thing I can do is put him straight into his regular big cage, which will involve moving from a carrier to a cage. He can settle straight in. The downsides for this are I won't be able to monitor him, tame him easily or keep an eye on his behaviour to make sure he's showing no signs of stress. Also, I can't do the food change over properly as my dad will need to do it.

I am currently leaning towards him staying with me at my mum's but I want to know other people's opinions. If it helps, I am told he is a lovely, friendly hamster who is an absolute sweetheart, by Sue from Tufty Fluff. I will also try and add a poll (fingers crossed it works) so please answer that and if possible give me a reason why. I really appreciate it. Sorry for the long post. Thank you

Kimberly · 06-11-2016, 09:01 AM

I think he should stay with you. I've never owned any sort of dwarf hamster myself, but I think it's necessary for the owner to monitor their hamsters closely for at least the first couple weeks to make sure they're not behaving abnormally. I don't know how much your dad knows about hamsters, but if he doesn't know much, then he may not be able to spot strange behavior. For the issue with the small cage: try to give him plenty of things to do without making the cage too cramped. If he is able to be picked up by you comfortably, then it may be possible for you to let him run around in a small area in the house (if you do this, NEVER take your eyes off him- hamsters can disappear in an instant). Hopefully this will be enough to keep him stress-and-boredom-free until you are able to move him into the bigger cage.

Pebbles82 · 06-11-2016, 10:08 AM

You can let him settle in the small cage with you for a few weeks, and then when you uprgrade him you could put the whole cage base with everyhing in tact (substrate, toys, house etc) inside the larger case so it's less of a transition

And let him explore out from there - adding a few new things to the bigger cage as well if you want.

Coco61 · 06-11-2016, 12:48 PM

Agree with Serendipity. Best if you keep him with you. He should be allowed to get used to your scent with the tissue trick straight away. Since Sue will have have handled him from early on you should be on hand to handle him sooner rather than later. You can upgrade to the large cage when convenient. He will have a lot to get used to with the change in home tomorrow.

CMB · 06-12-2016, 02:20 AM

Having your new hamster with you will help with the taming process and you will be there to see how he is settling in.

He should adjust to the bigger cage given time.

chesca_27 · 06-12-2016, 07:45 AM

Thanks everyone. I've got Larry-Jasper (that's his name) next to me now.

Coco61 · 06-12-2016, 08:39 AM

Hello Larry-Jasper. Welcome to HC! How did you find the visit to Tuftyfluffs? Isn't the Hamstery just amazing?!

chesca_27 · 06-12-2016, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coco61

Hello Larry-Jasper. Welcome to HC! How did you find the visit to Tuftyfluffs? Isn't the Hamstery just amazing?!

He says hello. The visit was great. The Hamstery truly is amazing. So many adorable hammies. I saw some of the Syrians - they were HUGE yet only around 6 weeks old. And all the dwarfies were adorable!

freyashamsters · 06-12-2016, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesca_27

He says hello. The visit was great. The Hamstery truly is amazing. So many adorable hammies. I saw some of the Syrians - they were HUGE yet only around 6 weeks old. And all the dwarfies were adorable!

Sounds lovely! Makes me more impatient to get mine in October