New Addition

[September]

Okay so I promised myself I wasn't going to share anything about this little guy for at least a couple of weeks, but he had his first photoshoot tonight and I couldn't resist sharing. If you can bear with me through a quick wall of text, the pics will be at the bottom of this post!

A few days ago I was a couple towns over from where I live for work, and decided to stop in at the pet shop there just to take a quick peek around--I had zero plans of coming home with anything breathing. They had obviously just gotten in a shipment of hamsters--they had like four seperate litters (housed by litter, not all together, so that's one point in their favor I suppose) One of the cages for the dwarves was left open, and when I asked an associate he said the door was broken and wouldn't stay shut, but it was either put them in there, or try housing them with another litter. It was only the top half that slid open, the bottom half was stationery, so no worries about them climbing out, however I though this was a bit skeevy, as just anyone could reach in there.

So of course, I decided to reach in there. I laid my hand flat in the middle of the cage to see what they would do, and rather than running or hiding, all three of them ran up and started attacking my hand. One of the little guys jumped into my palm to attack the base of my thumb, and because I'm weird like that, I instantly fell in love. The associate whipped out a carry-box he had already put together and was hiding behind his back (I joked with my mom that he must know a sucker when he sees one lol) and we put him in there for the ride home. He threw an absolute fit! You could hear him on the other side of the store!

I rushed home as fast as I could and set up my 20 gallon long, which he's been living happily in ever since. I'm currently waiting on my order from Viovet with Burgess Dwarf in it (he's eating commercial dwarf food until then, as bad as I hate it) and a second order on Amazon for some toys and such. I'll post pics of those as they come in

He has no name yet, and I also have no basis for calling him a boy (the store hadn't even sexed them yet, I don't feel confident doing it, and I don't believe my phone could take a clear enough pic for anyone here to help, though if anyone wants me to try I will!) If you want to make name suggestions, I prefer people-names for my hamsters! (And probably an androgynous name, for reasons listed above.

TLDR; Happy Easter from my new unnamed addition, enjoy these pics! **This was a controlled photoshoot, he was not allowed anywhere near the fake grass as it is bad for hamsters. For anyone who may have been concerned**

[Drago]

My goodness he/she is absolutely precious! It's a good thing you didn't have any impulse control lol. I don't know if you're taking suggestions or not, but I think the name Mittens would fit him/her very well Keep us updated on how they're doing!

[September]

Thank you! I agree about the impulse control lol. And I am taking suggestions, but I prefer human names

[Thin Lizzy]

He's absolutely gorgeous!

[cypher]

Congrats! He/she is too adorable for words
My first ham was a black one & my heart still totally melts when I see one!

[AprilPearl]

He is adorable! Congrats I LOVE his colouring. For some reason, I think Algernon (or Algy for short) would suit him. Piper would be sweet for a girl. Oh, or Scout for either a boy or girl. Sorry for all the suggestions, I have only just named my new hamster so have been thinking a lot about names recently!

[September]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

He's absolutely gorgeous!

Thank you! I agree

Originally Posted by cypher

Congrats! He/she is too adorable for words
My first ham was a black one & my heart still totally melts when I see one!

I just love black hamsters as well!! They're coloring was actually what made this litter stand out to me from all the others, which is how I discovered the open door.

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

He is adorable! Congrats I LOVE his colouring. For some reason, I think Algernon (or Algy for short) would suit him. Piper would be sweet for a girl. Oh, or Scout for either a boy or girl. Sorry for all the suggestions, I have only just named my new hamster so have been thinking a lot about names recently!

All three of those names are so wonderful! I sort of want to take a crack at gendering him/her before I settle on a name, but maybe not.

Funnily enough, I just started rereading Flowers for Algernon, and now that you've mentioned it I think it would be a terrific name!! But I also really love Piper and Scout... You may have made this harder rather than easier

[BorisPasha]

Awww he/she is beautiful and look (and sounds) fiesty I too have a little black dwarf but he's very shy Sounds like you have some nice suggestions for names, good luck choosing one

[cypher]

I think Algernon rather suits him too, if he is a he!
If you're not sure you could post a photo for some help.

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by September

Thank you! I agree

All three of those names are so wonderful! I sort of want to take a crack at gendering him/her before I settle on a name, but maybe not.

Funnily enough, I just started rereading Flowers for Algernon, and now that you've mentioned it I think it would be a terrific name!! But I also really love Piper and Scout... You may have made this harder rather than easier

Haha I am glad you like the names. Good luck! Boy or girl, that hamster is a cutie.

On the subject of sexing, I am not 100% confident that my new 'little boy' Mushu is in fact a little boy. The woman in the pet shop was a bit incompetent and said he was probably male without even touching him, let alone getting up close. I am waiting until he is more used to me before I attempt sexing him myself though. I figure if he is a girl, Mushu is still a good name though - even if his namesake (the dragon in Mulan) is a boy!