Meet Willow

[CMB]

Thank you. I'm going to set the playpen up the way it was when I first got Willow (less things in it and more space) as she seemed to like it then. If she is liking it again. I will add a new item and see how she reacts. Adding new things slowly. I may use her original wheel as it will have more of her scent on it than the newer wheel.

I want her to be happy and not stressed.

I now have another dilemma. I have ordered a 20kg bale of Fitch bedding. Could this stress her? Would it be a good idea to add a small amount of Fitch in one area of her tank, to see her reaction? Or even put some on a container in the playpen.?

[cypher]

I wouldn't think the fitch would stress her, no harm in introducing some slowly if you are concerned, I'm guessing you won't be doing a full change all in one go anyway so you could just begin with maybe a third of the tank & sprinkle some of her old substrate over that & gradually introduce her that way.
She might enjoy a container in the playpen too, you could hide some seeds in it for her to hunt for!

[CMB]

Thank you Cypher. I was going to do a partial clean. Although with spot cleaning and her using her sand bath as a potty (I think she is). I'm not sure if I need to change much, if any yet.

I will have to find/buy another container for the playpen Fitch digging area. Willow is so spoilt. Lol

[Drago]

Just catching up- what a sweet photo of Willow in her burrow. My rabbit and your ham share a name, I just realized that

[dreamtree1234]

I'm sorry that Willow doesn't seem to enjoy coming out for her playtime as much lately. As everyone mentioned, it may be good to just keep switching things up every once in a while to keep her excited about coming out to explore. It is always a good sign that she loves to be held and petted once out of her cage though. She may just not like the idea of being transported from her cage to the play area, which happens with certain hamsters during certain periods in their life. I think that it may just be that she needs to get used to this, so don't worry. She is acting like the child who can't wait to get to the playground or amusement park but doesn't enjoy the ride in the car to get there. "Are we there yet?" asked repeatedly only a few minutes after the last time asked. LOL!

[Thin Lizzy]

Just been catching up with your beautiful Willow, that's a good idea about putting some fitch in a box/container and in her playpen. I would introduce it slowly into her cage too.
You could put some treats in what you transfer her to the playpen in.

[Hamsterita]

Willow's cage looks so cool, is it a diy? it looks like a furniture!

I love love love to see her burrows, it must be a delight watching them in real life.

I hope she getting shy is just a phase!!

[CMB]

Thank you all.

I had even wondered if she could be pregnant as she has been spending a lot of time in her burrow. Can't see pups,but heard squeaking (could be Willow).i think I have had her too long for it to be pups. but She isn't scared of my hand or travel box. She just ignores them. With or without food/treat bribe.

Can hamsters have phantom pregnancies?

Her tank is a Jewel Vision 180 litre fish tank. It stands on a cabinet that comes with the tank.My dad and I made the platform.

[cypher]

Most of my Russians have been quite vocal when in their houses, when they're asleep mostly so it could just be that, maybe she's dreaming!

No idea about phantom pregnancies in hams tbh!

[CMB]

I have hardly seen Willow for a few days now. She had blocked her nest up, so I can hardly see in.

She was out on her wheel, washing. I spoke to her and she sat listening for a minute maximum, before going back to her nest.

The last time I held her. I tipped her over. Her nipples are visible, where they weren't before.

When a hamster is pregnant. Can you see when the pups move before they are born?