Long Time Hamster Owner

Jeir · 11-16-2014, 05:58 AM

Hi. =) My name's Jeir, I'm 25, and am somewhat hamster-obsessed. XD

As the title says, I've owned/been 'mummy' hamsters for a very long time (15 years, with a 2 year break...so 13). Primarily I've had Syrians (Angel (m), Nibbles (f), Houdini (m), Twiglet (m), Hammy (m), Summer (f), Fluffy (m), Fluffy II (m), Fluffy III (m)), but I've also cared for some Roborovskis (Speedy (m), Squeaky (m), Dinky (m)), and two Campbells hybrids (Pippy (f) and Bubbles (m)).

My current fluffballs are my elderly Syrian Fluffy III, and siblings Pippy and Bubbles.

I've had Fluffy for almost two years (he's just gone past the 2 years old mark), and he's possibly the happiest hamster I've ever had. I read that when a hamster makes a popping/clicking sound (not chattering) it means they're happy...and he pops pretty much every time I hold and cuddle him! He's also been the tamest, having let me pet and hold him from just two days after I brought him home. He lives in a Hamster Heaven Metro cage converted into a 1-level 'retirement home'.

I've had Pippy and Bubbles for a little under two months now. When I got them, they were sold together (I sexed them myself after a few days), so I had to return Pippy to the store in the event she was pregnant (I have never had a pregnant hamster, and wasn't confident in my ability to care for her and any potential pups) as they had an in-store vet and vet clinic so would have been able to take care of her if she had been. Two weeks later, I found out she was still there, so immediately asked if I could get her back. She and her brother now live in my room (along with Fluffy; they really don't seem to care about each other's presence) in separate Zoozone2 cages. Both babies are a little nippy in their cages, but once they're out (either by me picking them up carefully, or by tempting them into toilet rolls to lift them out) they're both sweet little things that love exploring and nibbling everything.

Pebbles82 · 11-16-2014, 07:55 AM

Hello and welcome. Your Hammies sound rather gorgeous. Do you have any photos?

Jeir · 11-16-2014, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hello and welcome. Your Hammies sound rather gorgeous. Do you have any photos?

Yes, yes I do. Erm....had to shrink them due to forum limits/couldn't post imgur URLs. Here.

Fluffy's a long-haired scruffball of a Syrian, and apparently that was his 'hug me now!' face. It was taken a couple of months ago, when he was still active.

The one with the babies was taken when I first got them, which is why they're together. Pippy's the pretty grey one, while Bubbles is the handsome red-eyed fluffball.

Pebbles82 · 11-16-2014, 08:16 AM

All lovely! The two babies seem happy in each others company and Fluffy looks like a star!

cypher · 11-16-2014, 08:29 AM

Hi Jeir welcome to the forum

Lovely hams, look forward to seeing more of them

Jeir · 11-16-2014, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Hi Jeir welcome to the forum

Lovely hams, look forward to seeing more of them

Thanks for the welcome. =)

Sadly, I don't think Fluffy will be around much longer. His body temperature is really low, and has been for over a week, and I have no idea why; no amount of google searching has come up with anything. I posted a thread in the Healthcare forum asking for some help, but it still hasn't appeared, even though I posted it a while before my intro post.

There's also a bit of worry with Pippy (she's drinking/peeing way too much)...but Bubbles seems okay. Ergh. Why do these little guys/girls have to be so loveable. XD

cypher · 11-16-2014, 08:56 AM

Sorry to hear Fluffy isn't well, he is getting old now so I guess it could be age related but I really don't know, have you taken him to the vet to see if they can help?
It might be an idea to test Pippy for diabetes, test her urine with some diastix if you can & see what results you get. If she does test positive she would need to go to the vet too but you can also find lots of info & help her for taking care of diabetic hams.

Jeir · 11-16-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Sorry to hear Fluffy isn't well, he is getting old now so I guess it could be age related but I really don't know, have you taken him to the vet to see if they can help?
It might be an idea to test Pippy for diabetes, test her urine with some diastix if you can & see what results you get. If she does test positive she would need to go to the vet too but you can also find lots of info & help her for taking care of diabetic hams.

Planning on taking him as soon as possible if no one here has any ideas. At least the thread has turned up now.

As for Pippy, diabetes is something I considered, but as she's under 3 months old, has been on a low-sugar, high-protein diet since I got her, her weight has stayed pretty much the same, and her brother isn't showing any issues, I didn't think it wouldn't be that. But, better safe than sorry. Just bought some Keto-Diastix off Amazon. Hopefully they'll arrive soon.

cypher · 11-17-2014, 01:13 AM

I agree better safe than sorry, non of those things totally exclude her having diabetes but hopefully she doesn't & gets a negative result with the diastix. It could be a few things so may be a bit of a process of elimination.
Let us know how it goes.