Hi! Just introducing me and my two hams.

[kumys]

I've wanted to post here since forever, but I've always been afraid that I'd get my head bitten off because of the cages my fuzzies are in. Both by Kaytee, one is in the two-level Crittertrail and the other is in the two-story "My First Home" cage. Both ridiculously small, I know, but it wasn't my choice. I had no desire to get or own hamsters, but one day, I was sleeping in my bed and my mom randomly burst into my room with a box, going "I bought you dwarfs!" and that's the story of how I ended up with Rumex and Oxalis.

They were originally in the same cage (the Crittertrail), but they kept fighting and after a day of being together, I managed to convince my mom that we needed another cage ASAP. After that, I did a lot of last minute researching and we got them a different (though from my understanding, still not so great?) food because the pet store employees had basically told my mother that the Kaytee Fiesta mix that she picked out was GREAT stuff.

My mother wasn't actually willing to buy them bigger cages at first because it was "too expensive" or because "they're fine in their current cages" and that's why they're in the cages they are right now, but after a lot of arguing, convincing and going back and forth recently, I -should- be getting two Ikea Detolf display cases to convert into cages at the end of this month, so as bad as their cages are right now, it isn't forever. Kind of disappointed that I can't post photos of them, what with this being my first post and all, but I guess I'll just do that on my second post.

[cypher]

Hi & welcome to HC

No one here is going to bite your head off don't worry!
It's a shame you haven't been able to get cages you would like yet but it will be lovely for them if you can get the Detolfs, it's obvious you care about them very much & want to give them the best life you can & that's what matters.

Look forward to seeing photos when you're able to post them.

[FelicityAnn]

Hi Kumys, and welcome! Great to have you with us!

We all make mistakes all the time, and the cage sizes aren't even your fault, so don't worry about being criticised. The good thing is that you KNOW and are trying to do something about it.

I think the Detolf will be great for Dwarves, although I have a Syrian myself. How old are your fuzzies now? And which country are you in? Knowing that will allow the rest of us to give you the proper advice.

[kumys]

Man, I can't post photos on my second post, either, aha!

I'm actually really not sure of their exact ages; it appears my mom never asked and so the pet store never told her. They were smaller when we first got them, though, and we've had them for quite a few months (I didn't keep track of how long, I really should've, but I have a lot going on and so I didn't), so I'd assume they're both all grown up at this point. Sorry if that isn't helpful.

I'm in Canada and, at least at our local pet store, it really doesn't seem like we have much? I'd really like to feed them better food (they eat Oxbow Essentials Hamster & Gerbil at the moment supplemented with mealworms, the occasional piece of cooked chicken or egg, and veggies), but I can't find any of the foods people recommend for dwarfs there and I read on another forum that Oxbow was sort of OK if supplemented, so that's what I went with to get them away from Kaytee. Don't get me started on cages, either; they're all tiny and overpriced, so that's why I'm going the DIY route with the Detolfs since our pet store has nothing.

[AprilPearl]

Hello and welcome. Everyone is lovely here and no one will bite your head off, don't worry! Love the names, very cute.

I don't know a huge amount about dwarf care as I have always kept Syrians, but I'm sure others here can advise on diet etc. I think many recommend Burgess? You'd have to check that, though. The main thing is not to feed any fruit or other sugary foods, as dwarves from a pet shop will be hybrids and they are prone to diabetes.

As your two guys are from a pet shop, they were likely 8-10 weeks old at the time you first git them. So, I guess add 8-10 weeks onto the amount if time you have had them to determine their rough age.

[Vectis Hamstery]

Hi and welcome. I look forward to seeing pictures of your little ones. What sort of dwarfies do you have?

[kumys]

(Cage is on the floor so I can take a better picture, lol)
The top one is Oxalis, the two bottom pictures are Rumex. I'm not entirely sure what type of dwarfs they are - I think they might be hybrids? They were sold simply as "Russian dwarf hamsters", so I'm not entirely sure if they're Campbell's or winter whites or hybrids or what. I am also not entirely sure of their sexes! I've had them for quite awhile, so they're both accustomed to being handled to the extent that they both like to come out, but only Rumex can actually be held. Oxalis likes to bite skin. Really hard. She'll crawl into your cupped hands to come out and won't bite gloves or my sleeve pulled over my hand, but no matter how well I wash my hands, she'll bite my skin. Rumex doesn't have that problem, but he seems to be particular about how you handle him (as in, no grasping him in any way, he prefers to just sit in your hands instead), so while I THINK Oxalis is a female and Rumex is a male from observing their privates whenever they climb the cage, I can't really sex them properly without getting bitten.

[AprilPearl]

If they are from a pet shop, they will be hybrids

They're very cute! Maybe you could put them in a see through container and look at their underside to determine their sex? You could post pictures (or a video if you can't get a clear photo) here and I'm sure others could help.

[CMB]

Welcome. Hope they both like their new cages once they move in.

[cypher]

They both look really lovely, as AP said they will be hybrids, pet shops don't sell pure WW or Campbells although they may call them a variety of things!