Back in Hamsterland

Dalis_mum · 02-05-2018, 08:01 AM

Halloooo

I doubt anyone will remember me after a couple years away with a gerbil, but I'm back to hamsterland.

After I lost Dali a few years ago I rehomed Dotty the gerbil and didn't quite fit here anymore. Unfortunately, Dotty was pts over Christmas after a 6month battle with a metastatic scent gland tumour. I was, and still am, devastated but I couldn't bear seeing the empty habitat and felt so lonely as my disability has worsened and left me quite isolated. So now we have, Edison, a new Syrian to love.

I shall post a photo when I can get a good one. He's still very shy and I'm not particularly spry. Haha.

Hope everyone is well. I look forward to catching up with all mischief and mishaps..

Rads · 02-05-2018, 08:48 AM

Welcome back, looking forward to seeing a snap or two of Edison

cypher · 02-05-2018, 09:34 AM

Welcome back, good to see you around again

So sorry to hear about Dotty, that must have been very hard for you.
Glad you have a new ham to love, look forward to hearing more about Edison & seeing some photos.

Pebbles82 · 02-05-2018, 11:14 AM

Hello and welcome back

So sorry about your gerbil. Did you get a cage sorted for your Edison? I remember the tank was an issue as too heavy. Looking forward to meeting him!

Dalis_mum · 02-05-2018, 12:02 PM

I'm still enjoying the Exo Terra vivarium. At 90cm long and 45cm wide and high it gives good space, plenty of room for a 28cm wooden trixie wheel and toys etc enough of a lip for deepish substrate and two front opening doors that open the full 90cm length.

Dali never settled in it, but she never settled anywhere and paramount simply came to finding her a big enough cage that she couldn't escape from so she was safe, which ended up being the exo terra.

Dotty loved it. She had a slightly different cage set up since she was a different species.

Edison is seeming ok in it. He's still very anxious but has made great strides in the past week and a bit. He's now coming up to the doors to take treats from my hands and he'll climb into his ball when he fancies it. Slowly slowly catchy hammy. I'm even managing to train my housemate, she kept wanting to chase and grab but she's listening to reason now he's starting to gain confidence. Lol. He's funny when he tries to hide, he often leaves his bum sticking out. I don't think he's fully grasped the idea of object permanence. Lol

Pebbles82 · 02-05-2018, 12:20 PM

The exo terra is lovely! I'm sure any hammy would be happy in there

Just out of interest - do you think a robo could get through the little ventilation gaps at the bottom of the doors?

CMB · 02-05-2018, 12:57 PM

Welcome. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing about Edison. I had thought of using an Exo Terra vivarium as a hamster home. I have one hamster in a tank, but it is awkward doing everything from the top.

Dalis_mum · 02-05-2018, 12:58 PM

It's a brilliant cage for small rodents. Even without my hernia I was never a fan of traditional top opening tanks. I feel that it forces them into a panic state when trying to catch them as it mimics being under attack from a bird or larger animal in the wild.

A robo definitely couldn't squeeze through the vent gaps. They'd struggle to even chew through as its such tough plastic. Gerbils are notorious chewers. Dotty tried for about 10 seconds before accepting defeat and destroying a toilet roll inner. Lol. Edison lasted 2 seconds befor e getting distracted by a banana chip. Lol.

Dalis_mum · 02-05-2018, 01:04 PM

I'm hoping this photo will upload... I just had him come to the front for a hand feed and managed a stroke a few times without him running off. PROGRESS!

I made a platform out of a long trixie bridge so he can walk up level with the doors so that any contact is on his terms. It seems to be working...

CMB · 02-05-2018, 01:06 PM

Yay progress. He looks lovely.