Thundercloud

[kiania]

Originally Posted by The Hamster's family

OI sincerely hope you feel great about what you provided him

We do. When we first picked him up, he spent the first week on his wheels platform which is about the same dimensions as a mini duna. He point blank refused to leave it. He built his nest, and encouraged us to bring food to him. Then he realised that there was more space beyond the lip of the platform (I say platform, the substrate was up to the level of the platform - but it was on legs so it wouldn't collapse if he tunnelled underneath like our last hybrid loved doing - so there wasn't a 'step' between where he was and the rest of the cage!).

So he took a step off the platform...then two...then tripped over the lip of the platform with his back feet and plummeted down the gentle slope of megazorb He spent the next week and a bit tripping over the lips of the platforms, his own feet, and the substrate itself. He did forward rolls, fell sideways, and generally acted like a hamster that had never gotten past 'gentle stroll' before reaching a jogging pace...and then full on sprint!

After two weeks, he attempted climbing, and got down, but not out again But he got better, and he bulked up and got stronger. It was lovely to see.

A month in, he owned the place

But it did solidify our views on cage size (with mini dunas being too small), and our reasoning on why we picked him up from the rescue so soon after our last hybrid died. Namely, that we had the cage, Silver's food, treats out the wazoo...and leaving him in that duna in the rescue (nice as they may be), due to our grief was not on. And we were right, it took a while, but he thrived

Just wondering when to start cleaning out the cage now. As it stands...it has a lot of the stuff taken out that we were worried he'd hurt himself on, but I'm worried that if I empty out the substrate, it'll look too empty

I only hope that he meets Nimh, and she convinces him that it is 'okay' to give away all his 'stuff' to another hamster. I doubt she would be able to, and I can imagine him spitting nails going "My stuff! You're giving away...its all mine...nooooooo!!!" Hehe

He has left a hamster-shaped hole. Last night was quiet, and I missed feeding him (his treat and my fingers ).

[Arraminta]

He was an utterly gorgeous boy!! I'm so sorry for your loss..

Play well at the bridge little one xx

Arraminta x

[Mushiemallows]

So so lovely <3 Sorry to hear this x

[shiny]

What a lovely boy he was, so sorry

I'm glad he found you for a wonderful home to live out his days. This is what getting a rescue hamster is all about

[Pompompoms]

I've loved reading about him Kiania, he sounds like an absolutely fantastic character, and he's such a handsome chap. Play well Thundercloud xx

[kiania]

Thank you all for the lovely comments

Just taken a few photos...this is Thunder's planter:


And here is our hamster graveyard with Nimh's as well Nimh seems to have lost two of her plants, although the Lithodora seems to be flourishing like nobody's business! She's also got fennel and a little black alpine plant in there, that are doing fairly well, although her longstem lavender and the Thundercloud (that Thunder was named after) seem to have disappeared (perhaps to reappear in the spring?)


Going out our back door does smell rather delicious though...Thunder's lavender and lemon-scented conifer mix together to be tasty, and both are nice and strong!