Thundercloud

[kiania]

Thundercloud

After our first hybrid 'accident' (I blame Pets at Home adoptions plus her lovely self for being so darn cute!), Nimh, passed away during the summer, we decided that, as we had everything required for a hybrid dreamhouse, to adopt 'Tubbs' the female hybrid from this thread:
Syrian and Campbells rehoming - Dorset
We chose a name based on one of the plants in Nimh's memorial flower planter, Lithodora as her new name, and went to collect the little one. Only she definitely wasn't a 'she' with the size of those pompoms in the trunk! And you really can't call a little boy 'Dora' for short, at least, not with a straight face, so a different plant in Nimh's planter was chosen, called Thundercloud due to it's white-ish flowers.



After a month of wobbling and uncertainty (moving from a mini duna to a detolf with multiple platforms, climbing opportunities, and two wheels, all to ones self can do that to a man!), he came into his own. He ran like a lunatic (competing with our hedgehog, no doubt!), built the biggest nests you have ever seen (40x40cm is not an exaggeration!) and lots of them (between 3 and 4 each time he was cleaned out). He developed a voracious love of food, and stockpiled for the apocalypse, enough to feed himself, and at least ten other refuge hamsters should the zomb-hams strike. He became tamer, and started deciding to check my partner's hand for food first before considering biting him (although I was still fair game - certainly a daddy's boy!). In short, he settled in, got himself comfortable, and ran his household dictatorship from the comfort of his nest (open nest, so that if we passed, he could make it clear that he required food if he felt we weren't stuffing him brimful of snacks enough!).



During the autumn, he started to lose the fur on his thighs, until all that remained were fluffy Tudor pantaloons and furry barbarian boots (which were duly loved and tickled). We teased him about becoming an old-man ham, but he still ran, climbed, and pretended he was strolling and in no hurry, although he obviously was starting to slow down. After the new year started, he suddenly took a turn for the worse, losing more of his leg fur until he lost his adorable barbarian boots, and became wobbly. He stopped being so interested in food (a huge development!), and his food bowl was rarely empted - he became fussy over what he took home, and started refusing hand-fed treats, even his favourites. Over this week, we took the decision to remove his wheels, and the higher of his two platforms, as well as some of the obstacles in his cage, as he was obviously struggling to get around/climb, and was no longer using either platforms or wheels. He got very unsteady on his pins, and we tucked him into one end of the cage where he'd chosen to place a nest (mid-sized, not huge, but big enough for three Syrians to comfortably stretch out, naturally!), so his water was nearby, and his food bowl was filled with a wide range of tasty items (to try to tempt him).

Last night, he passed. No surprise, but still disheartening. He may not have been called 'sweet', but he was adorable, and he had the character the size a Great Dane would not have been ashamed of. He knew what he loved, and he ensured that he got plenty of it.



We have just buried him in his own planter, with some grey-ish white lavender (for him), and a mini, lemon-scented conifer behind that is about 4x as tall, to symbolise his food-pile. We like to think he would approve I'll upload a photo of his planter tomorrow, once it gets light, but wanted to post this now

[kyrilliondaemon]

Thunder was a great ham, I loved hearing about him. Am really sorry he's passed.
Rest in peace Thunder

[Silver]

I'm so sorry you have had to say good by to such a huge personality in a little ham mans body.

I hope you make many more big nests at the bridge Thundercloud

Silver xxx

[kiania]

Thank you both for your thoughts

Originally Posted by Silver

I hope you make many more big nests at the bridge Thundercloud

Knowing him, he is standing there, demanding to know when the buffet is open and stealing pieces of everyone else's nests as well as getting his allotted amount of bedding, and then trying to do the nest version of city-creep where his nest joins up with others so he can then claim them as his too I love the little boy, but he was definitely self-absorbed and out for number 1 - I can't say I don't quietly approve

[Lougarry]

I'm sorry for your loss, hun. What an amazing life he had with you, full of love and fun

Stamp your little feet and boss everyone around at the Bridge, Thundercloud.

[mangoandmimi]

I'm gutted to hear this
He was such a lovely little thing, always up and about, it's hard to believe he's gone..
I know he had a brilliant second half of his life though, full of fun and happiness. I guess I'm just really happy that he was fortunate enough to find such a loving home to enjoy.
But now that he's up in the clouds, he'll be eating snacks and building mammoth nests till his hearts content.. Sleep well little one, sweet dreams. xx

[DrKMcK]

What a lovely hammy, and such a lovely life. He definitely did it his way! My sympathy on the loss of this hammy who really knew how to live.

[The Hamster's family]

Ohhhhh.... This is one great memorial.... I fell in love with him... Bless you for giving him a great life... I sincerely hope you feel great about what you provided him... You clearly loved him and it shows... Hope you feel better really soon...

Sleep well, lovely man... Make sure to stock piles and piles of food at the Bridge...

[souffle]

I am so very sorry for your loss. He was a handsome boy with a fabulous character. I'm sure he will be much missed.
Play well at the bridge Thundercloud x

[racinghamster]

A beautiful little hamster and a sad loss. x