I COULDN'T RESIST....

[jayne]

Ok, here ar some pics as promised! I havent had a chance to take him out and start handling yet as i'm not experienced enough and want to take my time









The photos aren't very good at shwoing the full colour of the coat but he has very defined black cheek flashes and a cute black bit right on top of his head :P I just love this colour of syrian hamster, kind of like Catjas profile picture.

I will in time get some more pics, just to show him off of course!
In the meantime, can anyone tell from these pics that i definately have a male? Sorry if pictures are a bit rubbish tho Might try and get more tonight, alhough i'm off to get more toys..... and also to get my thinking cap on with a name

[Catja]

Awwh, he's lovely and sounds like he is going to be really spoilt

Its very spooky as he looks indentical in markings and the little black bit on his head to my Algy who was a Pets@home impulse buy! I know very wrong

Who has been with us about a month now. I must get a pic, they could be twins

He looks like a male to me, although given my doubts with my Desi I am probably not the best person to judge

[souffle]

He is just gorgeous. I would say he is a Golden banded hamster. The band does not need to meet in the middle to be banded - in fact it seldom does. he looks like a boy at the back I think.

[Spacemonkey]

See, I looked at the first pic and thought female but in the last pic the bottom looks more pointed, so I'm sitting on the fence at the minute :P

A gorgeous specimen Jayne, regardless of gender. Reminds me of a lot of my Harley

[Bailey-Benji]

He's really cute!

[babyboos]

I too saw first photo and was undecided and then changed my mind in the last - definitely a male - but hey I could be wrong, but I would say male from that shot alone. Once he settles in a bit and you get some hands on time together you will be able to tell I am sure.

[jayne]

Thanks for all your comments!

I see what you mean about the last photo, however.... the 'bulge' bit that you can see in the last photo is actually the little ones back right leg when he was walking up the ramp So i am still really unsure now!

Plus, i think he may have wet tail He has some runny poo and when i looked at him last night there was bedding stuck to his rear and it was kind of brown looking, including his tail but not right up to the tip of it, if you know what i mean Can anyone confirm if this is wet tail so i can get him to the vets asap? Correct me if i'm wrong, but is wet tail caused by stress? If so, could it just be because he is so young (hes quite small) and had moved to a new home? I'm really worried for him!!

Oh and i have decided to name him Pepsi (after my addiction to Pepsi Max!!! )

Any help here guys would be appreciated

[Catja]

Wet tail is a bacterial infection and will need a visit to the vets.

Hamsters can get runny poo due to a number of reasons.

If you got him from Pets@Home, are you feeding him their muesli? Itis best to feed any new hammy on the same food as he was getting before you bought him and gradually introduce new food.

Also it is best if greens are introduced slowly and not too much.

Is he still eating or does he look hunched up and uncomfortable?

To be honest my approach with all my animals is, if in doubt see the vet, but then I have a very good one. The hammy may dehydrate if it carries on.

[jayne]

Originally Posted by Catja

Wet tail is a bacterial infection and will need a visit to the vets.

Hamsters can get runny poo due to a number of reasons.

If you got him from Pets@Home, are you feeding him their muesli? Itis best to feed any new hammy on the same food as he was getting before you bought him and gradually introduce new food.

Also it is best if greens are introduced slowly and not too much.

Is he still eating or does he look hunched up and uncomfortable?

To be honest my approach with all my animals is, if in doubt see the vet, but then I have a very good one. The hammy may dehydrate if it carries on.

Thanks for your reply Catja!

I was thinking about the food thing myself and realised that my partner filled up the food bowl with harry hamster that we had. I have emptied the food bowl and put some of the Pets at Home muesli in, i hope this was ok to do I also bought some more chew toys and a little wooden house to add to the cage as it was looking a little empty. I put a yoghurt drop on the seesaw and it hasn't been touched and neither has the new food i put in. I was home for lunch there and checked in on him, he is still tucked away under his bedding and doesnt look like hes been out at all since i saw him last night at around 8ish I am so worried, i hope i havent done anything wrong and want him to be happy and enjoy his new home.
I will phone the vets when i finish and see if i can get an appointment. As you say, if you're not sure its best getting checked and will be a piece of mind for myself too.
Are there any particular greens you would recommend? He doenst seem to be hunched but as i say, it doesnt look like hes been eating.

Cheers again

[Catja]

I find all my hamsters like different things, there is an article in the Hamster Heaven info section that has a good list.

I would leave off the greens personally until he has improved. My Algy not only looks identical to your baby but was also from Pets@Home and sounds about the same age. He has spent most of the last three weeks sleeping and for the first week hardly touched his food, so it may not be anything to worry about that way and he may just have a bit of an upset tummy, however I would get him checked out as if it is not bacterial there is no harm done but if it is then you might have caught it early enough

I don't think you have done anything wrong, these are small animals and cetainly if they come from petshops, not much is known about their background.

Fingers crossed for the little chap and let us know how you get on.

There is a book called Hamster lopaedia by Chris & Peter Logsdail that is also worth getting when you have a chance as I find it is very useful. Don't know what anyone else thinks?