Introducing Tinkerbell.... our "Golden Oldie"

[Hanlou]

Well, I know I've mentioned her a few times, but here she is. This is Tinkerbell. She's 18 months old, someone put her on freecycle and a rescue I know got her from her previous owners from there.

The rescue put pics of her on the rat forum I go on which is where I first saw her. I showed my beloved the pics of her and told him how old she was and he was horrified that someone could give up an animal at that age.

To cut a long story short, she came to us because John felt so sorry for her. Naturally, I was more than happy to go along with his suggestion so she's come to us for her 'retirement'. She has some hair loss on the back end that we are trying to resolve... I may post about this elsewhere if it doesn't get any better soon.

She is very friendly, loves people and loves her out-time. She apparently spent the first 18 months of her life in a Crittertrail cage (the double height one with tubes up the side) - totally inappropriate for her size as she's quite a large girl. But that's all in the past now.

Here she is:



Posing:



Sniffing at the Great Outdoors:



On the move:



"What's up there?"



Having a cuddle from her 'daddy' (John has really fallen for the hamsters!) :



Hopefully we will get her a better cage soon, once I can be sure of what sort of cage will be best for her. I wanted to get her a Hamster Heaven, but she's started bar gnawing and so I think she'll probably end up in a Zoozone 2 like Herbert. At her age it may be best anyway, as she may get less active in the next few months and the tubes etc might be too much for her. Any thoughts on this are more than welcome as I am still very new to hamsters. I have ordered her a (hot pink!) Wodent Wheel of course.

We just hope she is with us for a good while yet and want her to be happy here.

[Holly]

Aww she's a gorgeous girl - I love white hamsters and good on you for taking her on. I'm sure she'll be ecstatic with a new bigger cage - I'd go for the tank type with lots of interesting stuff to do for a girl her age, I think - especially if she's chewing.

[souffle]

What a beauty she is. I don't understand why people give up such lovely animals but she is lucky to have you two. I would go for a flat cage like a zoozone as she may start to have climbing problems as she ages. I thnk the fur loss is just age related and is more noticeable in whites as the pink skin shows through. You could try a little yeast sprinkled on her food and some wheatgerm in her porridge.

[chase]

Beautiful pretty hamster. She is lucky to have found you.

[Catja]

She's is lovely and I'm so pleased you took her, she will have such a lovely rest of her life now.

I agree that a tank type cage rather than the HH would be most suitable.

If she is anything like my rescue you and your OH will just have such a special bond with her

[Hanlou]

Originally Posted by souffle

What a beauty she is. I don't understand why people give up such lovely animals but she is lucky to have you two. I would go for a flat cage like a zoozone as she may start to have climbing problems as she ages. I thnk the fur loss is just age related and is more noticeable in whites as the pink skin shows through. You could try a little yeast sprinkled on her food and some wheatgerm in her porridge.

Thanks... yes, I've been thinking about it today and I think I have pretty much decided that a Zoozone 2 is going to be better for her too. I can make it more interesting for her now and adapt it if and when her needs change mobility-wise.

I'd heard that about the brewers yeast - will give it a try along with the wheatgerm. She isn't scratching or anything and she certainly seems to be in good all-round health so that would make sense. There's no scabbiness or anything like that.

[Hanlou]

Well, we've moved Tinkerbell into a Zoozone 2. She seems much more relaxed and happy and she's back in our bedroom where she will stay.

I've put pics of it in the cage reviews section so people can see a different set up. She's very friendly and surprisingly lively for her age. Bless her!

[Basia]

Aw she's a red-eyed white, we see so few of them on the forums. She is really beautiful, I love REW's. I'm sure she will love living with you. I too would probably go for a zoozone as she is not in the first flush of youth.

[jayne]

Shes beautiful :P Dont know how anyone would want to get rid of her, but so glad she found a home with you and OH

[Spuds Mum]

She is lovely and her fur is such a beautiful pure snow white! Glad she found a lovely family to take her in and give her such attention, not that she doesnt deserve it, she looks a delightful girlie