Charlie's thread

[Pebbles82]

Charlie had his cage clean today - and no moths found thank goodness. I was just going to spot clean his house, but he hasn't had a cage clean for about six months so decided to get it out of the way - just the substrate and the hemp mat changed on top of his house. I hope it doesn't upset him too much. I managed to salvage his nest but had to chuck most of his hoards as they were taking over underground and deteriorating a bit. I noticed quite a few fresh bits gone dry and not eaten (cheese and coconut pieces) and am wondering if he is actually eating much as he normally loves those fresh bits.

Anyway I hope he is ok. He spent most of the day asleep in his pet carrier in little boy's cosy bedroom. In fact he didn't want to come out of the pet carrier at tea time! He looked very cosy in there.

I had to clear out the room behind his cage as well - his cage got plonked there when we first moved in and I haven't disturbed it since until he was settled in, but there was a whole load of junk and rubbish behind it needed sorting out, so it's been a full day's job!

He had lots of treats left out in the cage to make up for it and I'll give him his Rosewood Christmas tree later as well. He does seem to be slowing down quite a lot this last week and seems quite fragile. So I do hope he is ok after the clean, but I couldn't really leave it any longer. I'm also wondering if his teeth are getting a bit long again. I saw them when I got him out of the cage and couldn't really tell but I suspect they may be getting a bit long again with all the uneaten food and the fact he keeps leaving his HH mix in favour of the soaked science selective.

I shall try and get a look at them in a few days when he's settled again.

[Hamsterita]

It's good to know about the moths!! I'm glad for you both!!

I hope he's ok too. It's normal at his age to slow down, it's incredible that he's in such a good condition, and I'm sure that's pretty much thanks to you (and a good dna obviously), so don't worry, you're doing your best.

[Pebbles82]

Thanks Hamsterita. Quite a few banging noises inside his house tonight which seems positive! He is clearly rearranging things

[Thin Lizzy]

Good news about being 'moth free'.
I'm sure charlie will be fine after all he's a very chilled out ham.
Lol at him rearranging his house, I always smile when Harvey does it.
When was Charlie's teeth last trimmed.?

[cypher]

Glad the cage clean went ok & you're moth free again, what a relief!
Sounds as though Charlie enjoyed his cosy carrier day & had fun putting his house to rights again after, I love hearing them do that too!
Hope his teeth are ok.

[Pebbles82]

Well he seemed to take the cage clean quite well actually. In fact it seemed to perk him up a bit - he looked quite alert and inquisitive when I peeked in on him at bedtime and gave him his rosewood christmas tree - he had a couple of good nibbles off it, then I put it in the cage. He used his wheel last night so he isn't avoiding going out into the strange substrate. I have run out of Science Selective which is a slight problem as he seems to be very keen on that right now and eats it. I have some more on order but also want to freeze it for a week before use (don't want moths!) - so meanwhile I'm putting other crushed supplements out instead.

Thin Lizzy I think it was June/July he had his teeth trimmed - and since then he has had no problems and chewed hard chews and so on until very recently. But I guess he could have toothache or something, being the age he is, and avoiding hard food, which in turn will let his teeth grow too long. Will try and check them when I can. I don't want to stress him out with a vet visit and tooth trim again really but if they are really long I'll have to do something.

[racinghamster]

It`s tricky when they get that bit older and they start to have what seems like teeth issues. Sometimes it`s just the teeth are shorter at the top and too long at the bottom and managing hard biscuits isn`t as easy. My Russian dwarf Chubs saw the vet three weeks before he passed on from a tumour as he had teething issues aswell, but the vet shone a bright torch into his mouth and I could clearly see that his top teeth were shorter than they should have been and the vet was happy that his two lower teeth were not over-long, so didn`t take any action, although I kept having to break up and soften his food for him which is never ideal because although Chub`s ate the food I prepared for him, I would much have preferred that he was able to continue nibbling his food naturally, which he couldn`t do and for me, that`s sad and frustrating.

Did you manage to get some Science Selective hamster biscuits Serendipity? x

[Pebbles82]

I have some more coming in the post but need to freeze them first. He is still getting his baby food and crushed nuts as well as HH meanwhile Yes if his teeth don't look too long I'll just keep up with the softer food. He looks a bit doddery but quite perky at the moment.

[Coco61]

What about freezing most of the selective science biscuits but keeping out a few to last Charlie for a week. Then he won't have to go without.

[Pebbles82]

Good thinking Coco - I was thinking that too. Or at least just freeze some for a couple of days and the rest for longer. Meanwhile I'm giving him lots of other extras instead - hemp seeds, chopped boiled egg, and have soaked his HH and scattered some non soaked HH too.