Meet Monsieur Marshall!

Baron · 08-27-2018, 12:27 PM

A few weeks ago I decided to visit the local Gardencenter. Not really sure how common it is for them to sell animals and petsupplies in other countries, but at least in Holland they commonly do.

Most of them are at the level of your average petshop with people who don't know what they are doing or talking about. My local one is just a stone's throw away and is good. They seperate their hamsters and give them toys and okay wheels and good food. The animals also are already slightly hand tamed when you get them. They are not afraid or really bitey with humans.

There I saw that they had two young male syrians. Of course, I became curious and asked If I could see them. The person helping me was a boy in his late teenhood, and quite helpfull. There a was complete black male out and about already. But...it was the second boy that stole my heart. He was black and white and almost climbed on my hand! I would have loved to take him with me then and there but alas, no suitable cage at that time. But I kept thinking about him.

I thanked him for his help and off I went.

Cue a few weeks later. I had managed to snag a second hand Ferplast Mary cage, and started to entertain the idea of welcoming a young male in my midst.

So off I went, back to the garden center. I inspected the cages with animals and....discovered that one of the males had been sold.

I looked around and found a person after some time and asked I could buy him. The first thing she did? She immediatly asked what kind of cage I would offer. I told them about my Mary. It seems the male had become sort of a favorite of hers, considering he had been there for about...2 months? She opened his cage and...it was my favorite of the two! He was still there!

To make an already long story short, I brought him home! I had nicknamed him Monsieur. When I told a acquaintance about the little man, she suggested the name Marshall. (She's a bit spiritually, and had felt this one intuitively.) It stuck as 'work name' so to call. But over time it had morped in to "Monsieur Marshall." So...yeah he got his name really fast!

Thus far he has been exploring his cage, I saw him drinking and feeding. He's alsno not afraid and really curious. Kind of a climber, and already uses his wheel.

He's a curious man and I am letting him settle in for now, but I do have some questions about him. Who can help me?

The first one is: What is his color? (His belly is white and his back seems..brownish?)
The second one: They told me he was about 4 months old, is this true?

Is he thin or is this just because he is male and young? I kind of worry about that, because I am not used to young males yet. (Always had females that were either adults or not a tiny as him)

JennySTL · 08-27-2018, 01:29 PM

I can't answer any of your questions being a newbie, but he is absolutely adorable! Congrats!

Baron · 08-27-2018, 01:30 PM

Thank you!

Rads · 08-27-2018, 02:09 PM

Hi Baron and welcome to HC, Monsieur Marshall looks a little cracker I'm not sure about his colouration though.

As for his size it is a little difficult to gauge from the pictures but he could be 4 months even maybe a little younger, Ghost was tiny when I got him at approx. 8 weeks old I suspected that he was nearer 6weeks old.
Hamsters really grow quite a bit once in their permanent homes, as their have a better environment and also generally a lot better food as they will be given lots of fresh foods etc.
Once he is tamer you can weigh him, a fully grown Syrian Male should weigh 160-200g roughly.
What size is the Ferplast cage he is in as I am not familiar with that model.
HC is a very good source for info for your Hammy there are loads of people on here with a Goldmine of info and experience.
Enjoy having Marshall as your first Hamster, they do get to be rather addictive..

Baron · 08-27-2018, 02:18 PM

His cage is 80 by 50 cm. The Mary is supposedly a rat cage, but way to low for rats.
It's a cage that's widely used here for both Syrians and dwarves.

He has a Trixie wheel, the 27 cm variant.

He's my first male syrian I really get to see grow up. I had an older one, a rescue of some sorts that has since passed on, and own three females that are adults. I am really curious what a young male is like.

He had a bit of a bar chew moment. He would hang in the corner and just...chew for about 4 minutes. Now he has resumed his normal behaviour.

Rads · 08-27-2018, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron

His cage is 80 by 50 cm. The Mary is supposedly a rat cage, but way to low for rats.
It's a cage that's widely used here for both Syrians and dwarves.

He has a Trixie wheel, the 27 cm variant.

He's my first male syrian I really get to see grow up. I had an older one, a rescue of some sorts that has since passed on, and own three females that are adults. I am really curious what a young male is like.

He had a bit of a bar chew moment. He would hang in the corner and just...chew for about 4 minutes. Now he has resumed his normal behaviour.

Sounds like normal behaviour to me, sounds like his cage and wheel are perfect for him aswell.
You could try putting in a tissue box or two for him to explore and play with or even nest in if he feels like it.
Our first Male Syrian was quite the escapologist, he spent three days under our floor and in the walls of our house, learnt how to break open his hamster ball to escape etc, a very clever little dude indeed.

Baron · 08-27-2018, 04:04 PM

When he's settled in and tame, he will get the chance to walk around in a playpen.

I will probably give him some more bedding and add a small box. Right now he has a house, two tubes made of different materials each, toiletpaper rolls, his wheel, toiletpaper itself en and wooden chew/climbing toy.

Drago · 08-27-2018, 07:01 PM

What a sweet little gentleman! Looks like he’s got a little tuxedo on! Looking forward to learning more about him. Hope he continues to settle in well

cypher · 08-27-2018, 11:33 PM

What a gorgeous little guy, I can see why you fell for him

Baron · 08-28-2018, 02:51 AM

He has made a toiletpaper nest in a corner, besides his wheel. Also I found his 'secret' and 'hidden' foodhoard. It's....in the other corner besides his wheel.

He was awake when I entered my living room and seemed a bit uncertain but curious. I just let him be. He's sleeping now. Really curious to see what will happen tonight.

I have three adult females who are lovely critters but energetic as all fluff. Curious to see how m Mars turns out.