a thread for Chub :)

[Clairealex]

Hi everyone :D

I thought it was time I started a proper thread and gave a proper introduction to my chubby wee Chub! Plus, since I had my iphone stolen :(:(, I've lost most of my photos and videos of him (I was rubbish at backing up and my icloud was always full - rubbish me!), so with a new one on it's way, I want to make sure I always have a record of his wee life :)

I got him in June when he was roughly 6 months old. He was being given away as he was a bully ham and had been picking on his brother. He was never mistreated, but was a bitey wee man and his old owners had just left him to it and as a result he had never been properly tamed.

Now he's my best wee pal :D He lets me manhandle him all I want, as long as he gets a treat at the end of it. He still has days where he just doesn't want to come out, then days where it's a fight to get him back in! Some days he's cuddly, others he's a grump, but I love every wee mood he has, and I love him to bits. He's just perfect the way he is!

Here he is, munching his favourite broccoli whilst having a laze in my hand :)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/munch_zps23a6f326.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/munch_zps23a6f326.jpg.html)

[xrrebeccaax]

aww he's so sweet :)

[fluffydd]

He's lovely. It's a shame you lost your photos and videos but I'm sure you'll takes lots of lovely new ones for us to see.

[Clairealex]

Thanks guys! He is a wee cute :)

Last night I changed half his substrate to fitch and he had fun exploring!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/ooooh_zps18ff52f4.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/ooooh_zps18ff52f4.jpg.html)
He checked out that everything was still in it's place first...
http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/oooooh_zps6604039a.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/oooooh_zps6604039a.jpg.html)
Before deciding the best way to begin burrowing....
http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/bye_zps9004490b.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/bye_zps9004490b.jpg.html)
And under he goes!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/fitch_zps7b2d4111.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/fitch_zps7b2d4111.jpg.html)
Nowhere to be seen!

I love his wee bum poking out haha!

[Nikkigrace]

He's great! Lookalike such a little cheeky character :) will look forward to seeing more of him

[Clairealex]

Thanks Nikki! :D He is a wee cheekybum!

Just got note that my replacement phone is on it's way and will be with me tomorrow so I'll be photo spamming over the weekend no doubt :D

[Clairealex]

Can't wait til my iphone arrives tomorrow and I can have half decent phone camera again!

Until then, here are some pics of tonight's playtime in his mini play area that he uses when I've mopped my hallway!

First course of action, zoom around and see what's what!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/run_zps5ada52e6.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/run_zps5ada52e6.jpg.html)

Secondly, pop into my play house and have a ten minute groom, followed by a five minute munch!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/keek_zpsc2abafba.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/keek_zpsc2abafba.jpg.html)

Now, where can I find me some food?

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/boo_zps0e2943c4.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/boo_zps0e2943c4.jpg.html)

Hmmm, maybe up here?

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/wheeerreee_zps85ba89bf.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/wheeerreee_zps85ba89bf.jpg.html)

..is that...?

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/wheres_zps037055cb.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/wheres_zps037055cb.jpg.html)

DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS MILLET UP HERE?!?

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/boooo_zps199fc745.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/boooo_zps199fc745.jpg.html)

Ok, that's me done now. Take me home!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/WP_20131017_013_zps4c5c0dc9.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/WP_20131017_013_zps4c5c0dc9.jpg.html)

[DrKMcK]

I love the storyline! The millet line was great :-D and I thought the ending was perfect. His playpen area is wonderful. Your wee man is hugely loved :-)

[jesselle]

what a gorgeous little guy he is :) i love his home and playpen - he's got it good! looking forward to seeing more of chub x

[Clairealex]

Thank you guys :D

He is very, very loved! He chews on the bars when it's time to get out. He's obviously realised that when he's finished a wee bar chew gets my hand in there and up he goes! Clever clogs!

His cage is a mess which is just the way he likes it. I can try to sort it out until I'm blue in the face but he just kicks everything everywhere again! I always think it looks a bit bare but he has loads of cardboard tubes buries about so he spends a lot of time under there. I did offer more times etc at the start but he just ignored them and I realised he was a burrower!

[Clairealex]

Well tonight was the night out of the iPhone attack! I was a bit naughty and woke him up early for a cuddle as I was going out!

First we had a bit of a sleepy hello.

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdfb734b3.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdfb734b3.jpg.html)
http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps650dad37.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps650dad37.jpg.html)

Then we had a bit of a sleepy cuddle.

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4028dc99.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4028dc99.jpg.html)

He doesn't seem to have eaten quite as much as usual tonight so I'll keep a wee eye on his. I've been scattering food more so not sure if he now has a secret stash I'm unawares of!

[jesselle]

he's lovely :) he reminds me of my late hybrid wonton. sounds just as cheeky too ;)

[Biscuit]

Wow! He's stunning! :D x

[Clairealex]

Thank you guys :)

I had a wee look through the thread you had for wonton and emi jesselle. Wonton was a handsome wee man. He does remind me loads of Chubs looking through all his photos. He had such a lovely wee life with you :D and emi is just beautiful!! What a beautiful colour and temperament he has!!

I managed to covertly get a photo of chub snoozing this morning. I was checking he was ok as I do every morning but he was in a deep deep sleep. He's done this to me a few times and I always panic until he gives a wee twitch then I know he's just asleep! He did it the first night I had him and when I checked on him in the morning he was like this in his house. I took his house out, opened it up and gave him a nudge and nothing! I was sure he was dead until I seen a wee foot twitch and then he just jumped up! Almost gave me a heart attack with the relief! It does mean I can get sneaky photos without disturbing him though ;)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps14565bea.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps14565bea.jpg.html)

His tail is like a wee cotton bud or something!!

[DrKMcK]

LOLOLOLOLOL! I love this photo. Cute personified! I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of photos of this wee one. Too photogenic for words. :-D

[CreamSyrian]

LOL, Chub is so adorable and has a hilarious sleeping position :lol:

[jesselle]

i love the snoozing pic! priceless :)

thanks for the lovely comments - wonton was a character and emi is in a league of his own! he's hilarious. he's an oldie now but has mad 15 minutes which are great as it's like he's 6 months old again!

[RachK]

Chub you gorgeous cute little fella. :D I love that pic of him 'YOU KNOW THERE WAS MILLET UP HERE?!?'

[Clairealex]

Thats lovely about Emi jesselle :) he must save up his energy for when it's playtime!! What a cutie :D

Thanks for all the nice words guys! He's getting a big ego with all the compliments ;) I'm obsessed with taking photos of him this weekend now that I have my phone back :D

I did a full clean today which he never thanks me for but it had been about six weeks since his last one so it was time for full refresh! It was also the first time I've used Fitch on its own. I left him for a few hours to settle when the clean was over then went in the room to see what he was up to and couldn't find him anywhere, until I spotted moving substrate next to his wheel. He's made his nest under the Fitch! He's never done that before so I guess that's a big thumbs up for the fitch then :D

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3a6e9122.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3a6e9122.jpg.html)
http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb4b691fc.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb4b691fc.jpg.html)

[DrKMcK]

I love when I go in to check on Toffe & Almond and the bedding moves and suddenly...a head pops up. I wonder why it is that they nest under their wheels. Mine tip them over and I have to right them again. Silly hams! :-D

[Clairealex]

It really is the cutest wee thing when the head pops up! It's new for chubs too, which is even cuter just now! Also, Toffee and Almond are gorgeous names!!

[kimlck]

Awww Chubs is mega cute, great name too lol, i bet he loves attention too doesnt he?

:)

[Axeria]

Aww! So adorable :D

[Clairealex]

Thank yoooooou :D

He's actually not into the attention at all kimlck! Sometimes he's a wee sook but most of the time he has to be coaxed to play. He spent the first six months of his life being left to his own devices but he's coming round now and has started being out his house for me coming in from work. Makes me all happy to see his wee face after a long day haha!

Here he is having a munch! I've always wondered if he looks more WW or Campbell's. I thought he has slightly more WW colouring and shape, but a slightly more Campbell's looking face. What do you all think?

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2a037fda.jpg

[Clairealex]

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps7d64ad50.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps7d64ad50.jpg.html)

I just had to share this pic of Chubs. He looks so fluffy!

[icklemunch]

What a lucky little man he is. Chub is just too cute :)

[Gazmo]

aww what a fluffy munchkin :3

[Clairealex]

Haha thanks!

He just about gave me a heart attack there. Was changing his water and making a wee fuss about his cage and he didn't come out to investigate. Checked all his usual sleeping spots and found him under his wee bridge. Rustled in front of it, nothing, spoke to him and rustled right beside him, nothing. Panicking a bit, I lifted the bridge up, moving mountains of substrate to do so, and he was all curled up on his side. Then he gave a wee twitch and flipped up, awake and fine. I literally scooped him up and hugged him haha. He must've been wondering what was happening!

He can be a scarily deep sleeper sometimes. I'm never expecting it when it happens! Plus I think the fitch is less noisy than his old sawdust, and insulates his wee nests better. Scary though!!

[Gazmo]

oh bless! If you have a look on my puffles thread, there are so many of him doing that, he sleeps on his back and it scares me every time x

[Clairealex]

Haha gazmo I've just been through Puffle's thread and his sleeping positions are hilarious!!! He's absolutely gorgeous too!:D :D is he quite a deep sleeper too? Chubs love sleeping on his back but when he gets into a deep sleep it really freaks me out!

[Gazmo]

haha thanks :P yep, hes a deep sleeper, the first time he did he fell asleep flat on his back in his toilet, I freaked out! he's always been a bit of an ill ham so it worried me xD

[Clairealex]

Tried to get a Halloween photo of chubs in a wee paper hat. It was a fail! He wouldn't sit still enough. He did get loads of treats trying to get him to stay still so it was a win for him!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps16fc4886.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps16fc4886.jpg.html)

The worst one and the best one :)

[DrKMcK]

LOL. The best one is pretty good. :-)

[Babycakes]

Defo looks more ww to me, here is a pic of my ww to compare with x

[Clairealex]

Haha thanks DrKMcK, if we'd managed a better angle it would have worked better I think. The hat looks like it only covers half his head! He was just focused on the pumpkin seed you can see him munching from my fingers :D

Thanks for that babycakes! They do look quite similar in colouring and shape which is what I thought! Your wee one is gorgeous :)

[Clairealex]

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0340ed77.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0340ed77.jpg.html)


I just love this sleepy wee face. He was in one of his deep sleeps here. He usually sleeps like this when he's been having a nosey out of his burrow, decided there's nothing of interest, and just lies down where he is and sleeps. I gave the substrate under his chin a wee nudge and there was no movement. He was out cold haha. If it wasn't for his wee twitchy nose id have been worried! Left him to it for half an hour, went back in to double check, and he was on his shelf waiting for me to refill his food. D'awwwww :D

[Clairealex]

Chubs has been at the vets over the weekend for what I thought was a suspected cold. He was squeaking away in his sleep yesterday morning so as it was Saturday and the vets closed at 12 I didn't want to leave it and see, only for it to get worse over the weekend and have to take him to the pet hospita, where it would be luck if they had an exotics specialist working.

He's been given antibiotics but the vet said his airways were all clear, he just had a little bit of wetness around the nose. He seems to be doing just fine today and has taken his antibiotic in the middle of a mealworm. He's a little more alert I think, althoght he was never acting really unwell. He's poking his head out whenever I have to go into the spare room now :) he's getting lots of peace and quiet, as well as treats!

Here he is this morning, coming out his nest to get his mealworm!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps90869bb1.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps90869bb1.jpg.html)

[Clairealex]

A little update on my best wee man :D

He's been having a rather crap run of it lately. Whatever it was that was working on his wee system wasn't cleared up by the first antibiotics, so he was prescribed a further 10 day of baytril. We're currently on day 5 and I've not noticed any sniffles or squeaks since so fingers crossed that's sorted!

We've also discovered he has a little ear wart/skin tag thing. I only noticed because he scratched it causing it to bleed. I'd neglected his nail trimming a bit to give him a break during his antibiotics and his back nails had gotten longer than usual, so he's obviously caught it. I got a fright when I seen spots of blood on his bedding. As he's already on baytril the vet told me on the phone that I was best to just make sure it's healing and keep a close eye on it. If it gets bigger at all he'll be having it removed so fingers crossed it stays the same!

Apart from that, he is his usual cheeky self! We had a nice walk about my flat last night. He literally followed my voice as I walked slightly infront of him, eyes on him at all times of course. Until he smelled his room, at which point he zoomed in and straight to his food containers :D

I do love his little fluffy self!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsfc4a59ab.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsfc4a59ab.jpg.html)

[Clairealex]

Well my little man and I are off to the vets tomorrow to tackle that ear wart! I'm swaying to removal as he's fighting fit and 13 months, so id be confident in his recovery. He's also turned into the cuddliest attention seeker! I thought he was tame beforehand, but he's really came out his shell the past few weeks. He likes to beg to get out by standing on top of his house whenever he hears me in the room. Other times he just goes about his business, so he has his ways of saying 'not now thanks!'

I also finally manged to get a good selfie of him looking at the camera :D ah his gorgeous wee face!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsafcb84aa.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsafcb84aa.jpg.html)

[Clairealex]

Chub had great fun opening his presents on Christmas Day :D his favourite toy was an old hanky box haha!!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps18ed0f16.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps18ed0f16.jpg.html)

[racinghamster]

He looks as though he`s had a great Crimbo Claire! x

[jesselle]

Chubs is gorgeous :)

[Clairealex]

Thank you guys :D he had a great Christmas.

And now he's saying a, albeit sleepy, happy new year!!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsf2a2677d.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsf2a2677d.jpg.html)

[racinghamster]

Happy New Year Chubs, hope you enjoy another good year with your mum. x

[Clairealex]

And the award for the worlds worst open nest goes to...Chubs!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd5f990f8.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd5f990f8.jpg.html)

My little snoozy bum! Someone's forgotten how to be a hamster haha :D he must feel nice and safe. Which, of course, he always is!

[Truffle]

Aww... He is such a cutie, a real sweet-heart :)

[DrKMcK]

Chubs is always fun to see. Even from the back! :-D I just went through his whole thread again for fun. The "DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS MILLET UP HERE?" caption is still one of my most favorite lines in a photo. :-D

[Clairealex]

Thank you Trufflen :D

Thanks DrKMcK - he's an hilarious wee character to watch :D He genuinely looked at me as though 'did you know about this?!?' before tucking in to the millet that day, haha!

[Clairealex]

Chubs loves when he gets to free roam the hamster room. It's so fun watching him zooming about like a little rocket. I wish I could give him a cage that size.

My favourite part is when he's had enough and wants back in his cage. No matter where he is, he makes a beeline for me and runs straight onto my hands. I do this a couple of times to be sure it's not a fluke. It melts my heart every time!

Here are some pics of his wee self roaming about! My boyfriend joked that most people would be phoning environmental health if they seen a rodent running about their room. I did not take too kindly to that haha! :D

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsde83933f.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsde83933f.jpg.html)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps76238de8.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps76238de8.jpg.html)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd854b4b5.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd854b4b5.jpg.html)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4a86cdc1.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4a86cdc1.jpg.html)

[Clairealex]

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8625c3b1.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8625c3b1.jpg.html)

My sleepy little man has had a bit of a rubbish time lately. Two weeks later, and one eye ulcer less, and he's been given a thumbs up from the vet! Love this little fluffy man to bits.

[Hanhanboban]

Awww he's so cute and he looks so happy! I love his cage an his little play area (:

That's given me some good ideas for my two hammys! I'm glad he's happy in your care, he looks like he'll be a very happy boy!

Hannah x

[Clairealex]

Awww he's so cute and he looks so happy! I love his cage an his little play area (:

That's given me some good ideas for my two hammys! I'm glad he's happy in your care, he looks like he'll be a very happy boy!

Hannah x

Thank you :)

I like to think he's a happy man. His cage has changed a fair bit since those photo as were taken. I'll try to get some uploaded soon :D

[Clairealex]

Thought id do a little update on my Chubster!

He's been through a tough time of it lately :( eye ulcer, emergency vet for funny noises, scent gland infection, discovery of what was thought to be a scent gland tumour, booked in for an operation, second opinion suggested it may not be a tumour after all, and back home with antibiotics and antiseptic creams and washes.

In spite of all that though, my chubby little man is (touch wood) doing brilliantly.

He's still a cheeky wee monster, who loves his grub and all his treats. He'll run around his cage chasing little bits of peanut or mealworm, and practically dives into his food bowl. His coat is looking shiny and groomed again, now that we've stopped with the saturation of greasy cream, and although his eye still looks sore at times, it doesn't seem to bother him and we keep it nice and bathed.

He loves coming out for cuddles when it suits him. He's usually awake when I am first thing on a Saturday, and he loves hanging about with me for ages. Every time I offer him his cage he runs back on my hand, telling me he's not done yet. He loves roaming about my couch and living room, and also loves climbing the mountains on our unmade bed!

He's now just about a week into his antibiotics and I think I can see them having an effect. He's much more active and even more into his food this usual. He must have been feeling a bit down with the scent gland infection, and the baytril seems to be (fingers crossed) doing the trick.

He gets weighed every morning at this point. He dropped from his chunky 75 to 72, then to 69-71, where he's been hanging about for a couple of months. At almost 18 months, I'm very happy with this steady weight.

He always manages to put a big smile on my face. I just love this wee guy to bits.

Here are some pics ;)

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y513/clairealexander2179/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps925d4d5f.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/clairealexander2179/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps925d4d5f.jpg.html)

[kimlck]

Chubs is lovely and doing well too.

[Clairealex]

Thanks kimlck. He does seem to be surprisingly well. Fingers crossed it keeps up! :D