Introducing Gopal - chocolate syrian hamster

[flowerfairy]

Hello. I have been on hc since I got my hamster, Harvest from a rescue in Surrey back in 2014. She has now gone to the bridge and I have three other hamsters. This thread is introducing my long haired syrian hamster ... Gopal;

He is rather sleepy, having just emerged from his wooden leif cabin to forage for his brekky only to be met by a very enthusiastic human with her brand new camera!!!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20001_zpszbl6yp hh.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20001_zpszbl6yp hh.jpg.html)

I gave him a monkey nut to keep him still;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20002_zpsvgivds kh.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20002_zpsvgivds kh.jpg.html)


Just look at his beautiful tail end!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20003_zpshs1swk tx.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/chocolate%20gopal%20january%202016%20003_zpshs1swk tx.jpg.html)

[Coco61]

Oh FF he is beautiful, whichever end you are looking at! Mocho is SH but I am very tempted to get a LH next. Gopal's skirt is just lovely.

[HarryHamster]

Gopal is so handsome FF, I love his bum pic, his skirt is so beautiful.

[flowerfairy]

Thank you both so much. He is rather wonderful and fluffy! He allows strokies as well and is generally very contented.

[Josie]

Such a handsome boy, love the photos of Gopal he's very photogenic :D

[flowerfairy]

Thanks Josie. A few more piccies taken with the flash again. Wonder if its bad for their eyes?

Just woken up and having a nice drink of water;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20001_zpsvkwsx0gs.jp g (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20001_zpsvkwsx0gs.jp g.html)

Checking for food - bottoms up!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20002_zpsigaw5ack.jp g (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20002_zpsigaw5ack.jp g.html)

Heading for bed again;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20003_zpsmkqkxdnv.jp g (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/Gopal%20end%20of%20jan%202016%20003_zpsmkqkxdnv.jp g.html)

[herbi7]

Ha, what a sweet bottom you have,gopal! What a fluff ball he is. Does he need much grooming? Nice to meet you and your lovely ham!

[flowerfairy]

He doesnt seem to need grooming at all. He has fina card on the bottom of his cage and a thick layer of nice soft fitch on the top and lots of shredded white loo roll as bedding.

He is amazingly soft to stroke (*sigh*).

[Tazius]

Awww Gopal is adorable, I love fluffy Syrian's! He does look so soft to stroke.

[flowerfairy]

He looks as if he has been bar chewing in the night (I must have slept through it). Look at his poor little bald nose ...

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/feb%202016%20hamsters%20and%20hmrc%20045_zpsnnwcjn vl.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/feb%202016%20hamsters%20and%20hmrc%20045_zpsnnwcjn vl.jpg.html)

Doesnt look quite so bad in this one. Will have to stare at him when he comes out tonight!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/feb%202016%20hamsters%20and%20hmrc%20007_zpsgutry6 lv.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/feb%202016%20hamsters%20and%20hmrc%20007_zpsgutry6 lv.jpg.html)

[hrl20100]

Oh he is beautiful!

[flowerfairy]

Thankyou! I really do love him. He sits and gazes at me for ages sometimes with those deep black eyes of his ...

[Coco61]

That sort of behaviour must be forbidden and stopped How on earth is a human to remain in command against that??!!

[Pebbles82]

Oh my goodness, he really is adorable! As for flash photos - I don't know. I know Charlie didn't like it so I stopped doing it, so a lot of my snaps are a bit 'warm' or blurry lol. Sometimes you get a nicer look without flash anyway. I tend to have a couple of lamps on nearby and that helps to give enough light.

[Cinnamon Bear]

He is absolutely adorable! Really cute! In the US all I have a choice of is a tank or a bin cage so it must be frustrating with the bar chewing. His cuteness makes up for it though :)

[flowerfairy]

That sort of behaviour must be forbidden and stopped How on earth is a human to remain in command against that??!!

All pretence of command has long ceased!!!

[flowerfairy]

Oh my goodness, he really is adorable! As for flash photos - I don't know. I know Charlie didn't like it so I stopped doing it, so a lot of my snaps are a bit 'warm' or blurry lol. Sometimes you get a nicer look without flash anyway. I tend to have a couple of lamps on nearby and that helps to give enough light.

Must get some lamps as I dont like blinding him each time I take pics. Your pics of Charlie always look amazing.

[flowerfairy]

He is absolutely adorable! Really cute! In the US all I have a choice of is a tank or a bin cage so it must be frustrating with the bar chewing. His cuteness makes up for it though :)

I do like the tank style cages but felt that I could do more to make a barred one more interesting. Obviously not doing enough yet though. Plans are afoot.

His cuteness is pretty aweinspiring isnt it?!

[Pebbles82]

Well just normal room lights I mean, but lamps are a bit less bright and where you want them lol. Actually the best lamp we have for taking photos is little boy's Skojig bedside kids lamp from Ikea! It has a funny little LED light bulb (you can buy packs of spares really cheap as well) and I've noticed it doesn't make the photos go orangey like other lamp light does. It's not cheap for a lamp though! I got ours from ebay as Ikea take so long to deliver.

SKOJIG Table lamp - IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90311347/)

[flowerfairy]

Ah. Slight problem with normal room lights. They blew and every time I tried a new bulb. 'Poff' so I just have a bedside lamp now. Will try it with lamp on and flash off to protect those lovely black eyes of his x

[flowerfairy]

I have managed to carry him to his taming box two nights in a row!!! Just picked up his sand tray. He was intrigued and very happy to see his old trixie wheel.

I left him alone the first night but last night managed a couple of strokies xxxxxx looking forward to another session when he is ready.

To get him back to his cage i tell him 'gopal lifting' and picked up his wheel very slowly. He seemed happy to be home again and stayed out and about.

I hope to graduate to using a cup ot tube for transport. Very happy with him and his relaxed demenor when in the taming bin with me cooing over him.

[CMB]

Sound like taming progress, which is always nice.

[flowerfairy]

I am telling him how lovely he is here!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/gopal%20eating%20sweetcotn%20prasaad%20039_zpskscv 1q89.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/gopal%20eating%20sweetcotn%20prasaad%20039_zpskscv 1q89.jpg.html)

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/gopal%20eating%20sweetcotn%20prasaad%20038_zpsn60d c6vu.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/gopal%20eating%20sweetcotn%20prasaad%20038_zpsn60d c6vu.jpg.html)

Awwww the cuteness. I sit close to his cage every night and chat to him. He still allows strokies and will eat and wash near me. I havent done the taming box thiing for a while but am really enjoying our time together.

[hrl20100]

Thats good news!

[rainbowradgirl]

Awww.. he's a handsome little guy♡♡
Sorry to hear about you other little one

[Hamster Paradise]

Gopal you are soooo Handsome and as cute as a button...you are doing really well with your taming lessons too...Great Job :)

[Coco61]

Gopal still looking lovely and fluffy. So sweet sitting there listening to you FF!

[flowerfairy]

Lovely Gopal has started to come up to his door and ask to come out. I put the pringles tube up to the door and in he goes!

I then transport him to the taming box where he goes on his wheel and looks for food. After a while I say 'time to go home' and show him the tube again. In he goes and I transport him back, putting the tube through the door onto his lief cabin roof.

I always give him a 'welcome home' treat such as a piece of carrot or a monkey nut. He spends ages washing and sitting in his sand bath. He gets cuter every day.

I now say 'strokies Gopal' before touching him as recently I put my hand near him and he was so surprised that he did a complete somersault and landed back on his four feet!!! It was sooo funny.

[pinkneon]

In the words of Agnes from Despicable me (when she holds up the unicorn at fair) "Oh so fluffy!"

[flowerfairy]

Haha pinkneon, great film that. Yep he is a right little fluffster. Sooo cute and stwokable x

[flowerfairy]

I have upgraded Gopal the gorgeous to a meshed guineapig cage. Just under 150cm by 70cm

He had his barney cage base in it for the first couple of nights to help him adjust. This will be his first night in the new cage!

Now we all know how dangerous a spare cage can be ... i may just have been to my local pet shop recently ...

http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/syrian-hamster/64845-ahem-new-hamster.html

[pinkneon]

Hahaha! Let me guess, they just somehow ended up in your pocket?! ;)

[flowerfairy]

I tell you i could have happily filled at least three of my pockets ...

[pinkneon]

You had more than 3 pockets?! :shock:

[flowerfairy]

Update. Gopal the gorgeous escaped from the painstakingly meshed cage. He is now back in the lovely hamster proof barney. Phew. Seeing him race across my bedroom floor gave me quite a surprise!

Luckily he came out from under the shelf unit and climbed into the pringles tube. I put him into his play box and set up the barney big fat phew ... He is playing on his wheel now.

[pinkneon]

Wow! How on earth did he manage that?! I'd have had a heart attack if I suddenly saw a ham on the floor!

[flowerfairy]

Yep it was rather a massive surprise. Especially as my room is in big need of a good old tidy up and is full of lovely hamster hiding places as a result.

No more meshed cages ... just the lovely lovely hamster proof barney. This does mean that I am going to have to make a cage for the new hamster ... hey ho.

[Thin Lizzy]

I can't believe I'm only just seeing Gopal's thread.
Flowerfairy, he's absolutely gorgeous, his colouring, his fluffy coat, his face, everything about Gopal makes me go all gooey lol! Cuteness overload xx

[flowerfairy]

I know what you mean Thin Lizzy I am permagoo when I see him. Hope he gets up nice and early tonight so I can have a nice long time with him before i go to sleep.

[flowerfairy]

Here he is having a wild hair moment;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20033_zpscn5blkid.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20033_zpscn5blkid.jpg.html)

[cypher]

Love it :)

[CMB]

Still cute even with that just woken up hair/fur look.

[Mweekie]

Aww FF, Gopal is...as you say..."gooeely" gorgeous lol.

The last photo of him is my favourite..."bed head" suits him well lol.

Mweekie xx

[Coco61]

Terrific hair look - could start a new trend!

[Thin Lizzy]

So wild but still adorable. I want him!

[flowerfairy]

Here he is having a look at the outside world. I did offer him his pringles tube but he decided to go back into his cage (it was day time so probably a bit early for the playbox).

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20067_zpstno v86v6.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20067_zpstno v86v6.jpg.html)

Not sure how to make it smaller. Looks a bit blurred too.

Gopal eating something yummy;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20061_zpspsu 0s4lc.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20061_zpspsu 0s4lc.jpg.html)


A playbox wheel pic. from last night;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20052_zpsdow eks9m.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20052_zpsdow eks9m.jpg.html)

'whats that noise'?

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20046_zpsmci 4udkr.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20046_zpsmci 4udkr.jpg.html)

Having a wash to relax himself;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20045_zpsu8d jq0nd.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20045_zpsu8d jq0nd.jpg.html)

Back in the cage with his 'welcome home' treat;

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20025_zps4zy sqwqi.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/latest%20woodstock%20march%20and%20april%202016%20 plus%20some%20gopal%20f%20and%20f%20x%20025_zps4zy sqwqi.jpg.html)

[Cinnamon Bear]

What a cutie! Looks like a little teddy bear :)

[cypher]

He looks such a lovely little character, very cute boy & I so love his style with the hair ;)

[pinkneon]

Eeeek he's so cute and fluffy! Am going to ham-nap him!!

[flowerfairy]

Thanks peeps. He really is flufftastic and so lovely to stroke. All soft and solid. He is a breeder hamster so quite big compared to Woodstock.

I am so happy thay he comes out in the day sometimes. Hopefully Arun will start to do the same in time.

[Thin Lizzy]

Sooo fluffy flufftastic! Truly stunning!

[flowerfairy]

View of gopals new shelf


http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20073_zpsvli8uzsd.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20073_zpsvli8uzsd.jpg.html)

Shelf again. He loves the large wicker tunnel and the large cardboard one and spends ages sitting in them washing or eating when he first gets up.

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20074_zps9liesoje.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20074_zps9liesoje.jpg.html)

Playbox time!!!

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20065_zpsvooulkru.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20065_zpsvooulkru.jpg.html)

Coming home after playbox time. You can see his transporter pringles tube that he has just emerged from behind him.

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y426/tulsi3/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20058_zpsoivars6v.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/tulsi3/media/March%202016.%20house%20and%20hamsters%20including %20...%20Arun%20058_zpsoivars6v.jpg.html)

[Thin Lizzy]

That's a great shelf. Gopal looking so cute as always.
What does he make of the shelf?

[flowerfairy]

Gopal the cute is very happy with his shelf and will climb onto it in all sorts of creative ways.

He sits up there having a wash which is brilliant as it is just beside my bed so i get a great view of him x

[Thin Lizzy]

Aww that's adorable.

[CMB]

Nice extra shelf and shelf accessory (hamster)

[pinkneon]

Eeeek too much cuteness!
Which cage has he got? Did the shelf come with it or did you make it? Not sure if I may have missed that part or not sorry! He is soooo fluffy!

[Coco61]

Peek-a-boo Gopal you cutie!

[flowerfairy]

Thin Lizzy he is so utterly adorable!

Haha cmb 'accessory'!!!

Pinkneon he is in the barney. I made the shelf out of plywood and painted it with cuprinol garden shades paint in country cream.

Gopal says 'peekaboo coco'.

Hope he is up early tonight. Iplaybox time is usually 10.45. He has a plastic storage box about 100cm by 30cm which i put on the bed!

Arun has a cardboard box the same size also on the bed. Bliss.

[flowerfairy]

He was very keen to have playtime last night. He sat on his new shelf and stared at me. When i looked round he went and waited by his door with his front paws up on it ...

As soon as i opened it he oozed into his pringles tube.

Lots of lovely wheel running followed. Arun sat in the begging psition gazing across the room at me so I offered his his little transport box and in he went.

He did loads of whizzy laps of his box which intrigued Gopal no end. Gopal sat up on his hind legs with his ears up staring then started whizzing round his box. It was so funny and cute!

[cypher]

Awww that sounds adorable :)

[flowerfairy]

Everything Gopal does is adorable cypher! He is wonderful. His eyes are such a deep black and when he stares at me I am mesmerised.

He came out for play box time this morning for ages and didnt go into his pringles transport tube until I had offered it to him three times.

[Thin Lizzy]

So true flowerfairy, I find that with Twinkle, when I look at her she's secretly saying 'look into my eyes and you will be mesmerised' and 'you will give in to all my demands' lol!

[flowerfairy]

Oh my word their mesmerising powers! Arun has got sitting cutely and staring off to a fine art. But Gopal is the king of intense eyes x

[Cinnamon Bear]

They are cuteness overload :)

[flowerfairy]

Since Kashi the female syrian has moved in Gopal has been very keen to impress.

Kashi makes little sneezy squeeks (only when the boys are up and about). When Gopal hears her he stands straight up like a soldier. She did it just now and Gopal sat up on his haunches and stared intently ... at me! It was soooo funny.

[flowerfairy]

Gopal is getting up earlier and earlier since Kashi has been here! He was in the play box by 9.00pm last night (used to be 10.45). He loves it in there and will often refuse to go into his pringles tube transporter for the first few times that I offer it to him!

[cypher]

You were obviously meant to get her for more reasons than one!
So much going on now ;)

[Coco61]

Don't know how you cope with it all!

[Cinnamon Bear]

Glad Kashi has a warm welcome with your hamily!

[flowerfairy]

You were obviously meant to get her for more reasons than one!
So much going on now ;)

Haha yes. Its busy here in the evenings!

Coco its bliss for me. Which ever direction i look in there is a cute little hamster!

Cb yep Kashi is one of he family now. She has put a spring in Gopal's step

[flowerfairy]

Gopal is so cool calm and collected. He oozes into his pringles tube so that I can transport him to his play box. He sits and washs for ages then wheels for ages, more washes then a little forage.

He listens to Kashi and Arun but remains content, doing his own thing. He has the odd whizzy moment and keeps up his constant cuteness!

Once back in his cage its straight to the sand bath followed by a long wash and a long sit on his little box just gazing into space. Quite the philosopher.

[Thin Lizzy]

What a sweetheart! He's found a routine he likes - bliss!

[flowerfairy]

Mr lovely is still next to my bed (we have moved to England). He is still flufftastic and comes over to the bars for treats every evening x

[Thin Lizzy]

Aww Mr Lovely Gopal! A sweetheart.

[pinkneon]

Hi flowerfairy! Have missed you and the hams on here. Hoping to see some pictures soon once you've all settled in to your new home!

[badwolf]

He's gorgeous! This is a terrible forum as it just makes me want more hamsters constantly!!! :P

[flowerfairy]

He's gorgeous! This is a terrible forum as it just makes me want more hamsters constantly!!! :P

Know what you mean ...

[flowerfairy]

Hi flowerfairy! Have missed you and the hams on here. Hoping to see some pictures soon once you've all settled in to your new home!

Hello Sweep's human. Its been a full on summer. Great to be settled again.

[flowerfairy]

Actually managed to get Gopal out into his playbox for the first time in months. He must have read my mind because he sat and stared at me and went to his door. I opened it and offered him his pringles tube.

He had a little sniff then oozrd inside. He has been on his playbox wheel for about half an hour with the occasional pause for a slow wash.

He is his usual steady solid lovely self x

[Thin Lizzy]

Gopal sniffing his Pringles tube, then oozing inside sounds so adorable.

[flowerfairy]

Everything he does is adorable!!!

[flowerfairy]

My lovely boy died last night. He was 2 years and 4 months old and only slowed down a bit duri g the last couple of days.

Rest in Peace Gopal x

http://i64.tinypic.com/vrtru0.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/f9jrde.jpg

Making a nest in his tunnel right near my pillow x

http://i66.tinypic.com/13z5ptu.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/2w3qlpi.jpg

Look at all that silvery fluff!!

http://i63.tinypic.com/w1d7jk.jpg

in his play box

http://i67.tinypic.com/xglg07.jpg

Its the end of an era. My solid steady soulful boy.

[CMB]

Sorry to hear that Gopal has gone to the bridge. Run free Gopal

[Ruth Edwards]

So sorry flowerfairy, he was a lucky boy to be your hambaby and be so loved

[souffle]

I'm so sorry for your loss. He really was a character and so very special. x

[cypher]

So sorry flowerfairy, he was a beautiful & special boy & I know he will be sadly missed but forever in your heart.

[SKB_Hamsters]

I am so very sorry flowerfairy, Gopal was very lucky to have a wonderful home with you with lots of love.
Play well at the bridge Gopal

[BorisPasha]

Oh no ff, I'm so sorry to read about Gopal. He was such a gorgeous boy and have a wonderful long life with you.

Hugs to you and have fun at the bridge Gopal.

[flowerfairy]

Thank you everyone.

He is buried in a pot ouside on the patio. He played a huge part in helping me get over my major spell of anxiety. Thank you Gopal x

[Coco61]

I am so sorry ff. Gopal was such a beautiful boy with a cheeky face and a gorgeous fluffy coat. He was a good age and went to the bridge from his loving and caring home with you.
A peaceful passing in his own nest is the gentle way to go.
Rest in Peace Gopal

His resting place sounds ideal. Have to confess we carried Mocho's pot into the utility room when the cold spell struck.

[flowerfairy]

Thank you Coco. I looked at his pot today and thought of him. His pot is huuuge or I might have been tempted to do the same.

[dreamtree1234]

I'm so sorry for your loss of the handsome, lovable Gopal. He was a truly special one beloved ham on HC. I know that he will be greatly missed by all of us. He lived to a grand old age and was loved and pampered by you. He was truly a special ham to help you deal with your anxiety. The two of you were so lucky to have one another. Hugs to you, Flowerfairy. Rest in Peace, Gopal. His resting place sounds lovely.

[Thin Lizzy]

Gutted to hear about your beautiful Gopal. Thinking of you flowerfairy xxx