Oily looking fur

[Schwartzie]

I went to 5 petshops last night...I’m so slow on the uptake...going at 9pm and I will go after 10pm when going to pick my hamster is so the way to go. They were all so busy and active which makes sense...it’s night time! I was on the hunt for a big enough wheel to use while waiting for mine to arrive via online. It could only arrive end of July...the agony! Anyways, there were only two petshops that had hamsters. The one had hamsters in mass with stunning colors etc. the other had only two - the one looked sick and the other looked like it had been in a fight but was healthy looking and active. It sat in my hand so calmly and even stood on its hind legs to say hi. Shame, it’s ears were full of bites. It broke my heart! It was cream and white. The other hamsters in mass were stunning - black, grey, brown, cream, white - all the colours and patterns under the sun. The only thing that worried me was that some of the hamsters with slightly longer fur seemed to look a little greasy on the edges. What does this mean? There was one wire wheel for 30 hamsters and the food they are being fed isn’t nutritionally adequate for them - Vitakraft menu - full of corn filler with low protein. If a I chose a hamster from the hamsters in mass would my hamsters coat come right?

[Ria P]

Maybe the grease is from their scent glands? Henry looks a bit greasy sometimes but sorts himself out quickly with lots of washing.
Are you going to get a male or female? If you get a female, i'd have a very good look to rule out pregnancy, with 30 hamsters in one cage....
Do you keep thinking about the one with the bitten ears because it sat in your hand and looked at you? Bitten ears woudn't worry me appearance wise but you don't know what other injuries the hamster may have.
Did you find a temporary wheel or flying saucer?
You are not the only one who has to wait impatiently. I am too. Can't wait to see photos of your hamster and cage set up. It is possible to make a flying saucer out of a round baking tin according to youtube. You may even get away with a smaller wheel while the hamster is a baby. Henry is on his fourth wheel and one flying saucer. Two wheels and the flying saucer he outgrew and one wheel he didn't like.
Of course its best to wait but end of July!!

[Schwartzie]

Maybe the grease is from their scent glands? Henry looks a bit greasy sometimes but sorts himself out quickly with lots of washing.
Are you going to get a male or female? If you get a female, i'd have a very good look to rule out pregnancy, with 30 hamsters in one cage....
Do you keep thinking about the one with the bitten ears because it sat in your hand and looked at you? Bitten ears woudn't worry me appearance wise but you don't know what other injuries the hamster may have.
Did you find a temporary wheel or flying saucer?
You are not the only one who has to wait impatiently. I am too. Can't wait to see photos of your hamster and cage set up. It is possible to make a flying saucer out of a round baking tin according to youtube. You may even get away with a smaller wheel while the hamster is a baby. Henry is on his fourth wheel and one flying saucer. Two wheels and the flying saucer he outgrew and one wheel he didn't like.
Of course its best to wait but end of July!!

It was tough walking away from that poor soul sharing a cage with it’s bitten ears - when a I put it down it went straight for the glass trying to get out.. I hope that is the case with their coats. Some had and some didn’t. I was just worried they were sick or something. Some of the hamsters had smooth short coats while others had slightly longer and those were the ones with a greasy look. Grief...what happens if the guy at the store can’t tell me what sex the hamsters are? How can you tell if a female is pregnant? My common sense is telling me that the two glass tank areas housing the hamsters in mass are divided into male and female - I hope! I will keel over if my hamster pops babies. I should have asked...silly me!

These hamsters are all over 3 months. I also received an email saying they want to add 252pounds/320USD to my order if I wanted the megazorb In mass so ordered Fitch and smaller bag megazorb which will only arrive 20 July so it’s all about the waiting...too much for my brain! Im bursting to get everything. Will open a thread when my haul arrives.

[souffle]

Long coated hammies do get messy and tatty looking when they are in the nest with their siblings so it will be because they are in such a large group and all crawling over each other and the coat will come fine once the hamster is on it's own. With such a large group I would suggest a male!

[Schwartzie]

Long coated hammies do get messy and tatty looking when they are in the nest with their siblings so it will be because they are in such a large group and all crawling over each other and the coat will come fine once the hamster is on it's own. With such a large group I would suggest a male!

Thanks Souffle - ok, do you have a website that you recommend that explains how to sex a hamster? I am wanting to be able to leave the pet shop knowing that I have made sure I’m taking a male home. I’m relieved to hear the coat will improve when I bring the hamster home.

Can you brush a long haired Syrian - they aren’t as long as the teddy bears but there is some length? Meaning is it common practice to groom them? I know toothbrushes are used on teddy bears.

[Ria P]

At three months old it shouldn't be difficult to sex hamsters. In relation to their overall size hamster boys sport quite a large set of balls. I'll try and post a photo of Henry's tonight but i'll tell him that i'm just doing a health check. I'd definitely get a male to be on the safe side.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Funnily enough I was reading this article on sexing yesterday! Sexing Hamsters • Hamsterific! (http://hamsterific.com/hamsterific-university/sexing-hamsters/)

Yes if they have something hanging out at the back end = male :)

Oh that is an idea you could look on youtube how to make a wheel- some look quite easy and you sound like you know what you are doing craft/DIY wise

and yes you are not the only one waiting impatiently as Ria P also says - me too - i can't wait to see what little hammy ends up being part of your family.

[Schwartzie]

At three months old it shouldn't be difficult to sex hamsters. In relation to their overall size hamster boys sport quite a large set of balls. I'll try and post a photo of Henry's tonight but i'll tell him that i'm just doing a health check. I'd definitely get a male to be on the safe side.

Hahahahaha...please tell Henry that it’s for a good cause. The cause of me not keeling over is in his....photo....🙃🙃🙃

[Schwartzie]

Funnily enough I was reading this article on sexing yesterday! Sexing Hamsters • Hamsterific! (http://hamsterific.com/hamsterific-university/sexing-hamsters/)

Yes if they have something hanging out at the back end = male :)

Oh that is an idea you could look on youtube how to make a wheel- some look quite easy and you sound like you know what you are doing craft/DIY wise

and yes you are not the only one waiting impatiently as Ria P also says - me too - i can't wait to see what little hammy ends up being part of your family.

You’re a star! Thanks so so much! Between Henry’s photo and that website I’m good to go. I wish that we all could just zoom to the pet shop and all be there to stand in front of that glass area and choose together. But a I know the force is with me😀😀. Will see what DIY I can conjure up if the bedding arrives earlier. Will look at the website and make sure I have an idea of what’s potting.

[Coco61]

Hi there, I have been following your exciting journey towards getting your hammy. I too strongly suggest a male Syrian. If you go to the Forum and then Syrian Hamster, look for my thread on my boy 'Maestro is here!' A quick scroll through his thread will show you a number of photos of his boy bits so you get the idea! Sorry I don't know how to put a link into this post.

[Schwartzie]

Hi there, I have been following your exciting journey towards getting your hammy. I too strongly suggest a male Syrian. If you go to the Forum and then Syrian Hamster, look for my thread on my boy 'Maestro is here!' A quick scroll through his thread will show you a number of photos of his boy bits so you get the idea! Sorry I don't know how to put a link into this post.

Thanks so much Coco, really appreciate it. Will go and check it out. I'm taking everyone's advice and going for a male Syrian. The journey has been so exciting...just waiting on my shipping...patience isn't going well!!

[Ria P]

Sorry Schwartzie, i tried to get a photo of Henry's male bits but he wasn't having any of it.
He wriggled like mad so i had to abandon this mission.

Trust me, at three months old you will be able to tell. Males also have a scent gland on each side which is easy to spot.

Henry is sitting in his coconut now and refuses to come out.
Oh dear, he's in a strop again.....

[Schwartzie]

Sorry Schwartzie, i tried to get a photo of Henry's male bits but he wasn't having any of it.
He wriggled like mad so i had to abandon this mission.

Trust me, at three months old you will be able to tell. Males also have a scent gland on each side which is easy to spot.

Henry is sitting in his coconut now and refuses to come out.
Oh dear, he's in a strop again.....

Lol...shame, he is shy! Ok, will make sure we turn over the hamsters in the pet shop to check....lol!

Hope Henry came out of his strop...eeek!

[Ria P]

This may help. I'll look up the cat grass and will let you know about the cress. Thing is, hamsters eat greenery and dig in compost so it must be safe and edible. I also wonder if they'd eat too much of it and possibly give themselves diarrhoea.

[Shannonmcn]

How some people can't see syrian hamster balls is the funniest thing to me. So many posts on FB groups introducing their little female... with a set of balls bigger than their head. So many male syrians named Rosie. Delightful every time.

You'll be fine Schwartzie!

[Schwartzie]

How some people can't see syrian hamster balls is the funniest thing to me. So many posts on FB groups introducing their little female... with a set of balls bigger than their head. So many male syrians named Rosie. Delightful every time.

You'll be fine Schwartzie!

Hahahahahaha..LMAO.... hahahahah!!! Bigger than their head...males called Rosie....hahahahaha!!!!!

The pressure to bring back a male is intense....hahahaha.

[Schwartzie]

This may help. I'll look up the cat grass and will let you know about the cress. Thing is, hamsters eat greenery and dig in compost so it must be safe and edible. I also wonder if they'd eat too much of it and possibly give themselves diarrhoea.

Thanks....runny tummy...let's make sure we research that one thoroughly.

[Ria P]

[QUOTE=Shannonmcn;923396]How some people can't see syrian hamster balls is the funniest thing to me. So many posts on FB groups introducing their little female... with a set of balls bigger than their head. So many male syrians named Rosie. Delightful every time QUOTE]

I nearly fell off my chair laughing!!!!

[LunaTheHamster1]

[QUOTE=Shannonmcn;923396]How some people can't see syrian hamster balls is the funniest thing to me. So many posts on FB groups introducing their little female... with a set of balls bigger than their head. So many male syrians named Rosie. Delightful every time QUOTE]

I nearly fell off my chair laughing!!!!

Me too, but it is so true. How people can't see the two big things hanging out the back end of a hamster I don't know. I even think Erinsanimals made that error once - although it may not have been on a syrian.

So no pressure Schwartzie :)

[Schwartzie]

[QUOTE=Ria P;923401]

Me too, but it is so true. How people can't see the two big things hanging out the back end of a hamster I don't know. I even think Erinsanimals made that error once - although it may not have been on a syrian.

So no pressure Schwartzie :)

Hahahahaha...I thought the hamsters oily coats were a worry...I’m taking my mini flashlight with me and a magnifying glass.