I'm a sucker for hard luck cases... - Page 2

RCalabraro · 05-10-2013, 05:26 PM

Here she is...

ThePipsqueakery · 05-10-2013, 05:29 PM

Aw, what a cutie.

RCalabraro · 05-10-2013, 05:31 PM

You can kinda see the gray stripe starting on her head and going down her back. I wonder what she is a hybrid of...

RCalabraro · 05-10-2013, 06:49 PM

ok I am THRILLED to report that Phoenix is a totally different hamster tonight! I opened her cage and she willfully climbed out and onto my hands. She crawled around on my hands in arms for a while and never even tried to bite me. Indeed, she gently licked the salty sweat off of my forearm!

I didn't try to "grab" her, but I was petting her as she wormed around in my arms, and she didn't even try to nip at my fingers. I put her back in her cage, waited a few minutes, and opened the door again... and she climbed right back out into my hands again!

This hamster will have no problem at all becoming habituated to being handled.

Another thing I noticed... she seems very sensitive to sound. I was clipping my fingernails a few feet away from her cage, and I saw her twitch and put her ears back every time the clippers made a snapping sound from cutting my nail. She was probably overwhelmed with the noise at the pet store, which no doubt contributed to her behavior problems there.

RCalabraro · 05-10-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slatted

Bet they did not give her much substrate?

Correct. She has a good 3-4" of Carefresh now, and she loves to burrow in it:

gutterglitterxx · 05-11-2013, 12:07 AM

Awwww she is beautiful! You totally rock for taking her home.

My Jasmine was a similar case... She was returned to the shop because she was "evil" but she had been forced to live in a 10 gallon tank for like 6 months with no toys, no wheel, and no attention from the family that originally purchased her. The shop was treating her as a lost cause because she had bitten a couple of potential buyers. They were essentially planning to use her as snake food! I told them I wanted her and they tried to talk me out of it. But I was firm and I'm so glad she came home with me. She just needed some attention, some patience, and some love. She always has been and always will be more nervous and hyper than Cheeto but she is miiiiiiiles from where she was in the shop.

Anyway, I'm babbling. I'm so happy for you and Phoenix.

starbug · 05-11-2013, 04:04 AM

She is absolutely beautiful and I'm glad she has found a caring forever home with you.

Kaztrekie · 05-11-2013, 09:17 AM

She's gorgous ( squishes ) she looks very happy

RCalabraro · 05-14-2013, 05:53 PM

Phoenix is turning out to be even more cuddly than Thor. She will sit in my arms while I pet her. She holds absolutely still for as long as I pet her. Then when I put her back in her cage, she is 100x more chill than when I take her out, leisurely ambling around in her cage (instead of darting to and fro).

I'm amazed that this gentle, cuddly animal was considered behaviorally challenged.