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Old 11-18-2021, 02:51 PM   #11
ShadowNinjaHamster
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
He certainly is chirping isn’t he. I also think he maybe looks a bit swollen but it’s hard to tell, if he has always been a big hamster.

Not all hamsters like sand baths. Roborovski hamsters always need a sand bath but dwarf hamsters don’t necessarily need one. Racing Hamster on here often didn’t use them. So if he’s not interested, I wouldn’t worry about it.

If he has just been treated for mites though, presumably he was given Invermectin. Was that injected or topical? I only mention that because an overdose of that can be toxic and could cause some issues.

How is his behaviour generally? Is he doing all his usual things- eating , active, using his wheel? If so I wouldn’t worry too much. But having a general vet check could be good in case there is any abdominal swelling.

Is he pooping ok? And what nesting material are you using? Some nesting materials can cause intestinal blockages, if chewed or swallowed, and that can cause bloating.

If he has never chirruped before then he clearly is trying to say something. I am not sure how different the respiratory sound is but I think it’s usually more of a clicking noise.

And yes I would hold off doing a cage clean. It can stress them and also make them annoyed. It’s only really necessary to spot clean and not do a full substrate change that often.

Maybe he’s just happy! Or cross.
He has usually been chirping while sleeping, but not when he's awake, so that's new to me. When I took him out of the cage he started chirping even louder. He has slept on his bathroom and he goes there, but he has never been in his sand bath. I don't even see any steps or nothing on it. Maybe he doesn't know what it is, but then again he was never interested in it for whatever reason.

He was injected, but that was weeks ago. I also haven't seen any bugs anymore.
I use Chips paper bedding: CHIPSI - CAREFRESH(C) Pure White – Completely in white

He's eating and sometimes using his wheel. He has never been a really active hamster. When I put him on his playpen where he has toys he just wants to get out and in a cage he's pretty much sleeping and eating and digging and building nests. I don't know how much he uses his wheel, but I've seen him using his wheel.

That's why I take him out and put him on my bed or on my couch and try to build something using books and pillows. Sometimes he climbs and sometimes he gives up. When I put treat somewhere then he puts in extra effort and eventually climbs up and gets the treat.

He's very friendly and clingy to me some days. When I walk past the cage he immediately comes out and tries to see me or get my attention somehow. When my friend was here he still kept coming back to me and he was still chirping. My friend said that he might be scared or something, so I put him back to the cage and he has been sleeping and then he woke up to groom himself and went back to sleep and now he went to sleep in a different nest.

I'll see what the vet says. He was big when I bought it, but my friend said that she thinks he's even 'fatter' now than he was before. He hasn't been chirping anymore, but still, I'm going to the vet on Saturday and see what they say. My biggest concern is that it's cold outside. Hopefully lots of bedding, toilet paper, a blanket will keep him warm.
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Old 11-18-2021, 03:13 PM   #12
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

I want to second what Ria said briefly, please whatever happens don’t blame yourself. You’re absolutely right that other hamsters are given worse lives but you shouldn’t even compare yourself to that. You’ve really done well and you give your hamster a loving home and life.

If you’re unsure about the sand bath just remove it for now and ask the vet for a second opinion, if your hammie is sick, it can be for any number of reasons. I’m sorry the little hammie may not be well but also I’m very sorry to yourself since you’ve done brilliantly and it must feel at this stage everything just seems to go wrong, but don’t blame yourself.
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Old 11-18-2021, 03:54 PM   #13
sushi_78
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

Hamsters are fragile creatures, especially dwarfs, and prone to many illnesses. It isn't your fault at all if he is ill. He's lucky to have found an owner who is willing to seek advice and to take him to the vet for treatment because so many people wouldn't.
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Old 11-19-2021, 09:07 AM   #14
ShadowNinjaHamster
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

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Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
Hamsters are fragile creatures, especially dwarfs, and prone to many illnesses. It isn't your fault at all if he is ill. He's lucky to have found an owner who is willing to seek advice and to take him to the vet for treatment because so many people wouldn't.
Thank you! What's weird is that today he seems to be fine. He was running on the wheel, turned the toilet roll upside down and did other hamster stuff and hasn't squeaked. I'm still going to the vet tomorrow and luckily I recorded the chirping (he hasn't done that today). Maybe the vet is able to tell me it's age and if he's fine. I'd like to know how old my hamster is. They didn't know at the pet store, but he was definitely bigger and fatter than other dwarfs.

Maybe he just had a bad day or something happened or he was just feeling sick and now he's fine? I've had days when I feel sick and the next day I am completely fine. He was also playing with one toy and chewing his chew toy, which made me happy.
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Old 11-19-2021, 01:27 PM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

Glad to hear he's doing well. He may have just been being vocal about something that either made him very cross or very happy - or even just communicating. All ours have been silent communicators (looks, nods of the head) but they really do communicate sometimes - either to tell you they really like something or really don't like something, or want you to do something.
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Old 11-20-2021, 10:34 AM   #16
ShadowNinjaHamster
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

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Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Glad to hear he's doing well. He may have just been being vocal about something that either made him very cross or very happy - or even just communicating. All ours have been silent communicators (looks, nods of the head) but they really do communicate sometimes - either to tell you they really like something or really don't like something, or want you to do something.
They said my hamster is completely fine and it's not a dwarf hamster, but a hybrid mix of different breeds.
They were surprised how friendly and nice and cute my hamster was and said that he has a beautiful coat. When I said that he's bigger than he was in the Summer they said that they grow fast.
They said chirping sometimes is normal and some hamsters are more vocal than others and some are vocal sometimes.
They found no bugs on him, but there was a red spot on his skin and they gave three drops of something to him.
Told me to come back in three weeks. They said he's healthy and fine otherwise. I haven't seen bugs either ever since he got the shot.
They said he's fine.
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Old 11-20-2021, 11:19 AM   #17
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

That's excellent news. Most dwarf hamsters are hybrids - it means they are a mix of russian dwarf campbells and winter white dwarf hamsters. Sadly those two species have been interbred for such a long time that almost all dwarf hamsters are hybrids of those two species. But he is still a russian dwarf hamster! Just not a specific species.

The only thing to take care with, with dwarf hybrid hamsters, is to have a sugar free diet, as they are prone to getting diabetes. So while a tiny bit of veg is fine daily, I wouldn't give any fruit, and would use a sugar free hamster mix.
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Old 11-21-2021, 02:31 PM   #18
ShadowNinjaHamster
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
That's excellent news. Most dwarf hamsters are hybrids - it means they are a mix of russian dwarf campbells and winter white dwarf hamsters. Sadly those two species have been interbred for such a long time that almost all dwarf hamsters are hybrids of those two species. But he is still a russian dwarf hamster! Just not a specific species.

The only thing to take care with, with dwarf hybrid hamsters, is to have a sugar free diet, as they are prone to getting diabetes. So while a tiny bit of veg is fine daily, I wouldn't give any fruit, and would use a sugar free hamster mix.
My hamster does not eat cheese or apples, but he loves cucumbers and he's very crazy about mealworms, but I think you can give one every other day? I give him food daily, but now just read that you can't actually do that, since they're hiding a lot of food.

Are there any toys you'd recommend to a hamster? The ones at the stores are pretty boring and my hamster is not interested in his toys and to be honest, if I was a hamster I don't think I'd be interested either.
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Old 11-21-2021, 02:46 PM   #19
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

Hiding food or hoarding is a natural behaviour. Keeping a hoard is very important to a hamster so they need enough hamster mix to eat and to hoard. They often keep a hoard under or near their nest so they can snack while in their nest.
It keeps them happy and helps them to feel secure.

I wouldn't give a hamster fruit but a small daily amount of cucumber, broccoli, kale etc is fine. Cut it into very small pieces so it will dry up rather than go mouldy should he not eat it all up or hoard it.

As for mealworms. I give our dwarfs a couple of dried mealworms per day.
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Old 11-21-2021, 04:15 PM   #20
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster chirping

I wouldn't worry about him hoarding fresh food. None of mine ever have - they eat fresh food straight away and hoard the dried food. But only give a really tiny bit of veg - no bigger than 1cm cube (ish).

Have a look at this video for toys And save your toilet rolls Anything with string needs to be sisal string.

10 Toilet Roll Toys For Small Pets - YouTube
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