Nibblette's 5 - Page 5

souffle · 02-24-2016, 08:07 AM

I feel you have been advised numerous times that the pups should not have a wheel until they are separated from mum and in small groups. Pups can be seriously injured if mum decides to wheel run and they are under the wheel or if they all pile on an they get jammed against the cage side, underneath or between the wheel and the stand.
Pups this age should be putting their energy in to growing and not wheeling.
Our pups don't have wheels till they are in single accommodation and we feel they are well grown, settled and stong. This is usually around 10 weeks for a syrian.
There are plenty other enrichments they can have for now and they have each other to socialise with at the moment.

**Sm_banks** · 02-24-2016, 08:11 AM

Thanks Souffle

UPDATE: The Trixie Hamster Napper I ordered for the pups arrived yesterday, The pups and mom love it.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-24-2016, 08:52 AM

What is a Trixie Hamster Napper?

souffle · 02-24-2016, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

What is a Trixie Hamster Napper?

It's a completely unsuitable bed for hamsters and could cause them to choke / injest fibres or lose limbs when the threads tangle round them.

Hamster Napper 16cm/13cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

It is really important you research before buying such items.

**Sm_banks** · 02-24-2016, 09:39 AM

I know breeders who use this Souffle. They told me it was safe

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-24-2016, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

It's a completely unsuitable bed for hamsters and could cause them to choke / injest fibres or lose limbs when the threads tangle round them.

Hamster Napper 16cm/13cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

It is really important you research before buying such items.

Just a word of advice, if one of your hamsters gets injured or gets a broken leg then it could die or have to have it's leg amputated. Not worth it!
Sounds like you might be a tiny bit rushing things.

souffle · 02-24-2016, 09:49 AM

They have advised you wrongly then. If you go through the forum you will find many instances of fluffy fibres and thread causing injury and death is hamsters. There is a sticky in the healthcare section about fluffy bedding you may like to look at. The fleece in these beds is just the same I'm afraid.
You can use them to pose a hamster in while fully supervised but never leave them in a cage.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-24-2016, 09:52 AM

I had to remove a wash cloth from a play bin that the wheel rested on for stability on the bottom of the plastic bin. But even at 5 mo old my RCD (one of them) was getting his nails stuck in the washcloth so I had to remove it completely from the bin.

Vectis Hamstery · 02-24-2016, 11:23 AM

I would echo Souffle's advice about the wheel. I don't give wheels to mums with litters. Having a litter takes a lot of strength and energy from mums and they need to spend the energy they are getting from the large amounts of hamster food and extras on feeding the pups and maintaining their own health, not running all night. Also as, Souffle said, pups can be injured as well.

I've had young dwarf hamsters run themselves to death on a wheel when I put one in when they were 8 weeks old (and long since split from mum) so I wait until at least 12 weeks old and advise those who have my hamsters to do so also.

The best bedding for mums and pups is unscented plain toilet paper. Very cosy and safe. Please avoid the fluffy beds and bedding.

**Sm_banks** · 02-24-2016, 11:25 AM

I use a combo of carefresh, kaytee clean and cozy, and all living things bedding. I never would have considered fluffy bedding but then one of my friends who is a breeder told me the hamster napper was safe. Although he is the one who thought it would be a good idea to feed potato chips to the daddy hamster. I really need a better friend.

It was his hamster not mine