Unexpected surprise

Derwolf82g · 06-02-2016, 12:46 AM

So I'll start where it all began. I had one hamster. My gf and I decided to get hamsters together so I ended up with two more. (She left days later and left her hamster to my care.) Sadly, mine came down with wet tail 2 weeks later and had to be put down. It was a sudden and heartbreaking experience. Never had I had that happen or heard of it in my years. Showed me how inexperienced I really was. So.. the vet put her down, and she was taken care of. The pet store was gracious enough to replace her for me since it was under a week.. less than 2 weeks after getting my new hamster... I discovered pink little ones in with her. It has been a real learning curve and I want to thank all those that came before me as I have done alot of reading. The are just over a week old and she's already starting to ween them, as well as leaving them more often. I wanted to post pics but can't figure out how. My only major concern is she nested up in the hideaway, and I'm worried as they get older, they could fall down the tube and get hurt. It's a two story critter trail.

BluerayDarkes · 06-02-2016, 01:21 AM

If the babies were older I would have suggested putting mum and babies in to a bin cage, a critter trial isn't even big enough for one hamster let alone a mother with a litter. Unless you can remove the hideaway with everyone in it to a new bigger cage, not sure if that's possible at all. Hamsters require a minimum of 80x50 continuous floor space.

You can't put pictures up of the babies until their eyes are open, but you can of the mother. Most people will use photobucket and do direct links, the other way is to click Go advanced and attach photos from there.

freyashamsters · 06-02-2016, 01:40 AM

BlueRayDarkes is right, a Crittertrail is too small and it would be best to move the hideaway (with babies inside it) into a large bin with mesh Windows for ventilation

Jasmine2016 · 06-02-2016, 01:58 AM

Wouldn't moving the babies be dangerous?
Moving them might stress the mum out enough to either abandon them or kill them, I'd leave them where they are for now, then once their eyes are open and they are moving around and eating solids, then move everyone to a better cage.

BluerayDarkes · 06-02-2016, 02:27 AM

That's why I said if they were older then I would suggest moving them, there are plenty of breeders who have more experience in this who can give full on advice.

freyashamsters · 06-02-2016, 02:28 AM

Not necessarily, but you'd have to be lucky to get it right.

You should wait until all babies and the mum hamster are in the hideaway and sleeping and very very carefully transporting them.

It's not recommended though as the slightest slip could cause the babies to be cannibalised.

I'd wait until their eyes are open and you can handle them and then move them.

CMB · 06-02-2016, 05:29 AM

When the babies eyes are open possible move them and mum to a bigger cage or bin cage. If this isn't possible could you move the hide away to ground level. The mum may move them if there isn't enough room in the nest.

Nancy's Hamsters · 06-02-2016, 07:46 AM

Oh boy you are between two hard places. IF the pups get crowded in the sleep loft and start to wander they will tumble down that tube. A gal I met at the local pet store was in a panic cause her store bought Syrian had 13 babies in a CT loft, and for three days in a row she found pups down at the lower level cold and not doing well. Not knowing to not touch them her two young children decided to pick up the pups and hold them, they then opened the loft lid and put them back in with Mom. I need not say what occurred next but it was a terrifying lesson for the two children.

At 1 week it is very risky to remove the loft Mom and pups and place it in a prepared bin cage, but it will be equally as risky to leave them in the CT loft until eyes open. Those lofts don't have proper ventilation in them, and as the pups start needing water they won't be able to get to the bottle which can lead to them dying of dehydration. If you offer bits of cucumber they will get water BUT then they will start urinating more which is a huge problem when done in that loft as the condensation creates a very poor environment for the growing pups to not get ill with respiratory problems.

Not sure which is best for you and I hope Mom solves things for you by moving the pups out and down to at least the lower level. Hang in there though and we're here with suggestions if you need us.

BCjetta · 06-02-2016, 10:21 PM

I wonder if you could move the loft down into the main part of the cage she's used to for now until the pups are out moving around....then move them all to a bigger cage. I dont' know offhand what this cage looks like though...

souffle · 06-02-2016, 11:52 PM

Any chance of a pic of the cage or maybe a link to the cage so we can try and work out a way of getting the babies down to a safe level without disturbing then much?
It's been done before and all babies have survived but needs careful planning.
First thing I would try is to encourage her to move them down herself to ground level then you can take the hidey house off.
Get some cheap loo roll and rip it up in to smallish shreds and place it on the bottom and see if she starts nesting in it. If she starts taking it all up and packing up the tubes though you will have no option but to bring the whole lot down and into a large plastic bin which you need to prepare in advance so it is ready for them.
It is a tricky situation. Make sure you keep all the same cage substarte to keep smells the same. If you need to move a pup that has fallen the use a clean metal spoon rubbed in the bedding and wee corner to mask your scent. Don't touch pups or nest with your hand.
You are caught between a rock and a hard place here but on balance if she doesn't bring them down I would move them down before 10days as they need to have water and also food access then and they won't manage a tube at this size