Eric!

Clairealex · 12-01-2013, 02:15 PM

I posted a while back about how I would have loved another wee ham in out house but my oh was dead against it

(Convincing other half to adopt another ham?!)

I had all but given up on another ham, especially today as I woke up to bloody bedding where my little hybrid had scratched an ear wart

So when I visited pets at home it certainly wasn't to come home with another ham, I only wanted to pick up some treats for Chub!

I had a wee nosey at the adoption tanks as always. There was one marked as a Chinese hamster. It had been that way a few weeks ago but the tank had seemed empty so I assumed the ham had been taken and they just hadn't taken the signs down. I asked a member of staff and sure enough he was there, hiding under the food bowl. He had been abandoned and found by the charity. He was terrified being pulled out and I was told he really wasn't used to human contact. I fell in love with him but was still really worried about Chub so wasn't sure it was the wisest idea. Then my sister reminded me that this little man had no one at all to worry about him. And so that was it, he was coming home with me

Luckily I still had cage set up so bringing him home was easy. He's now settling in, and Chubs will have to get used to the noise of a new roomie! I don't have many climbing toys just now as it was set up for a hybrid, but he has loads of hidey holes and plenty of underground tunnels

I've never had a Chinese before but have read up on them and the diet I feed my diabetes prone Chubs should be transferable! Any tips would also be very welcome.

So here he is, little Eric! We have no idea what age he is but id guess somewhere around a year. He's already abandoned that nasty box in favour of his nice house and mountains of fitch

Daniellabella · 12-01-2013, 02:52 PM

What a nice story. and now he is going to have a lovely life.

Big smile on my face as i read this story x

fluffydd · 12-01-2013, 04:28 PM

I'm glad you found Eric. He is going to have a lovely life with you. Well done.

gutterglitterxx · 12-01-2013, 10:44 PM

Awww how wonderful that you brought him home. He looks like a cutie.... Can't wait to see more of him. Welcome to HC, Eric. xx

Munchalot · 12-02-2013, 02:02 AM

What a hansom little ham! He's gorgeous.

Poor little mite... Some people are so cruel. Who could abandon something so sweet?
So glad you decided to take him home, where we know you'll give him the life time of love he has missed out on. x

**DrKMcK** · 12-02-2013, 05:09 AM

Eric is adorable! How wonderful that he is now safe and has a great home. Good for you for rescuing him. You should be able to get loads of advice here since quite a few members have them. He's a cutie

.

racinghamster · 12-02-2013, 05:16 AM

Aw, Claire, well done for giving him a nice home, your going to love him.

Chinese are....well they are classed as hamsters but look at the shape and the behaviour? Does mouse with a short tail spring to mind? They do love to dig under deep substrate and climb, so if you read though this section you will glean more info about what other members were asking and the replies.

The diet can be Burgess Dwarf mix or whatever Chubs is having.

You will already be clued up about lowering any un-natural sugars/honey/syrup/molasses etc...

Hello to little Eric. x

Clairealex · 12-02-2013, 09:47 AM

Thanks everyone

He is a huge cutie! He's very very timid and scared at the moment. He's made two huge deep nests and seems to have taken all his food into them, so he's hunkered down for a while haha. I bought him a couple of climby toys today and have ordered a new silent spinner as I don't like those pets at home wheels - so noisy! But it's better than no wheel for now

I'm also quite surprised by just how mousey Chinese's are! So slender and very hesitant. So unlike Chubs who just barges his way to wherever he wants to be haha

I can't wait to discover his little personality but I'm very happy to take everything at his pace. He really has had a rubbish start to life, abandoned outside in his wee cage. How could anyone do that?!?

Clairealex · 12-02-2013, 10:40 AM

Thought I'd attach a pic of his current set up and if anyone has any tips or suggestions please feel free!! I'm desperate to make it a great home for him

Internal measurements are 75cm x 50cm and there's 13cm substrate at the lowest point, 20cm at the highest.

At the moment we have: woodlands hut, woodlands log bridges x 2, woodlands climbing frame, sandbath, toilet/kitchen roll tube x 4 (three under substrate, one above), pets at home medium wheel (soon to be replaced by silent spinner 8 1/2 inch), woodlands various chews, small grass house, edible log with water bottle and rock cave designed for exotics (made from ceramic).

I know I have some more climbing toys to buy so I'll be compiling my zooplus list ASAP

racinghamster · 12-02-2013, 10:59 AM

Looks FAB to me Claire. I would let him now settle in, make his deep nest (Chinese tend to make ball shape nests under something!) with my Prinny it was a tea box with no floor in it! They prefer houses with no floor to allow them to dig down.

Try and keep the water bottle in one place just for familiarity reasons, but otherwise, he will enjoy rummaging around and climbing about.

He will come to you, so patience is definitely the key with Chinese as they are shy little creatures but SO sweet. x