How do I get Beanie out? - Page 2

Clairealex · 04-25-2014, 04:08 AM

Hi Esmy!

Hope beanie is doing well

Chinese are notorious for their shy nature, especially when attempting to train them. I've given Eric a couple of nesting options. One is the Corner Cabin for Small pets from zooplus. This is a great big size and has a large entrance, and is open bottomed. This is his favourite place. He also has a rock cage which has 3 exits and is airy and open bottomed, and then he has a huge nest that he's burrowed into and made himself.

They don't appreciate being disturbed I've found. I don't interact with Eric unless he's up and about. It takes a long while for them to remain out when they hear you in the room, and as Souffle said, when they start to make their way back to the nest, place a tube in front of him and use this as a transport. It really is a matter of very gentle handling, patience and time with them. Eric is still a shy guy, and does still run and hide, but also has nights where he hops up and enjoys a wee cuddle. It's just patience and doing it their way that will work.

Eric does get treats, but I wouldn't use babyfood unless he's unwell and in need of some comfort food. His treats consist of mealworms, peanut, pumpkin seed and fresh veg (broccoli and red pepper mostly). A good mix, such as burgess dwarf, will give him all he needs and the treats keep it interesting! I also add a pinch of linseed and porridge oats (dry as RH said!) every night.

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 07:34 AM

Hi Claire!

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm in the US so I'm unfamiliar with some of the items you are referring to. I took him out of his mushroom house and that helped a great deal!

I uncover him when sleeping because he wouldn't come out til after I went to bed if I didn't. For the last 2 days he has done well! He's run around the surface, playing on his wheel and grabbing food. I drop sunflower seeds here and there and he seems them out. I've managed to touch him briefly a few times, but this makes him skittish and unsure.

I won't try the baby food then. He does love broccoli and carrots!

Both nights he got tired of my interaction and ran into a tunnel and stayed there. I let him be, figuring he had enough and still made progress. Can't wait to be able to lift him up!

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 07:40 AM

Oops, I missed all the messages on page 1, sorry! I'm going out of order now.

Racinghamster, I did remove the mushroom house. It was actually huge! It's not a hamster one. I bought it as a garden decor item. But he's out of it. I haven't found anything large for him to use on the surface yet. What if I make him a coroplast house like my Syrians have, with openings and a flexible bottom? Like a bottom he feels is a flor but can flop open with I pick it up?

I feed him broccoli and carrots. This is not ok?

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 07:44 AM

Teddy, thank you for all the pictures. So cute and helpful! That yellow house looks perfect for what I need. Do you know the name of it? It could lay on the tubes and he could fill it with bedding like the mushroom house did and I could still access him.

Hekomi · 04-25-2014, 07:45 AM

Esmy; I have one of the yellow houses, but it has a solid bottom.
http://www.amazon.ca/Living-World-Ha...ng+world+house
That's it

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 08:02 AM

Thanks Hekomi! A solid bottom is ideal but I needed a way to get him out, so since the top is removable, it seems like this would be awesome.

Hekomi · 04-25-2014, 08:04 AM

Really? I thought you wanted a bottom that allowed him access to the substrate?

I liked the house and used it for my last Syrian (and the boys when they were younger) but it will get a bit steamy if you don't clean it out often.

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 08:06 AM

No, I wanted a way to access him so he couldn't just hide where I could never get him out. With the mushroom house, it had a bottom and nothing opened up so he could hide in it and there was no way to get to him.

When I took it away from him, I had to gently dump him out. lol He slid out of the house and then I took it away.

Clairealex · 04-25-2014, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esmy

Hi Claire!

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm in the US so I'm unfamiliar with some of the items you are referring to. I took him out of his mushroom house and that helped a great deal!

I uncover him when sleeping because he wouldn't come out til after I went to bed if I didn't. For the last 2 days he has done well! He's run around the surface, playing on his wheel and grabbing food. I drop sunflower seeds here and there and he seems them out. I've managed to touch him briefly a few times, but this makes him skittish and unsure.

I won't try the baby food then. He does love broccoli and carrots!

Both nights he got tired of my interaction and ran into a tunnel and stayed there. I let him be, figuring he had enough and still made progress. Can't wait to be able to lift him up!

Doi sorry! Should have looked at your location! The ceramic rock caves are for replies so pretty common internationally. Only thing is to make sure they're not being chewed. Eric isn't a chewer anyway, so I'm ok! That particular house is EU only, but I'm sure the US have versions. As long as it's airy, packed full with substrate and opened bottomed a chinese will love it!

I found that Eric went from wanting nothing to do with me to walking onto my hand. It was less of a gradual thing for him. But like I said, he still chooses to hide sometimes. They're so unlike the other species. Much less predictable!

Just a wee addition to say that chinese are diabetes prone, so I'd limit the carrot to an occasional treat. Eric gets broccoli or red pepper every other day, and once every 10 days or so he gets a tiny bit of apple because it's one of the least sugary fruits and has been shown to be beneficial to humans with diabetes (although obviously this doesn't necessarily transfer) and Chubs (diabetes prone hybrid) has had a little bit of apple every couple of weeks since being with me and he seems to have coped well. Plus, they absolutely love it!

Esmy · 04-25-2014, 08:38 AM

Thanks Claire! I did find this yesterday and thought he might like it for climbing. What do you think? http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aGVq6mEVL.jpg

I will avoid the carrot then and stick to broccoli. I can't eat apples so I couldn't share any. My Husband eats apples but only at work.