A bit of advice needed

[Heather]

Haha, I do find myself sometimes staring at the cage when no one is up just willing them to come out so I can be distracted . I do a pretty good job at procrastinating anyway!

My vet actually joked that I keep him in business. With my previous dog I was so over protective, he would sneeze and my reaction would be 'oh my god he sneezed, what could this mean?? Vets!!' (Maybe not quite that dramatic..). I think with animals I'm so conscious of them being completely dependent on me that I hate taking any chances. I know vets are so expensive, but I always think if I leave something too long to see how it goes and then it's too late to be treated, I know I'd never forgive myself. I could probably do with relaxing a little more though :S.

No, it's a bit odd actually. I've checked around for damp spots but I can't see anywhere. I still haven't figured out where Mr Mary goes either, he doesn't seem to have a set corner which I find strange. I bought him a little toilet hoping to train him but I can't find any soiled substrate :S. Mr Ethel will only go in his toilet or wodent wheel (never his other wheels). He seems to be the tidiest!

[racinghamster]

My last robo always pee`d in his toilet roll tube! I waited until it got rather soiled and replaced it! He always knew because he would go inside it and sniff at it as if to say , "Oh....a fresh toilet!".. My Russian dwarf goes just outside his bed area, but I spot clean around his tank once a week and I quite like the smell of salty feet he gives off!!!!

[Thin Lizzy]

Heather, I think you'll find that everyone of us worries too much lol! You've joined the right forum, you'll always get the support and advice here.

[Heather]

I spent quite a bit of time yesterday observing them. I noticed something that I'm really surprised I've not noticed before - the White one is about half the size of the other three. I think because I don't usually see him with the other three I hadn't really had them next to each other to compare. The other three were running together on a wheel and he tried to get on, the others carried on running this time, they didn't leave. But it was so noticeable how much smaller he is, the other three could run in line but he was behind them and kept getting flung off because he couldn't keep up . I don't really know much about hamster litters or anything, but could he be the runt of the litter? Is he likely to get bullied because of this? I still haven't seen any of the others act aggressively towards him but he's so small I worry if they did he couldn't defend himself. I actually can't tell the other three apart yet, but I did notice some 'bickering'. Because they all run around so quickly and look almost identical, I'm finding it really hard to tell if one is being bullied or they are all just having little squabbles with each other.

[cypher]

Aww bless him! He could well be the runt & it could well make him more liable to being bullied, it won't necessarily happen but I guess you do need to keep a close eye on him. Can you scoop him up in something to weigh him & keep a check to make sure he's growing ok?
They will bicker but that doesn't always lead to fighting, again it's just a matter of keeping watch really.
Hope they're going to continue to be ok.

[Heather]

That's a good idea. I haven't managed to pick any of them up yet. When I've tried putting my hand in the cage it's actually the litte one who seems not at all scared. He clung onto my mums finger, it was very cute!

[cypher]

He's an odd one that's for sure but sounds quite adorable!

[Heather]

I finally managed to get a picture of him while he was still enough. It's hard to tell because he is sitting anyway, but even when he walks he keeps his back arched like that. I noticed his eyes are quite squinty as well

[Heather]

I'm not sure if this is any clearer

[Heather]

Sorry this is the one I meant to send. I know they're all similar but I think you can see a little clearer in this one