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Old 02-18-2022, 10:51 PM   #1
Threeheadedfly
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 2
Default Meet Spirit

Well...I went to the pet store for cat food and a rat toy and came home with a new little buddy. Wait...before you come at me with the torches and pitchforks for impulse buying a pet let me assure you that I was already set up for a hamster. My Mochi passed away last year and I had decided not to replace him. But...
This little guy was off by himself with a note attached to his cage. I asked the manager about him and was told that he is unsellable because of anxiety and aggression. She said he is a winter white, his name is Spirit, and he is 9-10 months old. Said he needs a low stress environment and a minimal amount of handling. Wanted him to go to a house with hamster experience. I decided that he would fit in just fine around here. She rang him up as "damaged" and gave him to me for free. (After these past couple years who among us isn't a bit damaged...right?)
He is happily situated in my nice quiet craft room in a 65 gallon tank with litter deep enough to tunnel through. I let him try out a few wheels and he chose the 6.5 inch silent spinner. He screams if you touch him but will politely take treats from your hand. Any touching has to be his decision.
My last few hamsters were teddybears. I have not really researched the specific dietary needs of a winter white so I grabbed a bag of Oxbow pellets and Higgins Sunburst seed mix. I am a little concerned about the amount of fruit in the seed mix. His favorite treats are dried insects. I'd love recommendations for a good food brand for him.
Also he loves to spend time in his litter box. Not going potty...just digging. I think I need to add a digging box to his cage. Something a bit bigger and filled with something other than potty litter. I'd love any advice about that.
Nice to meet you all!
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Old 02-20-2022, 10:57 AM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Meet Spirit

Sand. Lots of sand for digging and rolling around in.
Far better than potty litter which isn't safe anyway as far as i know.
Looking forward to hear more about Spirit.
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Old 02-20-2022, 12:58 PM   #3
cloudy
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
Smile Re: Meet Spirit

Quote:
Originally Posted by Threeheadedfly View Post
Well...I went to the pet store for cat food and a rat toy and came home with a new little buddy. Wait...before you come at me with the torches and pitchforks for impulse buying a pet let me assure you that I was already set up for a hamster. My Mochi passed away last year and I had decided not to replace him. But...
This little guy was off by himself with a note attached to his cage. I asked the manager about him and was told that he is unsellable because of anxiety and aggression. She said he is a winter white, his name is Spirit, and he is 9-10 months old. Said he needs a low stress environment and a minimal amount of handling. Wanted him to go to a house with hamster experience. I decided that he would fit in just fine around here. She rang him up as "damaged" and gave him to me for free. (After these past couple years who among us isn't a bit damaged...right?)
He is happily situated in my nice quiet craft room in a 65 gallon tank with litter deep enough to tunnel through. I let him try out a few wheels and he chose the 6.5 inch silent spinner. He screams if you touch him but will politely take treats from your hand. Any touching has to be his decision.
My last few hamsters were teddybears. I have not really researched the specific dietary needs of a winter white so I grabbed a bag of Oxbow pellets and Higgins Sunburst seed mix. I am a little concerned about the amount of fruit in the seed mix. His favorite treats are dried insects. I'd love recommendations for a good food brand for him.
Also he loves to spend time in his litter box. Not going potty...just digging. I think I need to add a digging box to his cage. Something a bit bigger and filled with something other than potty litter. I'd love any advice about that.
Nice to meet you all!
I think it is wonderful you have rescued Spirit. It sounds like Spirit needs lots of love and patience. I am planning to get a dwarf hamster myself.
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Old 02-20-2022, 01:55 PM   #4
AmityvilleHams
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Meet Spirit

Spirit sounds very lucky! As far as food goes, the proper diet in the US for any hamster species is Higgins Vita Garden - not Sunburst as that has dried fruit which isn't really species appropriate since hamsters naturally wouldn't generally be consuming fruit in the wild, and some people do get concerned with diabetes prone species and fruit in general. As far as lab blocks and pellets go, just avoid those entirely - they're poor in terms of overall quality and really aren't a high quality source of extra protein. Oxbow in particular make decent products for other species, but they're really not good for hamsters as they're far too hay based for them.

Pure Bites freeze dried shrimp are a great option for boosting protein as well as their turkey or chicken. Even the salmon could be used in moderation for variety.

Definitely get rid of the potty litter entirely as that is very unsafe. It can lead to blockages in the digestive system due to being made from clay. Hard clay pots and such are fine as they wouldn't be ingested though.

Rinsed, sifted, and baked plain undyed play sand is the most economical and frankly safest litter/bathing sand option.
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Old 02-20-2022, 02:57 PM   #5
Axeriax
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Norway,Lofoten
Posts: 72
Default Re: Meet Spirit

I think we all have been there with the rescuing of poor unfortunate little hamster souls. Spirit sounds very lucky that faith put you in her path <3
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Old 02-21-2022, 03:21 AM   #6
Mweekie
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Posts: 423
Default Re: Meet Spirit

Hi Threeheadedfly (interesting username).

Aww Spirit sounds like his name . Well done you on taking him on. I've done this a couple of times - especially with my last Syrian (Cookie) and my first ever Dwarf (Bonnie) and I know a few others have done this as well.

Looking forward to reading more about Spirit and welcome to the forum

Mweekie xx
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Old 02-23-2022, 03:09 PM   #7
Amethyst_ice
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Location: Birmingham
Posts: 8,026
Default Re: Meet Spirit

Welcome,

I too have just adopted a little dwarf named Spirit!

lots of good advice given, I hope you will be very happy together
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