Hamster sitter

pinkneon · 05-17-2016, 04:06 PM

In June I have to leave Sweep with a hamster sitter for a few days, but wondered how to prepare him when he is still not completely tame? I plan to write a short-ish care sheet for him - apart from including that I scatter feed and the foods he likes is there anything else I will need to include? (I shouldn't need to include too much as she has had hamsters!) She has a spare cage, so Sweep will just be taken to hers in his carrier, along with toys and food etc. Obviously his Alexander is too big and heavy to move otherwise she'd have taken that too! I have told her that Sweepy is still quite jumpy but what else can I do to help this not be stressful for them both? I am worried about how Sweep will cope without me!
Is it worth me asking her to continue with short taming sessions at night or not? I don't want him to freak out with someone new but I don't want him coming back completely wild either! I am also concerned that he will be homesick - does that sound silly?
What else should I include with his things to take? How many toys etc? Also, should he go with his bedding and substrate?

CMB · 05-18-2016, 10:37 AM

You could put his hamster mix and treats in labelled bags with the day on. So they just scatter it in the cage.

Once you put sweep in his travel cage, you could take his nest so it smells familiar in the cage he will be in.

Sweep will be unsettled by the move, so it may be best if the person taking care of him doesn't handle him.

Take his water bottle too, just in case the pet sitter doesn't have a spare.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-18-2016, 11:21 AM

I heard to leave lots of tissues with your scent on it for him to nest in. Also, heard not to let your sitter to touch Sweep as this would cause further stress. She should just feed and water him only. That's just what I would do if it were me & my dwarves.

pinkneon · 05-18-2016, 02:10 PM

Thanks. I don't want to leave him but it's unavoidable!

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-18-2016, 02:42 PM

No worries, he will be happy to see you when you get back. Sounds like he will be in good hands in the meantime

AlfredHam · 05-18-2016, 05:03 PM

Could you take his wheel and a few of his favourite toys so the pet sitters cage will still have some familiarity?

pinkneon · 06-01-2016, 01:49 AM

Sweep is much tamer now, so could she play with him if he wants to come out? He'll be there between 1 and 2 weeks.
Also, I'm still waiting for a reply on this, but am pretty sure the spare cage she has is smaller than Sweep's Alexander (if I remember correctly she has an Alaska I think) ... Is Sweep going to be ok with less space for that time? I am concerned he might chew the bars and escape! Also, roughly how much stuff can you fit I that cage? I am trying to decide what he should take with him.
I'll pack his wheel, Sputnik, coconut, water bottle and his cube thing as he loves that. His bed won't fit! (He uses the huge bed from the Alexander!) Should I take the smaller house that is inside his playbox? Would he use that for that time? I don't want to stress him out and it's probably sounding more stressful than it is! What else can I pack? I don't think all his toys that are in his cage will fit in the Alaska, if it is that cage

Hammy992 · 06-01-2016, 02:44 AM

I'm sure that Sweep will be just fine, if a little unsettled. He should be ok in the smaller cage but he might be a bit grumpy at his mum for having his housing downsized!

I've heard that if you're switching to a different cage to try and set it up the same as the old one but that's obviously going to be tough since the Alaska has quite a different layout without the wooden shelves etc. You could take a photo of the bottom of his cage layout and then put things like his food, water, wheel and bed in similar positions in the other cage. It's still a big area (84x48.5) so you should still be able to get a fair bit in there. Be sure to pack his favourite chew toys and treats as well!!
I would take his nesting material and some of his substrate in a bag to put in the new cage so that it has his scent in there. With the housing I'm not sure if he would use another house - Custard uses his big Alexander house as well and I don't think he'd be too chuffed if I took it away! Maybe you could use a long cardboard box or large shoebox with the bottom cut out and similar doors carved into it so he still has lots of room and can also dig and nest in it. If he uses his toilet in his bed he will want the extra space for that too.

As for the taming, if he is fairly comfortable with you holding and interacting with him he should hopefully remain that way. Syrians, once tame will stay that way no matter how often they are held but since Sweep is not quite there yet I'm not too sure. He will probably want to be left on his own for at least a couple of days to get used to his environment. I don't know if having her hold him will work as he doesn't know her scent and won't be trusting. Custard will let my boyfriend hold and play with him only occasionally and always on his terms. Most of the time he prefers me. Since you are going for up to two weeks if after his settling in time Sweep really shows signs of wanting to come out she could perhaps offer him a cup or tube to take him to an enclosed supervised play area for him to explore. That way she doesn't have to touch him at all and he can still enjoy a bit of freedom. If she absolutely must touch him rubbing his substrate in her hands might make him a little less nervous as she will smell like him.

Hammys are fairly resilient so he should be ok, and at least you can have someone taking care of him who has experience with them as well. He might miss you being gone for so long but you can give him plenty of cuddles and treats when you get back!

pinkneon · 06-01-2016, 02:53 AM

Thanks
I expect he will miss me, but it's unavoidable

Got to have an operation otherwise I'd take him with me! He might be ok and I'm probably worrying over nothing but I am scared if he isn't handled at all then it'll set him back and he will come back completely wild! I just hope he will be ok about the space ... Will look for a shoe box, but if I don't have one, could I use an old cat food box? Though it might smell of cat food? (Cat hs dried food) ...

Hammy992 · 06-01-2016, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

Thanks
I expect he will miss me, but it's unavoidable

Got to have an operation otherwise I'd take him with me! He might be ok and I'm probably worrying over nothing but I am scared if he isn't handled at all then it'll set him back and he will come back completely wild! I just hope he will be ok about the space ... Will look for a shoe box, but if I don't have one, could I use an old cat food box? Though it might smell of cat food? (Cat hs dried food) ...

The cat food box should be fine as long as it's roomy. Since he is used to having such a large bed he might turn his nose up at anything too poky. I think he would eventually give in and use any kind of box for a bed, but it would probably make him more comfortable to have a similar amount of space to sleep in.

The main issue with having the sitter handle Sweep is that he is not at all familiar with her. Im guessing he is only handled by you? If so then having her try to hold him will not only be like starting the taming process all over again (as he doesn't know her), but it could also stress him out and if he panics and jumps from her hands he could get injured or escape. He could also bite her and become agitated and uncomfortable in the other cage which doesn't help since he needs to be in there for some time.

I think as long as he is being given food and water, and maybe being taken out for playtime every now and then he should be alright without the human contact.