Emergency Back-up Hamster

[Stella Maris]

After having dogs and cats most of my life (and developing allergies to them), I’ve had a Campbell’s Dwarf for over 1 1/2 years. I named him “Oreo”, although, given his occasional tendency to impale my hand, perhaps “Vlad” would have been more appropriate. He’s 1 3/4 years old now, with a life expectancy of only ≈2 years. (Don’t tell him! It’ll just make him pensive and melancholy, and he’ll spend the nights writing bad poetry.) But I digress….

In early March, I looked at the news, thought “uh oh”, or words to that effect, and started planning for the next couple of years. I wasn’t sure that another hamster would be available when Oreo pops off to Hammie Heaven; the local SPCA tends not to have them, and the breeders I contacted were understandably distracted and uncertain about future plans. And sure enough, a couple of weeks ago, the local PetSmart quit selling small animals. Luckily for me, someone in my area neglected to separate their shiny new Syrian siblings quickly enough, and, hey presto, more hammies! I put in a request for a boy, and now I have Vlad - I mean, Oreo - AND a hand-raised, Golden Dominant Spot (I think) short-haired Syrian I’ve named, “Bean”.

I’m sure “the boys” can hear and smell each other, but Oreo is his usual cheerful, active, please-give-me-a-treat-now self, and Bean seems to be adapting to his new home. Happily, there’s no shared space, since Oreo is a very tidy little gentleman, and Bean is, well, more a teenaged throw-dirty-clothes-on-the-floor kinda guy.

I got Bean a pink plastic hutch which he ignored. I thought it might be too transparent (or pink?) for his comfort level, but then he set up house in his sand jar. Funny critters, these…. I got him an 8” Comfort Wheel, which is a titch small for him, so I decided I’d make my own do-it-myself wheel. (But that’s a story for another post. Suffice it to say, I have a couple of 10” wheels on order. Shipping to Canada was SO expensive, I figured I might as well get two.)

So I have food, water, a hamster, and an emergency back-up hamster. I’m set to shelter in place.

Below, Oreo and Bean asleep in unlikely places.

[Ria P]

Haha, you have two unconventional hamsters there!

You could make Bean a shoe box house, the lid as the lift off roof, base and an entrance cut out.....and then, if you're lucky, he may even sleep in it.

[Vierville]

Your two sleeping in unusual places was lovely to see. They both sound like such characters.

I must be honest the thought of not having a hamster is awful so having an 'emergency backup hamster' (or a 'co-hamster' as I'd call him) is not a bad idea.

[Petite]

After two hamster-less months, I completely agree: a back-up hamster is SUCH a good idea! It's great to have Freya now, and I think as soon as it's possible I'd like to give a robo a forever home too.

[Pebbles82]

Lovely photos! I agree - give him a shoe box house and he'll probably move in. Cut the base out of a shoe box, a hole for a door (one end of a long side works well as then the other end is darker inside). And the lid is the lift off roof (so you can check inside occasionally without having to remove the house so his nest doesn't fall apart). Also if it's big enough you can put a corner litter tray in the house - at the door end at the back. IF they have a larger house they often move their pee corner into the house to have an ensuite bathroom Syrians will use a litter tray - you can get plastic corner ones and put Chinchilla bathing sand in it (sand not dust). Then you just take the house roof off to empty the litter tray every 4 or 5 days, the cage stays clean and dry and less cleanouts needed, so less stress for the hamster and you use less substrate.

I find if you put a bendy bridge tunnel over the house entrance, the tunnel entrance attracts them to move in (put a smelly treat in the house too) and makes it nice and dark inside. Plus it gives a ramp up onto the roof. Plastic houses do tend to sweat a bit and need cleaning out and then the hamster gets upset when his nest and hoard are messed with.

They do best with a house that is open underneath and sat directly on the substrate - so they can have normal behaviours. Bury hoards under their nest and burrow down a bit to keep cosy. It also stops the house getting smelly and sweaty - more ventilation.

That's for syrians - dwarf hamsters don't always use a litter tray!

Good idea getting an emergency hamster! We have two Syrians - one is getting a bit old and the other is a few months old. I like to have two hamsters as I don't like being without one either. It didn't quite work out like that last time as one died younger than expected so they both went within a couple of months of each other. This time they are a good year apart in age.

[Stella Maris]

Yes, I'm really enjoying both hammies! Oreo is entertaining to watch and very responsive to me (because I'm the bearer of all good things), though handle-able only with caution. Bean is just getting used to his new home (and me). He's calmed down a bit and allows handling. He LOVES his jar and has made his nest there. I expect he'll move to more comfy digs at some point, but meanwhile it's great fun to watch him arrange himself and his belongings in that small space!

[Pebbles82]

Aw Bean. Such a lovely photo.