Foster hamsters - Page 32

Ria P · 09-02-2021, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petite

Thank you, Ria. I just tried to find them online, but none of the search terms I entered came up with any results. Could you possibly post a link?

I noticed in one of your photos that you had some on a hamster house inside the cage. Did the ham take any interest or leave well alone?

I buy them in a Home Bargains shop so don't have a link.
I'd be more than happy to post you some. PM me if you'd like me to. They do sunflowers, butterflies, tulips, pugs and unicorns at the moment.
No, the hamsters have never nibbled at them.

Petite · 09-03-2021, 03:35 AM

Thank you, Ria - that is so kind of you - but I've managed to find a variety on amazon now. They do add a special "something" to the cage, and your cages always look so attractive.

Many thanks.

Ria P · 09-14-2021, 02:48 PM

I like all species of hamsters but i definitely have a thing about Robos. Current foster Robo Walter is doing well.

Ria P · 09-15-2021, 01:36 PM

I went into a petshop to buy more Harry H and looked in the adoption tanks. Two Robos, again. They were returned for unknown reasons.I decided to look at one.

Shop boy opens the tank. Robo jumps out. Shop boy looks stunned and says b..... h...! I grab the Robo. Robo jumps again and runs down my trousers. I manage to catch the Robo before he legs it onto the shop floor. Robo Rupert now lives in a small bin cage until i have the time to sort the large Samla.

There's another Robo waiting in an adoption tank and i really don't understand why these cute little hamsters keep getting returned like faulty goods.

Pebbles82 · 09-15-2021, 06:03 PM

Lucky Robo! Lol at your experience. I think they get returned because people can’t handle them. I saw that complaint by a rescue - Robo returned because it was “too fast”. People need to know what they’re doing.

LunaTheHamster1 · 09-16-2021, 12:58 AM

Yes I think it's a few reasons: They get sold in pairs and often sexed wrong, so end up with baby hamsters or if they are same gender they fall out, they can't be tamed, too quick, want to be left alone, don't meet people's expectations of a cute little fluff ball wanting cuddles. Also maybe scared or showing unusual behaviour as they have been put in the wrong sort of cage setup (sold by the pet shop)
People don't always know what they are getting into and the pet shops don't help with not educating correctly.

Ria P · 09-16-2021, 07:12 AM

Yes, i pointed out this big sign in the pet shop stating 'dwarf hamsters - like to live in groups' to the shop boy. He said that government guidelines are changing and shops are no longer encouraged to sell multiple dwarfs to be housed together. I pointed out that the sign urgently needs amending. He agreed but obviously can't do anything about it himself.

I just wonder who can.
I have written to HO of the said petshop and the RSPCA about another matter before but on both occasions was fobbed off with a lot of waffle.

Walter is moving into a detolf tomorrow and i'm seriously tempted to get the other Robo too.

I now think that they can be handled and tamed in a Robo kind of fashion. Our Robo Monty has progressed to free roaming and behaves like any other hamster when out. Runs and sniffs around, runs through the tubes and on the wheels till he's tired and pancakes on a wheel at which point i pick him up and put him back.

Pebbles82 · 09-16-2021, 09:06 AM

"I have written to HO of the said petshop and the RSPCA about another matter before but on both occasions was fobbed off with a lot of waffle."

I have also been fobbed off by the RSPCA with a load of waffle! On a different matter. Really not good.

I'd be very interested to hear about your robo taming and how you manage with free roaming a robo. I've always been a bit nervous about that with them being so tiny. I'd like to have the new robo out more than our last one.

Ria P · 09-16-2021, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I'd be very interested to hear about your robo taming and how you manage with free roaming a robo. I've always been a bit nervous about that with them being so tiny. I'd like to have the new robo out more than our last one.

There's a bit of info on my thread 'Meet Monty'.

I started to look at Robos more like the other hamsters and not like hamsters to watch. I've never tamed much by putting my hand in a hamster's cage with treats on it.

I tame outside a hamster's cage and the reward is not food but freedom which appeals to most hamsters but they don't know that at first.
Hamsters are nosy and will walk into something with some sunflower seeds as a 'bait' in it. I find that the bigger the hamster the easier to coax into a hamster taxi.

Robos are a bit different because of their speed but i don't think that they are any more scared or nervous at first than any other hamster. I had to catch Monty in a hamster ball at first to lift him out safely and to do that i had to remove a few items to be able to get to him. Yes, he run around trying to get away from me and squeaked when i put him in the playpen. I did handling exercises like i did with the other hamsters to get him used to touch. Robos don't move when held so i stroked his head and chatted to him keeping the sessions very short. I'm sure that he was scared at first because he pooped but he doesn't do that now.

The more i handled and chatted to him the more confident he became. He didn't like the playpen but likes the hall playground. I still have to catch him but can scoop him up with my hands now. When i call him and he's interested, he pokes his nose out of the substrate or suddenly appears from seemingly nowhere. If he simply doesn't want to know then he'll stay underground.

He hovers around the front of the cage sometimes looking out and i'm sure that he's aware of a freeroaming hamster on the floor. I was nervous to let him freeroam but didn't want to deny him this just because he's small, in case he liked it. He acts like any other hamster does by running around and sniffing a lot. He doesn't hide under the blanket now and explores the toys, runs on the different wheels and loves chucking the sand on the blanket. I usually catch him when he's inside a tube by tipping him onto my lap and then scoop him up.

It's only been about a month since i've started to tame and interact with him more so i don't know how far we will go. Will he come to the door and ask to come out like the other hamsters do and wait to get lifted out. Who knows. I can carry him in my hands now and don't need the transport ball. I used to carry wriggly bundle of energy Rodney in a ball at first but have carried him in my hands for ages now. Rodney was very nervous at first but overcame his fear because he loves nothing more than to freeroam.

I think its possible to tell when a hamster does not want out of cage time or human interaction. Ozzy is like that and always has been. He was never scared but would sit and sulk when taken out of his cage and put in a playground. He would just sit and wait to get put back. When i took him out and put him on my lap he would run to the nook of my arm (forgotten the word for it in english, is it nook?) and just sit there or lick my arm. That's fine too and i've tried so i know that he's not missing out on something.

Petite · 09-17-2021, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

When i took him out and put him on my lap he would run to the nook of my arm (forgotten the word for it in english, is it nook?) and just sit there or lick my arm.

"Crook" of the arm.

It's so inspiring to read your post about your robos. It gives me hope that I might be able to eventually interact with Holly, which would be lovely.

At the moment both hams are pointedly ignoring me as I've been away for a few days and had a friend in to feed them. I got up in the wee small hours to say hello, and they didn't want to know!