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03-14-2022, 02:20 PM
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#21
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 88
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
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Originally Posted by cloudy
I would not use a flash. Maybe when she is relaxed one day you may find a suitable time to snap a picture on your phone. It is so hard to take pictures of fast animals.
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She is quick. I can vouch for that! Might only get lucky at getting a white blur
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03-14-2022, 02:22 PM
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#22
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnoldshirl
There are a lot of products on the market that are harmful to a hamster, however she is showing no signs of being stressed or breathing difficulties or even any thing wrong with her eyes (I constantly observe for anything and everything different of her). She prefers the walnut shell over the sand bath. I need her to enjoy every inch of her home, even if I feel it's too small for her and she doesn't. I'll do this...I'll introduce her to smaller amounts of another brand by gradually removing some walnut shell and replacing it. A scoop at a time. Do you have any suggestions on what brand that will be safe?
My concern of the flash of the camera will cause stress. I know she doesn't like bright light and she is nocturnal. I even changed the wattage in the room to accommodate her preference. I would like to share her picture, she is what I recently learned of the color...a platinum. She has a white face and this color markings called agouti on her backside. Looks to me like an upside down cinnamon bun to where the icing is all on the bottom side.
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Refreshed after posting and saw this sorry - it's not so much a matter of whether you see any issues currently or not. Walnut shell is unsafe period unfortunately and I know you say your hamster seems to love it, but the dangers are very real. I know it seems mean and stressing to remove something your hamster seems to enjoy, but sometimes it has to be done for safety. Coconut fiber as I mentioned in my post before this one is very nice and can be found through pet stores online & in store(Petco, Petsmart, etc) in the reptile section. You mainly just want 100% coconut fiber but it's fairly easy to find!
It sounds like you have a very cute hamster, it'll be very nice to see pictures if you end up being able to manage that. I would say if your hamster is tolerant of increased lighting for short periods of time for photo purposes that's not an issue IMO, especially compared to flash which at least to me seems a lot more stressful.
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03-14-2022, 02:32 PM
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#23
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 88
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams
Refreshed after posting and saw this sorry - it's not so much a matter of whether you see any issues currently or not. Walnut shell is unsafe period unfortunately and I know you say your hamster seems to love it, but the dangers are very real. I know it seems mean and stressing to remove something your hamster seems to enjoy, but sometimes it has to be done for safety. Coconut fiber as I mentioned in my post before this one is very nice and can be found through pet stores online & in store(Petco, Petsmart, etc) in the reptile section. You mainly just want 100% coconut fiber but it's fairly easy to find!
It sounds like you have a very cute hamster, it'll be very nice to see pictures if you end up being able to manage that. I would say if your hamster is tolerant of increased lighting for short periods of time for photo purposes that's not an issue IMO, especially compared to flash which at least to me seems a lot more stressful.
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Coconut fiber. Interesting. I wonder how she will feel about having a tropical theme? Hmmm. Sandy beach, coconut fibers, maybe find a beach chair get her some sunglasses...she needs to start now to accessorize for Summer! Lol, just joking. I'll locate and try the coconut fiber. Seems there is a lot more products in the reptile aisle that's for a hamster, this knowledge I find oddly helpful. Why wouldn't it be located in the hamster aisle too if hamster's benefit from it too? It's like the Millet Spray I found in the bird aisle and she seems to love to chew on those. Are those bad for her? I figured it's safe because it's a seedy weed from the wild and it was mentioned Robororvski's are fond of Millet.
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03-14-2022, 02:40 PM
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#24
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnoldshirl
Coconut fiber. Interesting. I wonder how she will feel about having a tropical theme? Hmmm. Sandy beach, coconut fibers, maybe find a beach chair get her some sunglasses...she needs to start now to accessorize for Summer! Lol, just joking. I'll locate and try the coconut fiber. Seems there is a lot more products in the reptile aisle that's for a hamster, this knowledge I find oddly helpful. Why wouldn't it be located in the hamster aisle too if hamster's benefit from it too? It's like the Millet Spray I found in the bird aisle and she seems to love to chew on those. Are those bad for her? I figured it's safe because it's a seedy weed from the wild and it was mentioned Robororvski's are fond of Millet.
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I have no idea why nobody seems to have marketed coconut fiber for hamsters or small pets in general yet, but it would be interesting if someone did. Millet spray is great, and they can be really fun for them to forage! Just be sure not to get the flavored kind as that isn't healthy.
I know there's also oat spray, and wheat spray as well. I've sometimes seen millet spray in small animal aisles too, but you can get it in either section depending on which seem to be the best quality, best value, etc - or even which section actually has any in some situations.
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03-14-2022, 03:00 PM
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#25
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 88
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams
I have no idea why nobody seems to have marketed coconut fiber for hamsters or small pets in general yet, but it would be interesting if someone did. Millet spray is great, and they can be really fun for them to forage! Just be sure not to get the flavored kind as that isn't healthy.
I know there's also oat spray, and wheat spray as well. I've sometimes seen millet spray in small animal aisles too, but you can get it in either section depending on which seem to be the best quality, best value, etc - or even which section actually has any in some situations.
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I checked the package and it isn't flavored. Just plain Millet Spray. I did see Wheat and a Oat Spray. I'll purchase them the next time I go in there.
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03-14-2022, 04:42 PM
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#26
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P
It is possible that a hamster simply prefers a smaller habitat. I once housed a dwarf in a very long cage but i could tell by his behaviour that he wasn't happy. He'd duck and dive from one hide to another while rushing to a favoured wheel. I then moved him to a smaller habitat and he relaxed, probably because all his favourite things were within easy reach.
Personally, i don't think that bigger is always better. A lot depends on the individual hamster and i always go with what the hamster feels comfortable with.
I don't actually know the dimensions in cm of a 10 or 20 gallon tank.
As for hamster balls. I have used them as a safe means of transport but found that hamsters become quite agitated and panicky when trapped inside one. I believe they run because they're trying to get out and rolling around in a ball is a very stressful experience for them. Not something i'd ever subject a hamster to.
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Agree that some prefer slightly smaller habitats but 10 gallon is very small. Agree about balls as well. I do occasionally use a specific rat ball for a syrian but very rarely.
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03-14-2022, 04:58 PM
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#27
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
I keep substrate simple just in case - paper based substrate, and a good brand of chinchilla bathing sand. I probably wouldn't even try coconut fibre personally as I'm so aware of their sensitive respiratory tracts and susceptibility to respiratory infection.
I just use things like cork bark and millet sprays for interesting textures - and a coconut hut. Or wood items. All our hamsters have loved their round coconut hides. I've been tempted to use interesting things but I really don't think the hamsters are bothered whether it's "natural" or not - it seems to be more a human thing to make it natural. In fact one thing a lot of hamsters like is cardboard! Which is good for making cheap toys and enrichment. I have a hammock made out of a cardboard egg box and robos also like things like toilet roll inner tubes or egg box hide outs (and other cardboard hides). Also safe for them to chew if they feel like it.
Robos are notorious for loving their sand baths and would probably bathe in anything that seemed sandy. Even Chinchilla bathing sand you have to be careful. It must say sand not "dust" on the packet.
I think enrichment for a hamster is plenty of places to go and things to do. Someone earlier mentioned robos like to have plenty of overhead cover and this is true. So sometimes it's not the extra space that's the issue but that they feel exposed from above. So the usual layout for a robo is the cage floor filled with tunnels and hideouts so they can dart from one to another and stay under cover.
Having a platform is almost essential (and you'd have space for that in a bigger tank). It's something they can sit under and surprisingly they like climbing onto. I guess they don't feel so exposed on a platform as it's higher up nearer the roof. It's also a good place to put heavier ceramic items. I have the sand bath on a platform in my cage.
I like the large cork logs as a floor toy in our robos cage as well. It may seem like a large tunnel for a tiny hamster, but what it does is provide overhead cover, and also something they can climb over safely if they're feeling bolder.
Our Robo Pip's set up is on this page (under "Savic Plaza set up for a Robo) in case that gives any ideas. He uses all of it! The first two or three weeks he hid away but he loves running up that ladder.
Let's see your cages - New thread - July 2017
I attached the big hammock to the roof so it was darker underneath for him. And he wasn't supposed to be able to get up there. But then I hung the egg box hammock next to/under it - to cover up things underneath - just in case he happened to climb to the roof and fall. And have now found he climbs into the egg box from the back shelf and into the hammock and gets off at the other end on the shelf!
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03-15-2022, 02:27 AM
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#28
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Whimzee dealer
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Hello arnoldshirl. I remember you saying it is difficult to buy hamster things were you live and thought I would recommend this site to you:
Etsy - Shop for handmade, vintage, custom, and unique gifts for everyone
I have found almost everything for hamsters on there. Spays (such as millet), sand, houses, chews. I just thought you may like to have a look.
Also, I just thought I would say, when researching hamsters I have found some people on youtube have taught me a lot. This is a link to somebody who I have learned such a lot from:
Victoria Raechel - YouTube
I understand these sites may not be your thing but just thought I would share them with you.
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03-15-2022, 10:51 AM
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#29
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 88
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by cloudy
Hello arnoldshirl. I remember you saying it is difficult to buy hamster things were you live and thought I would recommend this site to you:
Etsy - Shop for handmade, vintage, custom, and unique gifts for everyone
I have found almost everything for hamsters on there. Spays (such as millet), sand, houses, chews. I just thought you may like to have a look.
Also, I just thought I would say, when researching hamsters I have found some people on youtube have taught me a lot. This is a link to somebody who I have learned such a lot from:
Victoria Raechel - YouTube
I understand these sites may not be your thing but just thought I would share them with you.
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I think I viewed a few videos of Victoria Raechel on YouTube, along with another lady ErinsAnimals I think was the second video. thanks for reminded me of this site YouTube, it's been a while since i been there.
I'll check out Etsy too.
Being out in the middle of nowhere does have wonderful advantages as well as disadvantages too. But I try to see the disadvantages as challenges.
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03-15-2022, 11:43 AM
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#30
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Whimzee dealer
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
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Re: My Roborovski Dwarf Hamster prefers less space
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnoldshirl
I think I viewed a few videos of Victoria Raechel on YouTube, along with another lady ErinsAnimals I think was the second video. thanks for reminded me of this site YouTube, it's been a while since i been there.
I'll check out Etsy too.
Being out in the middle of nowhere does have wonderful advantages as well as disadvantages too. But I try to see the disadvantages as challenges.
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You are welcome. I love Etsy. I have bought so many things from there. I buy all my greeting cards from there too.
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