Adopting a Dwarf Ham - Page 2

**DrKMcK** · 10-21-2013, 07:06 PM

Hi jaz. My mistake

. For some reason I had 8" in my head instead of 6.5". My two have the 6.5" silent spinners. I'm glad your sister had an extra

jaz · 10-22-2013, 08:02 AM

No problemo.

He seems to be well settled in. I am noticing subtle differences between him and my Syrians, but nothing problematic. He has seemed to be very unfussed about food, but I know he was very spoilt with honey sticks, and little balls of seeds, and hula hoops before he came here, so maybe he's just adjusting.

Pictures attached. If anyone could confirm his breed that would be amazing.

The name "The Cat" didn't stick, and so have ended up calling him Darcy-Dumpling or Dee-Dee for short. I should have waited until I had him to name him really.

SoapyVP · 10-22-2013, 08:43 AM

Oh, he's gorgeous. Until recently I've only kept dwarf hamsters. I know have 4 dwarves and a Syrian. The Syrian is a lot harder work than all my dwarf hamsters have ever been so I'm sure you'll be fine with Dee-Dee or whatever you do decide to call him.

Nush · 10-23-2013, 02:09 AM

Awww he looks very cute especially eating in the second picture. You can supplement the treats with healthy treats like Shreaded wheat (which is 100% wheat), porridge, Carrs biscuits or Nairn oatcakes.

What I notice with my hammies is that they prefer the healthy stuff, I think it's closer to what their natural diet would be and it's different enough to their normal mix.

jaz · 10-23-2013, 06:59 AM

Thank you

He is much more chilled out than my Syrians were, at least until I get him out and then he wants to be EVERYWHERE at once. I did put my old senior wodent wheel in his play box and he bloody loves it! I honestly don't know where something so tiny gets the energy to move something so ginormous.

He has had a few bits of a Nairn's oatcake (mostly when I'm trying to entice him out). He's been on Harry Hamster foodwise, and I notice he doesn't want to eat the red or green bits.

**DrKMcK** · 10-23-2013, 04:59 PM

Hi jaz, My two dwarf hammies, Toffee & Almond, love the Kay-tee Gourmet Variety Diet for Parakeets. The seeds are small and they really like it. They also get Ecotrition Essential Blend and Oxbow Healthy Essentials. Between these and millet, mealworms, scrambled egg, Swiss Muesli (with the raisins removed), and cooked oatmeal and cooked pasta, all at different times throughout the week they get what they need. The Oxbow is nutritionally complete in itself.I don't really worry about the bits they leave since they have such a variety. Because they are hybrids I stay away from sugary stuff, so fruit is pretty much out, but they do get occasional bits of spinach or romaine. They like variety and seem to be in pretty good health.

jaz · 10-26-2013, 08:32 AM

Thanks for the heads up on the food. I will try and find UK equivalents as he's still being really fussy with the Harry Hamster.

ChocolateCream81 · 10-29-2013, 01:50 AM

If you are thinking about getting a dwarf, it isn't much different from a syrian, although they are more prone to diabetes. Even though dwarfs are smaller i would reccomend a big cage for them to whiz round (dwarfs run farther during the night so get a 8 inch wheel for them). I have made a 2 level bin cage with a slanted tube going in between. I have heard many a time that dwarfs are harder to tame-i will admit they nibble a bit more-but if you keep at it it will get done quicker-i tamed my 2 dwarfs in 2 weeks wereas it took 4 weeks to tame my syrian