Adopting a Dwarf Ham

jaz · 10-17-2013, 04:46 AM

Hi all!

I've used the fab info in this forum a lot over the years for my two Syrians (now passed). And now I'm in a situation where a lovely little dwarf ham needs a home.

I've done a lot of reading around, but can't find anything much about the differences between caring for the different breeds.

The little ham in question was fighting too much with his brother, and my little sister doesn't have room to have them separately. I've been a bit lonely since Bean passed in August so have decided to adopt one.

I think he's a hybrid as there's no info to say otherwise, although she did get him from a breeder. At the moment he's living in a house with four busy people and two cats (which are shut out of the room where they live, but still around). So I think he'll find this place a bit different (one person who works from home a lot, and no cats). He's very tame, so I'm not as worried on that front. She got them in August, so still quite young.

Do dwarfs chew bars as much? I have read that one level in the cage may be better, but is this as important if you only have one? I'm going to sort out a wodent wheel for him as the one I had for my Syrians is enormous.

Any tips or advice much appreciated. He will be arriving at his new home Saturday evening.

Scampi16 · 10-17-2013, 05:01 AM

I don't have levels in my cages for my dwarfs (but this is due to them living as a pair - they can fight over levels) my chinese (not technically dwarfs are also on a single level)
A large single level cage would be fine, they like to have a good floor space with lots of toys and hiding places too, they are just as active as a syrian so need just as much space, i don't have experience with hybrids or russians, my true dwarfs are robo's.
I know hybrids are more prone to diabetes so avaoid sugary treats (honey sticks etc), they love small seeds like millet. My dwarfs don't chew their bars but each hamster is different (my Syrian does'nt chew bars either and my Chinese can't as they are in Zoozones).

Nush · 10-17-2013, 05:29 AM

Scampi is right, if you have one dwarf then levels is not an issue. I have a hybrid in a barred cage connected to a bin cage. He does very well in it. He doesn't chew the bars but you have to make sure bar spacing is 1cm apart.

Because it'll be a single dwarf, you can give him a little house as well. I have 2 hybrids in separate cages, and my boy really likes his houses. He has about 5 of them and sleeps under each of them and switches during the day!

He also has the 8" wodent which is good. My other hybrid has the medium Silent spinner but I'm in the process of getting her a wodent because she goes so fast in it that it spins her around and that can be a bit dangerous.

One note on the sand baths. My hybrids developed eye problems from having the sand baths in their cages all the time. In the boy's case his tear ducts got damage. So I've removed those and give them a sand bath when they are in their play pens. I've never had this issue with my Syrians and I'm not sure if its a common issue in dwarfs/hybrids. It is a bit of a pain because dwarfs, as I'm sure you'll find out, don't have a toilet corner. Mine tend to use their wheel as toilets and food storage, lol.

What else? My experience is WW tends to be a bit like Syrians but faster. But you have to watch their diet because they can be prone to diabetes. Also the best way of catching them, when they are in their cage or free roaming, is to give them a toilet roll and they feel compelled to get in it.

jaz · 10-17-2013, 07:37 AM

Thank you for your replies, lots of really useful info in there.

I think he might have to have an "interim" cage as he desperately needs moving and the only thing I have is a Peggy Double (I sold the cages for my Syrian and have this from years ago). Will look for a Duna in the interim as I'm concerned about space/bars.

Didn't know RE the honey sticks. I will make sure my sister knows that as well (and the sand bath warning).

Thanks again.

Munchalot · 10-17-2013, 11:13 AM

My hybrids don't have levels. I've found that they just don't use them, they much prefer digging around in a nice deep layer of substrate, so I fill their bins with that instead of levels.
As long as he has loads of floor space to investigate he'll be a happy little chap.

evel_lin · 10-17-2013, 11:35 AM

My 3 dwarfs all have a small level with their food bowl and a water bottle on so they do pop up there regularly. All of them have nested underneath their platform at some point and Oak especially loves his, I think because it's a big dark cosy space, he's made a mountainous nest in there

Definitely need lots of substrate with dwarfs, they love digging

jaz · 10-18-2013, 09:16 AM

Thanks

From what I've been reading, he might be happier with a silent spinner than a wodent wheel?

I am a little concerned about his stress levels. I know about the tissue trick to get him used to my scent, and gently talking to him lots. I guess the rest of it will just be letting him settle in gently.

**DrKMcK** · 10-18-2013, 09:56 AM

Hello jaz, I know that some people swear by the Wodent Wheels. I have two of them, but they are used in the playpen for my Syrians.(Both Syrians have giant wheels, one a 12" Silent Spinner and the other hammy has a homemade Wheel made for her by an HC member.) I find the 8" Silent Spinners that are sold for Syrians are actually better for dwarfs. Dwarfs tend to pee a lot in the wheels and the Silent Spinners are way easier to clean regularly then the Wodent Wheels, which are enclosed and have to be taken apart. I clean Toffee & Almond's wheels every morning, which would be a major pain if they had Wodent Wheels. Since this little guy has been living in a home with cats around, I don't think you need to worry about his stress levels. Your home is going to be a whole lot less stressful than one with cats. The issue of having levels or not will be mostly your preference since this little one is a singleton hammy. But definitely make sure you have a home for him that allows for lots of substrate, dwarfs adore digging and burrowing. Nothing cuter than a dwarf hammy popping up out of the Boxo with a bit of it still on its little head

Nush · 10-19-2013, 06:07 AM

Oh is there an 8 inch silent spinner? I know there was a campaign for it some while back but I didn't know they did them. I would infinitely prefer a Silent spinner for my dwarf but she's got the medium one which is 6.5 inch and she runs so fast in it that the wheel throws her out. I know it can be dangerous and it really worries me when I see it. But I'm getting her a wodent but like DrkMck mentioned it's a real pain to clean that's why she got the spinner in the first place. But I'd rather she was safe though. She's hyper and really fast, I don't think she'd need a bigger wheel if she wasn't as fast.

It'd be really great if there is an 8 inch spinner and hopefully it's available in the UK. Can anyone post if there was one please? Thank you.

jaz · 10-20-2013, 09:31 AM

Hi all. Thank you for your replies.

My sister had a spare silent spinner so I'm going to stick with that as apparently he does like peeing in his wheel. I will keep an eye on if he's going too fast with it though.

He is home now, and did seem grateful that he had something of "his" (the wheel) to settle in with. He's been eating, running in his wheel etc, but does seem to have gone a bit shy. Giving him some space and letting him settle in.

And he has tons and tons of substrate, which he seems to be very excited about. My sister had named him Castiel, but I'm calling him Cat for short. I will post some photos when he's a bit more settled in and see if anyone can confirm the breed.

Thanks again