Lil' Todd's Thread

[Munchalot]

It's been a while since I've had an update for my Toddle.


My Toddy is looking very scruffy at the moment. He hasn't been using his sand bath much, other than to have a wee. :/
If I'm honest I'm quite worried about him. He's not very active; I literally have to drag him out of bed for playtime. Once he's awake, he is his normal self, whizzing around, trying to get his nose into the food tubs and attempting to climb up my leg for cuddles. But he hasn't been on his wheel for over a week. Todd loves his wheel, so this is extremely out of character for him. I wondered whether he just does not like the new layout of his bin, so I've moved some things around and put his wheel back on the ground instead of his table. I've also just cleaned him out, and there was none of the beloved Carefresh in his substrate because one bag of it only lasts me a single cleanout! I think he missed that as well, as he adored burrowing in it. I've just bought him a new bag and put some in tonight, and he was happily digging away. Its expensive, but if he loves it that much I might have to go the extra mile and get it for him regularly.

Also, he has a runny eye. :/ Its been like it for a couple of weeks now. I have been cleaning it every day with a cotton pad wetted with boiled water left to cool. It did clear up, but all of a sudden its come back again. It seems colourless, so I'm not too worried, but I've got my eyes peeled for a off-colour. I'm wondering whether it is some sort of infection after all, and its making him feel poorly.
I may have to take him to the vets. Only problem is, our vets aren't that great with hamsters. They were okay with Finley, but his problem was very obvious. I think I will end up paying for the consultation only to be given a simple dose of Baytril without knowing what it is. I do have some Baytril here, left over from Fin. My worry is that this is the dosage for Fin, who was a Syrian, and Todd is a hybrid. I'm not sure how I would have to alter the dose for him... If its even safe to do so. Does Baytril have an expiry? I can't see one on the bottle. :S

I'm hoping that he just has a bit of a watery eye. Its not pussy or gooey at all. x

Any, here's some piccies. As you can see, his right eye is a bit 'tearful'.







Playing with his new loofah house.








Pausing the exploring for a quick snack on a hazelnut.

[Syrian Hammy]

Todd looks as cute as ever. I hope his eye gets better soon.

[Munchalot]

So yeah, turns out Todd was just in a strop. I filled his bin with new Carefresh, moved his wheel off the platform and back on the floor, changed a couple things around, made the world of difference. He was digging like a loon in the Carefresh, making excited clicking noises, and he's been his normal self ever since, including getting back on the wheel.

The eye is still a bit weepy, but looking a lot better now. Starting to clear up for good.

I can't believe this little toad... I swear my hamsters are so weird. I've got one who tries to stuff her water bottle in her pouch when she drinks, and now I've got one who gets depressed and goes on strike because the substrate is wrong and the wheel is in the wrong place. Give me strength.
He has also suddenly decided that he doesn't like what I put in his bowl. He wants what the other two get. So he now refuses to eat his dwarf mix, and even if I put a bit of the Syrian mix in with it, he won't eat it. He insists that he will not eat out of his bowl; he will only eat straight out of the food tin. When I let him out for a free roam, he scratches at the side of the tin and climbs on my feet until I open it up and let him climb in to take what he wants.

*Sigh* What am I going to do with this hamster? I'm starting to think he's going through a midlife crisis!


On the positive side, I have just ordered him a Barney cage of his own! I've done a bit of an all-Todd-shop, because I've also got him some different food (JR Farm Dwarf) and his favourite (and only acceptable, in his opinion) treat - those JR Farm fruit cookies. I know he shouldn't have fruit, but it is literally the only sugary thing he gets - he doesn't like fresh fruit. It is the only treat he will eat, other than a waxworm, so I won't begrudge him a packet. I only give them sparingly; the last packet I bought he shared with Pipkin, and still lasted months. Plus there is hardly any fruit actually in them.
I swear, I can literate count on one hand the list of things he will eat..
Oh, I also got him a bendy bridge/ladder thing, to go in the new cage. I noticed with Tansy's Barney that the ramp isn't very easy to climb, and theres no way Todd will be able to climb it, so he has a bendy bridge instead.

[Munchalot]

Toddy just went for a trip outside! I got plenty of pics, surprisingly with quite a few decent ones. He was loving it, running and sniffing around, making excited little clicks and chatters. He's so sweet. x

[icklemunch]

Awwww he's so beautiful. Glad to hear it was just a strop! Hope thats you told .

Have you not thought of Fitch if he loves Catefresh so much. You'll get at least 10 cleanouts from a bale with his bin. Probably more.

[Munchalot]

Originally Posted by icklemunch

Awwww he's so beautiful. Glad to hear it was just a strop! Hope thats you told .

Have you not thought of Fitch if he loves Catefresh so much. You'll get at least 10 cleanouts from a bale with his bin. Probably more.

Haha, certainly told! I now know better than to not fork out for expensive bedding. What am I going to do with him.

Yeah I've thought about it a lot. Especially since my allergies have started flaring up, it was alright before but now I have three hamsters in big, open set ups the Drybird is irritating me. Nowhere near as bad as I was with ordinary shavings, but it still sets me off. So now I'm using a paper cat litter that is about the same price, but unfortunately doesn't go very far. :/
I'm trying to convince my mum to let me get some Fitch; she said no originally because she doesn't want a massive bale stored in the house.

Why does it have to be white? It's going to totally ruin my natural theme.
I suppose I can't complain, it will be good for my allergies and is pretty cheap for what you get. I'll see if I can get some. x

[Munchalot]

Toddy has his new Barney cage! He LOVES it, and so do I. I'm so glad I've finally got him out of that bin and into a lovely big proper cage. He has been thoroughly spoiled mind you, he's got a new cage, a huge (and expensive!) cork bark tunnel, new bendy bridge, new food and a new packet of his favourite treats! He's a rather happy boy.

Piccies!

When I originally set it up last night. I'm not sure if he's actually going to use the hammock, but I thought I would put it in to see if he likes it. It was only sat in the draw anyway, might as well use it! :L















And then I decided to add my rat-sized wooden log hammock, with a little ladder that I made Todd-friendly with lolly sticks. He does occasionally like to climb, though he is a digger at heart. When he's out for play time I normally have this just sat on the floor with some other toys, ad he likes to climb on it and sit on top sometimes, so I thought he might like it.

[Munchalot]

And finally, some pics of Toddy himself, exploring his new house.

I had some adorable shots of him with his little paws on the bars and his wee face peeping out, but a fast hamster + a camera that is terrible for blur (seriously, worst motion shot camera ever) means for blurry pics. It's so annoying, I swear even when he's being still I can't get a nice clear one! I despair...

I do have these though!

[Zoopism]

What type is he? I had a sweet little boy who looked exactly like that! (Except he was a lot fatter!) Hehe

[Munchalot]

He's a hybrid, and his colour is Sapphire (Winter White colour) x

I love hammies like this, hybrids of this colour always seem to be so sweet. I work in a pet shop so I see a lot of hybrids, and these ones are always the most friendly for some reason...