new hamster

emilybeck · 12-06-2015, 11:35 AM

Hello everyone I'm very new to the world of hamster forums. I have had one hamster before and have recently (yesterday) purchased a beautiful speckled black/white female Syrian named Sprout. She is in a zz2 and has sussed out her strawberry house. She will have to go for a few days without a wheel as we had not planned on buying a hamster until later in the week. We went into pets@home yesterday and I was just drawn to Sprout. She was the most beautiful colour (I've never seen a Syrian that colour) so we immediately reserved her whilst we picked up some bedding, food and a water bottle. Lots of other people were eyeing her up and I felt very privelaged to have got to her first. Anyway I'm rambling on, I'm excited to be a part of this forum. What foods do you all recommend for an 8 week old Syrian xx

velma · 12-06-2015, 01:34 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Sprout is a cute name. Can't wait to see a picture!
And there is a good thread about suitable wheels to help you choose which one to get.

Pebbles82 · 12-06-2015, 04:50 PM

Hello and welcome. Agree, Sprout is a great name. She's a lucky girl having a ZZ2! Here's the wheel thread. The main thing is that the wheel is big enough. All the Syrian sized wheels will fit in the Zoozone 2 I think.

If you don't mind a bit of light sanding and painting with plastikote I reckon the Karlie wood 29cm wheel would be good in a ZZ2 - they are very stable and sturdy. Or the 27cm Wodent wheel. I'd order something asap though as the Christmas post can make deliveries take a bit longer this time of year. Both of those wheels can only be bought online I think, although i believe pets at home do a 29cm wood wheel that is very similar. If you get the wood one, check carefully for rough bits and splinters on the running track (hence light sanding sometimes needed). The link to the pet-safe Plastikote waterproofing paint is in the wheel thread I think.

Also looking forward to seeing photos!

Guide to suitable hamster Wheels

Scargirl · 12-06-2015, 08:55 PM

Welcome to HC! I agree with everyone, Sprout is such a cute name

I seen that thread that senderpity linked you to. It has good information. I would definitely read it and all hamsters need a wheel.

cypher · 12-06-2015, 11:40 PM

Welcome to HC emilybeck & congrats on getting Sprout

I love the name too! She sounds lovely, look forward to meeting her

emilybeck · 12-07-2015, 03:43 AM

Thanks everyone for your advice! Looking for a wheel as I type this. I did order a 12 inch silent spinner a while ago but it didn't fit in the zz2. Struggling to find a 12 inch wodent wheel. I did find a bit of blood I the corner of her cage last night. It was bright blood (not diluted). I checked and there was nothing sharp in that corner that she could've cut herself on, there was no blood in her little strawberry house and there was no sign of blood/injury on her body. Could she have cut her pouches? What could it be? There is no more blood this morning and she is very lively. Any help would be much appreciated

emilybeck · 12-07-2015, 04:34 AM

Just ordered a Karlie wonderland wheel the 28" and some plasticote

cypher · 12-07-2015, 06:01 AM

Without being able to see where blood has come from it's very hard to tell what it could be, she could just have caught herself on something in the cage, I would have a check round just to be sure nothing has any sharp edges, she hasn't chewed on anything that could have hurt her, no sharp bits in the substrate, that sort of thing.
If she's fine in herself it may be nothing to worry about but keep a close eye out for any more signs.

I'm sure she'll love the new wheel!

Pebbles82 · 12-07-2015, 06:05 AM

You might want to pop into the hardware store and get two sheets of sandpaper as well! I used 100 grade and 240 grade. Took about 10 minutes to sand the odd rough bit (mainly where the struts meet the sides and a bit on the outside. The 100 grade is rough and sands the rough bits off quickly. The 240 grade is fine and leaves a nice smooth finish. I had never used sandpaper before lol. Plastikoting will also help seal any rough bits. The wheel might be ok but there have been some roughly finished ones recently.

I think she will love it too!

As Cypher says - observe re the blood. She could have cut herself on something, or maybe something has splinters? Is there anything in the cage that she could have caught herself on. Maybe the underneath of her foot.

emilybeck · 12-07-2015, 07:52 AM

Thanks you all for the advice. She's absolutely fine in herself. She's sleeping at the minute but when she's up she's digging and exploring her new cage.