Ozzy the Lucky Dip hamster - Page 3

Ithuviel · 05-17-2020, 01:32 PM

congratulations but what is a lucky dip hamster? I can't find an explanation on google

Ria P · 05-17-2020, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ithuviel

congratulations but what is a lucky dip hamster? I can't find an explanation on google

Haha! You won't because i made it up.

A Lucky Dip is a raffle or lottery type game. People pay a pound then pick a raffle ticket from a bucket. If the ticket is a winner they win a prize there and then.

When i bought Ozzy the shop girl put a box inside the tank and waited for a hamster to walk in.

I called that a Lucky Dip hamster because i wasn't able to pick one or handle one myself and it was left to chance.

I was lucky and got a winner because Ozzy is lovely.

Saying that, i couldn't have gotten a loser because all hamsters are winners.

Vierville · 05-17-2020, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I was lucky and got a winner because Ozzy is lovely.

Saying that, i couldn't have gotten a loser because all hamsters are winners.

Well said!

Thin Lizzy · 05-30-2020, 06:10 PM

Aww, Ozzy you've melted my heart, I'm in love with this gorgeous boy's colouring and he stands out radiant.

Vierville · 05-31-2020, 02:52 AM

He's so beautiful!

Ria P · 06-03-2020, 12:53 PM

Ozzy is such a shy little creature but i can tempt him out by rustling the substrate then offer him a mealworm which he eats there and then and being nosy he walks into the mug. I do feel that i trick him a bit but its not easy to make contact with a shy hamster.
I don't think he's afraid, just very shy. Must be part of his nature. He doesn't seem to bite which is a plus and i'm really curious to see what kind of character and personality he's going to grow into.
I tempt him out every third night and only for a short time until he starts to feel more comfortable around me.
Has anybody else got a shy young dwarf?

Thin Lizzy · 06-06-2020, 10:52 AM

You've not had him long Ria, some hamsters take longer. You're doing a great job and it does make Ozzy even more adorable because of his shyness.

Pebbles82 · 08-11-2020, 10:13 AM

Ozzy's set up looks wonderful! I am sure he is very happy in there. The cage is a good size for a dwarf hamster. I am no expert in dwarf russian hamsters but it is commonly thought that their need for space is not as much as for other species - depending on the hamster. Robos tend to need quite a lot of space.

I have always felt that one cage set up right is better than two adjoining ones, for them to have normal behaviours and Ozzy has a very nice habitat there in your set up in the PAH XL.

You might remember I downsized Pickle's cage. He doesn't like noise, height and top access. He is quite happy in an 80 x 50 cage. I do wonder though if I had started him off in the 80 x 50 and then upgraded him (some people do this -start them in a smaller cage and then upgrade them) if he might have been happier in the Barney cage. But sometimes it is just their personality. Pickle needs a cage with a big front door

Ria P · 08-11-2020, 11:17 AM

Thank you Serendipity.

It can take a while to get to know a hamster's likes and dislikes, pick the right cage and set it up accordingly.

You know Pickle best and if he likes a big front door the Barney wouldn't have worked for him as an upgrade.

They do know what they like and let us know when they don't. I remember a couple of tantrums Henry threw when i was trying to suss out the best set up for him.

Pebbles82 · 08-11-2020, 11:49 AM

Good point it wouldn't have worked anyway with that noisy top door. I do wonder if I should have got another savic plaza though and just reduced the height by increasing the bedding. That is still an option but he's happy where he is right now.

I know some dwarf hamster owners say a shy dwarf can be happier with a smaller cage. Whereas for Syrians 70 x 40 ish really is an absolute minimum really.