Hi from David

RobinAmB · 05-28-2021, 01:14 PM

Hello everyone. My wife and I just got our first hamster, Rodney, yesterday! Getting a hamster wasn't my idea and while I supported the idea, I wasn't nearly as excited as she was. That was until we actually picked Rodney up and got him into his home. I couldn't stop watching him scurry around his new enclosure and I loved how curious he was. So I started doing more hamster reading and found my way here!

Ria P · 05-31-2021, 01:15 PM

Hello and welcome to HC!

I also have a hamster called Rodney who is a Syrian.
What species is your hamster?

He'll soon have you wrapped around his little paw. Hamsters are lovely little creatures and you are amongst like minded people here.

VOESSY · 05-31-2021, 01:31 PM

Hello and welcome!

Congratulatons on your little friend. Looking forward to reading more about Rodney.

RobinAmB · 05-31-2021, 05:49 PM

Thanks everyone! It's actually been an interesting past couple days. According to the pet store Rodney is a Winter white Russian Dwarf but after doing more research it's much more likely she is a hybrid. Oh, also turns out Rodney was actually female and also pregnant! I know now that getting from a pet store isn't a good idea for many reasons, which we will never do again. Anyway, it is what it is and we love her. So we immediately did a lot of research. We've made sure to not touch the babies or mess with that area at all as well as give Rodney a stress free environment. She initially built her nest behind her wheel which was quite unfortunate. I saw we were supposed to remove the wheel but since it helped provide cover for the babies we were hesitant to remove the wheel at first. She continued to run on the wheel which made me extremely nervous for the babies underneath so I ended up removing the wheel. Next day she moved her nest and babies to a more covered area which was a relief. Now she's been burrowing all over. I believe she has a tunnel that goes all across the back of the enclosure. I'm not sure how many babies there are since I've never really looked close enough and I really don't want to know. But I hear there little squeaks from time to time so I know they are doing alright still! I feel so bad for Rodney because moving to a new home is stressful enough, let alone giving birth just three days after moving. We've been giving her space and given her plenty of toilet paper and other bedding to use. We've got a lot of new things to put in her cage but we aren't sure if we should start adding more stuff yet. I feel like it might be better to wait until after her babies to start adding new things. She has enough in the enclosure right now but she could definitely have more for better enrichment. Anyway sorry for the long response! Pictures will be sure to come once she is less stressed!

Ria P · 06-01-2021, 06:16 AM

Oh wow. You really got thrown in at the deep end as a new hamster companion and you are doing ever so well.

I have no personal experience but believe that its best to leave the hamsters undisturbed until they start to emerge by themselves and to supply plenty of bedding and food.

I would also stick to the essentials for now so mum can concentrate on raising her babies and add more later.

Petshops really are clueless. My latest rescue hamster who no doubt came from a petshop, was sold as a male but was in fact a female.