OK, my turn, here's Uno!

Mollz · 03-08-2008, 03:11 PM

Well I can honestly said that I have never had a week moment about getting an animal (i.e. getting one because I just had to), but today I did.
I made the fatal move of looking at the adoption centre in @h and fell in love with a little boy that "nobody wants because he only has one eye". I knew that the chances are that he wouldn't find a home and would be "put to sleep", so went home and thought about it for a while, with help from you guys as usual, and here we are with a gorgeous mink/dove banded boy with one eye who is very cute.
I managed to snap a few pics:

He is fine with being stroked and doesn't jump at noises, sniffs my hands and doesn't really bit (nibbled me a bit), but goes absolutey beserk when I try to pick him up. And I mean mad, he bit me so hard that I just couldn't get it to stop bleeding for 10 minutes. So that will be something to work on, I may be joining to taming diary if that is ok. Oh and he loves his wheel.

Any opinions on his colour (I can already hear Julie saying "oh no, not again") will be appreciated!

Basia · 03-08-2008, 03:20 PM

Oh Molz, he's absolutely gorgeous and a long-hair. Hope you put plenty of antiseptic on that bite!
I have found it impossible to pick up P@H hamsters when they first arrive, I know Julie's Aero was ok, but none of mine have tolerated it for quite some weeks.
Good luck and what a lucky little man he is to have found board and lodgings with you and Emma.

(He looks mink to me).

Mollz · 03-08-2008, 03:25 PM

I did put plenty of antiseptic on it, but it doesn't particularly bother me - it's all worth it in the end! Did you find it was best to do lots and lots of handling to try and get them used to it (although I'm not sure that I will be able to pick him us, he just flips about and leaps out of my hands), or take it slowly?

I too think that he looks mink, but can't really see eye rings.

**Spuds Mum** · 03-08-2008, 03:37 PM

God he looks lovely! I think Mink - and I think I can see eye rings. the other thing I think Molly, is that his eye looks just like my mink chips, and it just didn't open properly when she was born - so there may be a chance that a simple op may cure that if he has an eyeball underneath his eyelid (it looks like there may be one I seem to detect a little bulging outwards).

Chips eye op was only £18 (although my vets are known for being reasonable) and though her eyes look uneven still, she has full use of both of them. Something to think about??

http://www.madabouthamsters.com/our_...chip/chip.html

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PinkEmily · 03-08-2008, 03:47 PM

How adorable! Hes gorgeous Mollz!!

Mollz · 03-08-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spud's Mum

God he looks lovely! I think Mink - and I think I can see eye rings. the other thing I think Molly, is that his eye looks just like my mink chips, and it just didn't open properly when she was born - so there may be a chance that a simple op may cure that if he has an eyeball underneath his eyelid (it looks like there may be one I seem to detect a little bulging outwards).

At first glance I thought there was an eye there as well, however there is a deffinate indent where the eye should be, so I am pretty adament that there is nothing there unfortunately. However when I am able to handle him a bit more I will have a closer look and if there is an eye (which I really don't think there is) I will enquire about the op. I can see what you mean about there looking like there is an eye between the eyelids, but it would have to be really indented if there was one there.

I just can't believe that he has been there so long, he just has the cutest little face. The poor little mite.

PinkEmily · 03-08-2008, 03:51 PM

Omg Chip looks soo funny covered in green, looks like she enjoyed that!

Sounds like there may be some hope for Uno, if he has the same problem as Chip.

Basia · 03-08-2008, 03:57 PM

Animals do manage very well with just one eye, he has never known any different probably.
Molz, I did lots of stroking and letting them run on my lap. I used a ball or an ice-cream tub to pick them out of the cage and put them back, they can never seem to resist going in either. They do calm down eventually but it did take me about 3 months to get my two able to be picked up easily and Sid is still inclined to jump if I'm not careful. Of course, I still can't pick Basil up.

Peaches was taming really well though. I only had her 11 days and I could stroke her and she would come to me and climb out of her cage onto my lap. I had just started to pick her up but she was very jumpy but I don't think it would have taken very long to get her used to it.
Good luck.

Mollz · 03-08-2008, 04:05 PM

It's really strange/ I can stroke him with ease and he is really calm and not at all jumpy, just he freaks when picked up!

Basia · 03-08-2008, 04:08 PM

With Peaches I just kept closing my hand around her as if I was going to pick her up and she freaked too. After a few days she was getting to accept it though. I'm sure you will get him lovely and tame in no time. Remember he has probably had virtually no human contact so the fact that he lets you stroke him is a very good sign.
Basil used to scream if we even spoke to him.