As some of you already know, I brought a new girl home today.
I had spotted her in a local shop living in a very tiny cage with a wheel too small for her to use, nothing to chew, no toys, and no hidey house of any kind for her to sleep in or under. (The cage was smaller than what I use as travel carriers!) I first saw her more than 2 months ago and I had thought about her ever since. I stopped into the shop again last weekend and saw that she was still there so I decided I just couldn't stand to leave her there anymore. I picked her up this morning.
So Chester has a girlfriend now.
She seems to be settling in nicely and has developed quite a taste for toilet paper. The poor thing was completely bewildered by her wheel and flying saucer at first, clearly never having experienced such things. But once she got the hang of it, she seemed very happy. She was also very cautious the first couple times she went up and down the ramp to her shelf. It appeared she had never seen so much space before.
The shop owner (not the friendliest woman on the face of the earth) told me she is "young, less than 6 months" so I'm not sure exactly but that's okay. She is a little on the chunky side but I'm sure that's due to lack of exercise. I look forward to getting to know her!