Blacky's Thread - The Black Spanish Syrian Hamster - Page 22

cypher · 02-23-2017, 10:14 AM

I was wondering whether it would be worth asking how much the guy making the tank would charge you for a nice house.
Carefresh will be fine, if Blacky likes it I would stick with it & it would be good to mix it with some hemp.
I know Hemparade works out cheaper than Hugro hemp but I didn't find it as soft, it has more sharper pieces, I did use it for some time & my hams were fine with it but I just worried a little about the sharper pieces.

BorisPasha · 02-23-2017, 12:46 PM

Good to hear Blacky is doing ok, hope you are too

That's really good that the new tank will be ready by Monday, will be exciting to see what it's like once you get it all set up once you're organised with your new supplies etc. I too think it might be worth asking the guy that's making the tank if he could maybe make a nice house for Blacky.

I know a lot of people don't like carefresh but I don't mind it and the boys seem happy enough with it too. I know people think it's dusty but we usually open the bag and try to shake as much dust out as possible then store it in a really useful box. We mix it with the fitch (I know you can't get that though) to help hold their tunnels better. I have some hugro hemp to try but I've not opened it yet as I want to get a box to store it in first.

SKB_Hamsters · 02-23-2017, 04:23 PM

Good to hear that Blacky is ok and is settling in well to his temporary home.
I hope you get all the bugs gone soon - Bug problems are awful!, I've had few myself a couple years ago from items I had ordered online that also why I freeze everything I buy now to prevent any more bugs - I've haven't had any since.
That's great that your cage will be assembled by Monday. I'm so looking forward to seeing it!
My favourite thing to get from Zooplus is the willow tunnel - Weidentunnel gÃ¼nstig bei zooplus (10x25cm / €3.69 one) - I recently got one and after I froze it I gave it to Pumpkin and she enjoys running through it and she normally climbs over tunnels and Sherbet enjoyed chewing hers up. Also as you mentioned that you are getting some bendy bridges I also like having a couple of medium ones to - Sherbet occasionally liked to make her nest beneath the medium bendy bridge.

Hamsterita · 02-24-2017, 03:38 AM

Thank you for your advice cypher boris and skb.

I'm planing to place the order today. I'll let you know what I choose in the end.

Yesterday Blacky's behavior was odd. He didn't want to come out when I arrived home. I've tried to talk to him for 5 mins or so and he just didn't bother to pop his head out of the nest. Then I opened the door in the opposite part of the cage to refill his water and food and he decided to come out to check what I was doing, but he was with his ears down and as you can see he went to sleep again very soon.

Tomorrow morning I went to say hi when I woke up and he was going to sleep but I was able to interact a little bit with him. His ears were ok. He didn't stay for much longer tough.

cypher · 02-24-2017, 03:43 AM

Aw bless, it's been an unsettling time for him but I'm sure he'll soon get back to his usual self, lovely to see he's still enjoying his broccoli.

SKB_Hamsters · 02-25-2017, 05:09 PM

Blacky is probably still a little unsettled from his cage change but I'm sure he will be back to his usual self soon. But it's nice to still see him enjoying his broccoli.

BorisPasha · 02-26-2017, 03:30 AM

Hope Blacky is feeling a bit more like himself now. I think sometimes they just decide to not be interested in talking/spending time with us, they like to feel in charge

He's as cute as ever in the videos though

Pebbles82 · 02-26-2017, 03:57 AM

He's still got a nice burrow and enjoying broccoli

Hamsterita · 02-26-2017, 05:49 AM

Thanks Cypher, serendipity, boris and SKB.

Unfortunatelly Blacky is being really solitary these days. I barely see him. He comes out to get his vegs but he quickly returns to his borrow once there's no food involved. Tomorrow morning I took him out for the first time since he's been downstairs and I put him back really quick because he was frantic running from one side of the sofa to the other one. I think that maybe the sound of the computer that we have in the livingroom is bothering him. I don't know if he comes out at night and if he roams and plays around or not. I put an ovo as a potty and he blocked it twice, so I left it blocked, and that's the only sign that he's being out apart from some food being taken. His poops are normal but I can't spot clean so easily with the carefresh (I can't find the poops).

In theory I'll get the new cage tomorrow, and my order from zooplus will arrive on Thursday or Friday, as soon as I have everything what I need to arrange the set up I'll move him again. I know all these changes can be very stressful for him, but I'm not sure he's enjoying being downstairs and I want him to come back to a routine as soon as possible.

I bought a lot of things for him on zooplus. A hay tunnel, the willow tunnel that SKB suggested, several bendy bridges, dried chicken, a wood treat roll, the hemp that cypher suggested, chinchilla sand, a grass nest, a snack feedball, and a grass hammock.

I'm already planning my next order to viovet. I want to get him a lot of different chews.

Thin Lizzy · 02-26-2017, 05:57 AM

I think once he moves into his new house, you'll see him improving. I did find the video if him eating the broccoli sweet.