Raphael (Raffy's) Adventures

[Serendipity7000]

Raffy (short for Raphael) arrived yesterday on St George's Day. Raphael: An artist, a teenage mutant ninja turtle and an angel. Not sure about the artist but the rest describes his personality!

He is adorable, sweet, responsive, highly active and spritely and quite a small cream banded Syrian (the band is quite narrow).

He was highly active yesterday when going into his new Savic Plaza. Explored every inch of it. Made me laugh with his antics, LOVES his wheel and does little short thuddy runs then stops and does longer runs. He pounds it! And then stops and looks at you all happy. He was certainly very acrobatic last night - investigated everything in the cage energetically (looking for an escape route as they usually do!). Dug tunnels all over the cage under the substrate. Jumped out of his sputnik, climbed bars, but the whole time looking happy and enjoying things, not stressed or anything.

He made me laugh a few times. He doesn't seem scared of people and will listen when you talk.

Assume he found his house last night as the entrance was blocked up with bedding this morning. But he hasn't emerged since I saw him last night running on his wheel. Probably very tired as he seemed to be awake most of yesterday after his journey here and then awake all afternoon and evening.

Thanks to Sophie at Happy Hamsters for bringing him to us. He was adopted from there after they took him in for rehoming. A child's pet that didn't work out apparently.

So here are some photos from yesterday/last night.

His Plaza cage

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On arrival he was transferred from a pet carrier into this box - the idea being he could walk into the snooze cube and I could lift him out in that to put in his cage as he's not hand tame yet. He did go in the snooze cube after a nosey around. He didn't hide or seem nervous.

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And then in his cage

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[Serendipity7000]

He is really quite small for a Syrian - small but perfectly formed. Very sweet and lively and cheekily energetic.

A few more photos of him exploring the cage. I had a few chew sticks and treats scattered around and he got quite excited finding them and nibbled everything he found. Also performed some gymnastics! He grabbed the whimzee toothbrush and rushed off with it between his teeth and deposited it in the rat tube. Then did the same with the Tiny Friends chew stick.

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Spot the hamster!

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[Serendipity7000]

He found the sunflower seeds stuck in the hyacinth ball. He went into every single thing - every hide, the tubes - and the sputnik. And then did some more gymnastics getting out of the sputnik! He later jumped out of the sputnik and landed belly up! I have a video I'll post later of him running round the cage and jumping out of the sputnik!

I absolutely love him already He has a really sweet, confident personality and quirkily active and determinedly energetic as well.

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You can just see him peering out of the Sputnik (photo above)

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[Serendipity7000]

A blurred one in his wheel!

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[Ria P]

He is loving it in there!! Raffy looks happy, i mean as in, a happy, smiley face. He's such a cheerful looking little hamster. You must be absolutely delighted.

[Serendipity7000]

Thanks Ria - yes it was a lovely start He has been completely no show this evening. But must have been zonked after being awake so much during the day yesterday. Just checked on the hamstercam after coming to bed and he has appeared now the lights have gone out and it's all quiet.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Aww, he's lovely Serendipity, sounds like you and him are having so much fun

[Ria P]

That's typical new hamster behaviour.
Manic behaviour on day 1, then no show for a few days. It's almost like they're trying to figure out what has happened before surfacing again.

[Charlie Dunn]

What a poppet! No wonder you are smitten!!! X

[cloudy]

I read this with a huge smile. I am so happy for you and Raffy. He is adorable and like Ria says, he looks so happy.