I'm excited!

[B00]

I bought a hamster cage yesterday and today I'm off to buy me a hamster or a mouse, not decided yet, but I'm stupidly giddy about it all.

I did look on t'internet about possibly re-homing one from the RSPCA or something, but it proved surprisingly difficult to track anything down, so being the impatient begger I am i'm off to the pet shop.

That's it really, no question or discussion and really no reason for this post other than I'M EXCITED!!!!

(yes I'm aware i need to get out more)

[B00]

He's now fast asleep in his tunnel- he snores!!

Mini Boo's called him Chocolate (??) so he's now called that, despite having no brown colouring on him whatsoever, lol.

Dog's still not blinked since he came home.

Not got him a ball Jenna- not sure how wise that would be with a curious 3 yr old and a an even more curious dog about! Quite like the sand pit idea, might give it a whirl ,and I'll dig out a dog bone as well- will any dog bone do? I have some of those Winalot shape things.

Smudge- a denim stuffed hamster, oh dear, lol.

Arab- If......oh forget it, can't be bothered.

[wolf63]

I must admit that I am not keen on little furries - they are too small and fragile.

But I hope that Chocolate settles in well and you eventually manage to move the dog away from the cage.

Maybe mini Boo knows that Chocolate is bad for dogs.

[garner]

Hi BOO so pleased about your new boy,It will be good for little Boo I think they are a good pet for little ones.You will have hours of fun watching the little imp and what he gets up too.g.

[sue11]

Boo has your dog blinked yet?
'Hammy' sounds really cute, I would love to get one, unfortunately so would my cats love me to get one but not for the same reasons!!

[LoftyLottie]

Congratulations Boo. I hope Chocolate leads a charmed life. Has the dog blinked since yesterday?

A sad (but true) tale:

I had a hamster when I was little. He was a dear little fellow called Joey. The school hamster needed a mate and my mother volunteered Joey, so off to school he went for the day to be introduced to his new fiancee.

Apparently, I came home in tears, Joey's prospective wife was a nymphomaniac who chased him round the cage all day but never got her evil way with him. He was exhausted and died the next day.

Seeing that he was three years old , and probably about 80 in human years, this is not at all surprising.

Be warned Boo, don't let Miniboo take Chocolate to school.

xx

[bigmamma]

How wonderful BOO , a hamster , they are so cute and make good pets , quiet , tiny , and so entertaining . Remember to handle it often to get it used to you , less likey to give that painful little bite. Be careful to wake it up out of its bed before putting your hand in to pick it up or it will bite out in its sleep as self protection. I have had 3 over the years and they were great , one of them used to like to sit in my pocket . They can escape cleverly too BOO , we named one of ours Tilly and soon added Houdini .
Has the dog blinked yet or is it still mesmerised ...lol..xxxxxx

[Jillius]

Hi Boo
Did you have a noisy night with it whizzing around on it's wheel ?
I find it hilarious about your dog not blinking, it reminds me of our labrador. He used to sit and stare at us when we were eating and he never blinked, just drooled !
He used to stare at the biscuit tin too and not blink !!

[B00]

Afternoon everyone :-)

Chocolate had a fairly quiet night, apart from the odd angry sounding squeak. He's not been on his wheel yet :-(

Yep, the dog's now blinking again, and only seems interested if she catches sight of him moving about. I can see i'm gonna have to fettle with his tunnels later as he's pulled all his bedding through most of his food and caused a blockage- lol.

[Jillius]

That just reminds me of the hamster we had before this one....when we got it home it squawked like a seagull, very very loud ! We were scared of it and then it started walking hunchbacked. We took it to the vet and it was diagnosed with wet tail and died the following day. The one we have now never sqeaks and is a happy friendly little chap.

[B00]

Oh don't say that Jillius, lol.

He seems ok, merrily munching away as we speak, so hopefully he was just plain annoyed last night or he's a typical male (all gob! lol)

[Jillius]

Oh no, I wasn't trying to frighten you lol . It's just that I had never heard a hamster make a noise before !
I looked in my hamster book at the time and it said that it was normal for them to make a noise in a new environment. Ours was just not normal from the start cos it wouldn't eat or drink it would just chew at the bars of the cage....scary !

[mrs_overall]

I'm pleased to hear about the arrival of Chocolate and wish him a long and healthy life!
The latin name for hamsters should be Houdini Escapus as they are cunning blighters.
When we were decorating, one of mine escaped, got onto to the pasting table and then ended it all by jumping into a bucket of wallpaper paste.

[Eve]

Bless him :) Best to leave him in his cage for a couple of days so he can get used to his new home before taking him out. Male is good, often better tempered than females.

Has he got a good hidey hole (they like somewhere dark and covered with corners so they can feel safe. If he's not made a proper nest yet (possible if he's a baby) make him a little nest of bedding he can hide in, put something that smells of him in it and a few treats to help him settle).

Piling bedding in a tube could be he feels a draught or it makes him feel safer as they're natural burrowing animals.

When picking him up do it with confidence and keep him low at first (they jump and have crap eyesight so often can't see what they're jumping into!), stroke their body not their head.

Talk to him lots in a gentle calming voice, put your hands in so he can sense them, see if he will take food from you (be patient and let him come to you) then when he's ok with that gentle cup your hands round him from the sides (don't come in from above as it'll scare him) and see if he'll let you hold him there then you can progress to lifting him and letting him run on your lap where he can be easily fenced in.

They are good with sounds and routine like associating the shaking of the food tub and such.

[bigmamma]

Another tip sweetie ....if you have just filled Chocolates food dish wash your hands before going to stroke him or pick him up , or your fingers will just smell like one big delicious treat ! xxxxxx

[Jenga]

How lovely! I have birds but when I go down the pet shop for food & bits I can't help but watch the cute little hamsters. They sleep in a big pile and can even eat and sleep at the same time. There was one who took a large seed to bed with him and was sleeping in a pile of hammies and holding this seed and eating with his eyes closed.

[Jillius]

Wise words bigmamma ! I learnt the hard way.......ouch !