On Hamsters
I found Finna behaving wierdly a day ago. She was moving very slowly and did not seem to mind me poking her, a curious observation for a roboski, usually alert and energetic. A closer inspection found that her eyes were half open, and she seemed to be in a daze. Her sister Tina was running around the cage as usual, darting here and there, while Finna just sat there, stoned. The contrasting difference alerted me to a problem.
A quick search online with the key words “roboski hamster sluggish half opened eyes” brought up a list of websites descripting similiar symptons, mostly with a sad ending. It has something to do with an eye infection, but that carries an additonal symptom, some discharge from the eyes. Fina did not have any such discharge. Nevertheless, I took a damp cloth and wiped it across her eyes gently. it had the strength then to push the cloth away.
I thought at that time that it should not have been such a simple problem. an eye irritation couldnt have such a severe effect that Fina would not eat or drink or even move around. She did try to run the wheel but could only manage a weak attempt. She then spent her time sitting at her usual corner, only half as fast and a quarter as strong. She seemed a lot smaller.
Tina seemed to notice and kept close to her frail sister.. as if to keep her warm and out of my (seemingly hostile) reach. The energy difference between the two was clear as day.
It could have been an allergic reaction. I did change the sand a day before, but since then quickly reverted back to the original brand. A fight with Tina? No bite marks. Sickness? I just cleaned the cage, though Jolyn alerted me to the water tube, which may be contaminated. I keep fresh water, but the tube is hard to clean, and I thought nothing of it at that time. The night is spent in worries and wondering what happened.
Finna just passed away this morning. We found her stiff and unmoving in her little sand bathing home. Her eyes were fully closed and she seemed finally at ease. I buried her in the open field at the front of my house so that she may roam in open space forever. Rest in peace, little Finna. Your owners will remember you dearly.
Comment on this | By Jack in Hamsters
Do be careful when handling hamsters – they do bite when they sense something is amiss and get all defensive.
Jo was picking one of the hamsters up the other day (after a few attempts) when the hamster grow frightened enough to bite her on her thumb. This is not the mischievous kind where the hamsters will nip a little food from your hand and dart away – There is blood, and a good few drops of it too. Jo said afterwards that the numbing pain remained long after the wound clotted, and the the little hamster teeth marks are still visible a few days after the incident. So do be careful when trying to pick them up – I’m still trying to let them get used to having a human hand in their cage and not think of it as “bite-able”.
Comment on this | By Jack in Hamsters
I bought a battery-driven toothbrush some days ago (at a certain beauty store) to test it out. Apparently it is attached to a motor what rotates the brush to scrub at my teeth. As a result, my teeth dirt flew all over the place – not very hygenic. I went back to the good old toothbrush and left the battery-driven one in a dark corner of my cupboard.
Fast forward till yesterday, when it just dawned on me that I can use the old battery-driven toothbrush as an easy cleaner to clean the hamster’s cages, and all the little crooks and cranies of the equipment. Like the Hamster wheel – I used to use green scrub to scrub the dirt but cannot seem to get to the little grooves and nitches. Now I can – and without much effort either!
I forsee quickier and cleaner hamster cleaning days ahead!
Comment on this | By Jack in Hamsters
Sleeping Roboskis
The little roboskis are seen here having a little nap. (the yellow is due to the balcony casing being yellow)
they cuddle together nicely.. spoon position? hahah
anyway, I did not regret buying the little extension (I call it the balcony) for the little roboskis.. they seem to love the place much. Just yesterday I was cleaning out the bedding and food scrapes from the balcony and now they seem to have replaced them.
One important thing to note – because I never thought that they would grow this big (a lack of research on my part – Jolyn says that they will only grow until the size of my thumb, though on hindsight, my thumb would have to be extremely swollen before they can be compared to either Fina or Tina). Hence I got the small cage. I intend to get a bigger one later this or earlier next year, so that they would have room to run around and stuff.
A little note for those intending to get some roboski company – try to get a cage with a deep base. Apparently they like to dig into the bedding for warmth and fun. So get a deep one and fill it up with loose wood chips – nice for them to kick things around. And since they like to kick things around, they will often kick wood chips out of the cage – which can be a real hassle to clean up! Hence get a tray of some sort as a “moat” to collect whatever they throw out their home. The moat I got is a over-turned buffet tray cover – which is perfect for Tina and Finna’s small home, but waiters’ drinks tray are also as good.
I think its time for me to have a proper introduction for Tina and Fina since I keep writing about them so much =)
Comment on this | By Jack in Hamsters
After a long while I decided to add an extension to the little place that Fina and Tina calls home. It is designed for hamster bathing I suppose, but Tina and Fina likes to sleep on the soft bathing sands, so I decided to make it into a little home. Think of it as a balcony =)
A new place for the hammies to hang out and sleep in
Fina is the first to notice the new joint (pardon the pun =) and seems to like it a lot.
Fina checks out the new joint
She is joined by Tina and they seemed to want to return to the new area, even after the wheels (which they never seem to tire of).
Tina joins Fina in checking out the place
Now Tina and Fina sits in their newfound balcony and enjoys the new place. I’m a bit worred that there is not much of ventilation however. Maybe I will call my friend who has access to a workshop for a favor.
The hammies get cosy
Special – Fina likes to sleep with her head on a ledge – usually the opening of the bathing house which was previously their bedhouse. She now has a new place to hang her head and doze into hamster bliss!
Fina tests the dozing effeciency of new head ledge
I like the new additions to the family. My parents seemed wary of them at first, but I did my part by cleaning the cage now and then, and as a result they started to warm to them. This new extension now allows them to view the hamsters as close as possible, so hopefully it will warm their hearts further =)
I am considering some more extensions to the original cage, but am deciding if I should go for a new cage instead. The models vary in size and levels, and get more and more fancy the more I shop. Is it better to get a new cage or to add new extensions to the original place?
1 Comment | By Jack in Hamsters
A lot of activities have been occupying me for the last month. I just graduated (ceremony and all) and had my birthday celebrated with many of my dearest friends.
Oh, and I also adopted two little roboski hamsters! I have never raised one before, and now there are two sleeping on the table next to me. They look really cute!
Home for Hammies
The cage supports additional attachments that I can purchase for more roam for the hammies to roam around in. I also forgot to get a nice proper home for them, so they are sleeping in the toilet roll and the sand bath for now.
I haven given names for them yet. They look similiar!
They are adorable when they arrive in a little disposible bowl. Now they seem to have settled down and are checking out the decor and stuff.
When they scoot into the toilet roll I can pick them up and move them around. they seem to like the transportation.
Hammy 2! Or is it Hammy 1? Need to find a way to differentiate
I like it when they peep up at me in the toilet roll =)
So far they look snug and are busy digging around (I hope I put ample bedding, as i read that their native homes are from the desert and have an inclination to dig..? Any advice on how to keep them healthy is very much appreciated! =D
Comment on this | By Jack in Hamsters
