I may be adopting a hammie!!!

[Michele4Mouse]

The Humane Society near me has a hammie for adoption, his name is Skittles, he is 4 months old and looks so cute in the photo. I'm going tomorrow to fill out the papers. Hopefully I will be able to bring him home!! :p

I mix my own food for my mice, for Skittles, what should I add or delete for him? My mouse mix has: flax seed, finch seed, whole oats, rice crispy cereal, dog food, dried carrots, dried sweet potatoes, dried banana chips, and uncooked pasta. I'll make a separate container just for him.

[7GameSavvy]

Hamsters get fat very easily. I suggest buying pre-made dry food specifically for hamsters (not hamster/gebil) so Skittles gets the right nutrition.:) CONGRATULATIONS!!!:jump2: -party2- :cheer:

Savvy

[Michele4Mouse]

I'm go shopping tomorrow, what brands are the best? I would prefer to mix my own food so I know exactly what I'm feeding. I use to get the mouse & rat mix for my mice and they would waste a lot of it. Plus, there was too much corn in it. That's why I started mixing my own. I have a few overweight mice, so I need to limit how much protein & fat they get. I also give my mice those colored vita balls called Hamsteroids. Is there anything else about their diet that I need to know?

[Fluff N Roll]

Got to HAmsterhideout.com and they have a great section that shows what veggies and fruits are good and bad for them.
Congrats on your hammie:p

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, if you still want to mix your own food go to hamsterhideout.com or do a search for "hamster nutrition" or something:)

Savvy

[Michele4Mouse]

Thank you for your help, I'll check out that site. I checked out several books on hamsters from the library the other day. Most of the stuff I know already, but I feel better to double check. My brother & I had a hamster when we were young, I'm 33 now, so its been awhile. :)
I filled out all the paper work stuff, I have to wait until Monday to see if my application is accepted. It will give me some time to prepare his cage and food. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time.

Over 12 or 15 years ago my parents adopted a puppy from a animal shelter. She was a mutt, black & white and very rough looking. So we called her, Scruffy. The puppy was sick, they told us it was just kennel cough and it would get better. It was NOT kennel cough. One morning she was lying on my parents bed and went into a convulsion, it was so horrible. That when we all relized the puppy had serious health problems. We were taking the puppy back to the animal shelter, I was holding the puppy on my lap and she went into a convulsion, it was so horrible I cried for weeks after. That experience has made me nervous about adopting another pet from a shelter again. It was such a long time ago, so I'm giving it another try. I trust the Humane Society to care for the pets they adopt out. Sorry to ramble on, just wanted to share my past experience.

[7GameSavvy]

I understand. My mom doesn't like getting puppies from animals shelters because she is afraid she'll end up with a big dog on short little legs. Although the convulsion thing is scary I think animal shelters are much more knowledgable and there is better technology these days.:) And there isn't much that could go wrong with a Ham that you couldn't see (like wet tail or something). GOOD LUCK!!!!:D

Savvy

[Fluff N Roll]

I understand. My mom doesn't like getting puppies from animals shelters because she is afraid she'll end up with a big dog on short little legs.
Savvy
Not to change tohe subject,but what in the world is rong with that?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/Fluff_N_Roll/THI%20DOGGIES/Mahalo/5541a95a.jpg :D
This is our Dog Mahalo, She is a Corgi/Malimute she wieghs 45 pounds and has short legs!

[SweetlilMarce]

aw poor Malaho. I think she's beautiful =D

[SweetlilMarce]

oops, Mahalo*

[7GameSavvy]

I know, I think they're adorable!!!:) My Moms just paranoid because she had a friend who had a big dog on short legs and she said he was really ugly. Oh well, I think all dogs are gorgeous!!!:D

Savvy

[7GameSavvy]

Oh, and Mahalo is ADORABLE!!!:D

Savvy

[Michele4Mouse]

Here is a long story about what happend this weekend. I adopted a hamster from the Humane Society on Sat. His name is Skittles and he is 4 months old with long hair. A very cute fuzz ball and compare to my mice, he is huge!!! Well, I picked him up Sat. afternoon around 12:30 pm. I filled out the paper work and handed it in on Fri. and the girl told me I would hear on Monday if my application would be accepted. So I was not quite prepared when they called Sat morning and said that I could pick up Skittles anytime after noon. I planned to put the hamster downstairs,( its an even cool temp down there) on the same table as my two male mice. Originally I had Jasper in a plastic tub, I moved Jasper to the Critter Trail #1 (way too small for a hammie). After I got Skittles home I got him all set up in the plastic tub. Only temporary until on Monday when I could set up a bigger cage for him. Then my mom & I left to go up north to our trailer, my dad was already up there.

After we got home on Sun. evening around 6pm. I went downstairs to check up on my guys and I got a shock. Skittles got out of the tub and got into Zeek's cage and killed Zeek. Now Skittles is on the loose in our basement in the storage area. I sat up until 2 am watching for him, I did see him once but was too slow to get him. So at least I know he is OK and not hurt. I've got several traps set up to catch him. After knowing how Skittles got out of the plastic tub so easily, I decided against putting him in the big tub I had orginaly planned for him to go into on Monday. So today I got a nice big cage for Skittles (escape proof!!!). I can hook it up to other cages so I can give him more floor space.

I feel so horrible about Zeek's death, its all my fault!!!! :mad: I'm so mad at myself!!! :mad: My mom was rushing me, she was in such a hurry to leave for the lake. I should have stayed home or at least watch Skittles for a while to make sure he could not get out. From the looks of Skittles cage, he was not in there very long. I'm still amazed at how he got out. My mice would have never been able to get out of that tub, plus going in & out of Zeek's cage. From now on, hamster & mice will be a separate tables. THANKFULLY Jasper is OK and unharmed. Oh..... my poor Zeek!!! :cry: He never stood a chance. :cry:

[TooShort4]

Didnt you have a Screen or anything?

[Michele4Mouse]

Yes, I had a cover on the tub. I had the center of the lid cut out on top and attached a screen to cover the hole. I attached the screen by taking strips of the plastic I'd cut off and used a tool to melt the plastic around edges of the screen. It was nice & strong & chew proof. (So I thought) The screen was suppoes to be rodent proof too, it said so on the package. Guess it was not hamster proof. :confused: Skittles was able to climb up the water bottle, chew the screen & squeeze himself threw the hole. I would like to see how he did it. I still don't know how he got out of Zeek's cage.
I had Zeek in a CT Classic with a CT mini attached. The top of the mini has 2 holes for water bottle & tubes. One hole had the orginal plug the other one I used a plastic cap that I taped on. That is the one Skittles got off. I've had Zeek in that set up for several months.

[PinkMouse]

Aww! Im so sorry to hear that :( Zeek RIP

Hopefully you catch your hammie, too! Thats horrible :(

Wow, you've had some bad expierences with adopting from shelters!

[o0sapphirerat0o]

That is why I use only 1/2inch x 1/2inch hardware cloth either bolted or zip tied. You could do that as well, as those critter cages are way to small for a syrian.

I'm sorry about Zeke, and I'm glad skittles is still ok, and that your keeping him. Many people would be mad at HIM and take him back to the shelter. I'm sure zeke forgives you, you were only trying to do the best for a shelter animal.

Goodluck finding skittles.

[Michele4Mouse]

I'm not mad at Skittles at all, it was my fault, not his. I would never return him, Skittles was just doing what a hamster would do. I was wondering if it would stress out mice & hamster having their cages on the same table. I have a separete table now for the hamster, just in case he should escape in the future.
I have 4 traps set right now, hopefully they will work. Skittles was a stray, I'm beginning to wonder if he was set free or if he escaped.

[o0sapphirerat0o]

Hamsters usually aren't tame like dogs and cats, it is instinct for them to want to get away from their cages.

Put the traps along the wall. If possible put flour around the walls and see where he is walking.

[Michele4Mouse]

Ok, thanks I'll try that.

[LuckyBunny888]

Thats a really good idea, I never would have thought of that one ( the flour around the walls). And Im so sorry to hear about all the trouble your having with your critters. I felt absoutly horrible when I was looking for my one hamster, Tutter. When I saw him, I pulled the chest out to get to him and didnt notice the board which was leaning up against it. When I pulled the chest, the board fell and smashed Tutter. I just saw him in a puddle of blood, screamed and got my mom. I couldnt breath and felt awful. I wouldnt even go into school the next day. Its horrible because to this day, where he died, blood stained the wood floors as a constant reminder to me.

[Michele4Mouse]

My mom and I caught Skittles last night. We had to move lots of boxes around and found him trying to hide. I put a towel over him and scooped him up. He was not happy to be caught at all!!! He hissed, growled and squealed. I've never heard a hamster do that before. When he squealed, my first reaction was to let him go, but if I did that he would take off and would be much more difficult to catch. I had to use a rubber glove to transfer him into his cage, he bit me once. After he was safely inside his cage I watched him for several hours, just to be sure he could not get out and to make sure he was ok. After taking a long drink, he curled up in a corner and fell asleep. He seemed to be breathing a bit heavy. It worried me that through the whole ordeal of being in a new home, being caught had stressed him out. I let him be for the night.

Today I spent over $70 on Skittles getting him new cages & tubes that he can safely fit through and few yummy treats. Here are a few photos of his set up & a few of him. I also got some special vitamin stuff for hamsters, it is suppose to help them get use to their new diet, home and prevent wet tail. (I can't remember the name of it right now.)

With the 3 cages all hooked up, Skittles has the whole table to himself now. I need a few straight & corner pieces to hook up to the other tube. So that the red & green cage are hooked together. That, or I need a bigger table. :D Jasper has his own table, hes in the same room, but there would be no way for Skittles to get over to that table. Not unless he can fly.... ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/MicheleMouse/Hamster%20photos/Hamster_setup.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/MicheleMouse/Hamster%20photos/Hamster_setup_2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/MicheleMouse/Hamster%20photos/tube_hookup.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/MicheleMouse/Hamster%20photos/Skittles_new_home.jpg Little jail bird. :)

[TooShort4]

Awwww Cute :) Glad you caught him.

[Michele4Mouse]

Last night Skittles got out of his new cage. My mom heard something in their closet, she got up with the flash light and found Skittles by my dad's slippers. My mom kept the flash light shinning on his face and put a shirt over him and picked him up. After getting him back inside the cage she saw where he had gotten out. The new cage has two ports on top for a water bottle & tube. There were plugs inside the holes (they came with the cage). Skittles worked on it and was able to push up the plug and pull himself up out of the hole. So now I have taped down all plugs, tubes (where they connect together) and water bottles just to be sure he can't get out of those.

I have no idea how he got up to my parents bedroom!!! Their bedroom is all the way upstairs on the other side of the house. I'm just glad that my mom was able to catch him. I've had Skittles since Sat. and he has gotten loose twice. Ahhhh!!! :yell: That Skittles is going to keep me on my toes, that's for sure!!!! :D

I've had mice for 3 1/2 to 4 years and I've only had 1 escape in that whole time. It was my own stupid mistake by forgetting to put back their water bottle!! I had just separated the 3 boys (Zeek, Leo & Jasper) from their mom & sisters. I had them together in the same Critter Trail 1 cage for about a week. They were starting fight (nothing serious yet) but it was getting time to put them into separate cages before it did. I accidentally left the water bottle out of their CT cage. Leo took advantage to get away from his brothers. It took me a week to finally catch him. In fact it was last year in July.

Does anyone else have escape stories?

[Fluff N Roll]

I wont make it long lol, but when i was hamster sitting for some one (yes i said hamster sitting) he got out and gt down the hall and some how into my moms water bed. The funny part is he ended up on her arm and when my mom jumped and turned the light on he was just sitting there unter the covers.

Also Cooki got out the very first day i brought her home. And it was really hard to get her backi into her cage. But I have tape and bubbles and all that on my cage so she cant get out. Just to make sure lol :)

[BellaItalian]

If you do want to make your own food i think an idea would to take out the cereal and to add sun flower seeda and I would also take out the spaghetti :) Good luck with your pet!

Bella

[TiaMaria]

Okay well I make my own hamster food so here is my recipy (sp?)

Corn, oats, barley, pellets, alfalfa (dehydrated), soya bean meal, conola meal, wheat, sunflower seeds and some dried bananas.

Enjoy
~Tia