Welcomeing Phil
welcomeing Punxsutawney Phil the fish 12/20/15.
RIP sweet girl Delilah 12/23/15 who was only 25 days away from being 2 years old. See Delilah page under critters bar.
RIP Moriarty the betta 12/12/15
Had him for a little over two years.
New Cage (Finally)
Delilah finally got her new cage! I mentioned she might get one a few months ago but the making of it was postponed while she lived in a recovery cage (her old bin cage) while she was sick. Now that her cheek pouch infection is all cleared up (yay!) she got moved into her new (permanent) home. (For an idea of how big it is, that is a 12 inch flying saucer in there!)
Updates on Eye Infection/Cheek Pouch Infection
Delilah got to looking so much better after the two weeks of meds. Unfortunately after the meds ended she went steeply down hill. So back to the vet for her. Turns out she had a part of her tooth break off and the piece got in-lodged into her cheek pouch. This is what caused all the swelling she had. the puss was drained out of her cheek and she was given two more weeks of meds. Today is the last day of medication.
Delilah Eye Infection
As I mentioned in my last post, poor Delilah has an eye infection. No fun! I took her to the vet Tuesday and she is looking better, but I'm still a little worried. Her eye has gone from super red and irritated to smaller and less irritated though, which is good. She has been a real trooper (well mostly lol) taking her eye drops and antibiotic (oral) medications. The picture on the left is the day before taking her to the vet and the picture in the middle is from Wednesday, two days after (it looks wet because I just had given her her eye drop). The picture on the right is today, it still looks quite red around the eyelid:( I couldn't get her to stay still for a clear picture which is a good thing really, she didn't even need a wheel before Wednesday because she was so lethargic; but her activity has increased sense she has been on the meds.
Update: Delilahs
Update: Delilahs
Updates
After being associated with hamsters for three years I have realized some things. I also relized that some of the imformation I have posted I don't necessarily believe anymore. When I first was doing research on hamsters, I thought I knew everything: 1) glass tanks are the best cages ever. 2) only breeders have good hamsters. 3) feeding you hamster anything but what the websites say is evil, extra, extra. Then I learned more when I got my first hamster. I figured out that what you read in books and on the web isn't written in stone. That getting you hamster from a breeder doesn't insure your pet wouldn't get a terminal illness when they are only three mouths old, and reading about hamsters is lots different the the responsibility of having one XD. Then I got Delilah, and then I realized that adopting it from Petco doesn't mean it will be an evil biting wild rodent. Also that syrain hamsters have quite a bit more brain than dwarfs:P Most important though, I learned to keep my mind open and think for myself!
So without further ado here are some long overdo updates:"
So without further ado here are some long overdo updates:"
1) Oxbow hamster food. Everywhere you go people say "Get Oxbow! its wonderful." Well maybe it is better than feeding your hamster "Festa" food but I would like to disagree with this statement. Oxbow isn't the the salivation of the hamster food argument. Delilah, for one is allergic to timothy hay and feeding her Oxbow makes her sneeze like crazy. Also it isn't a good food to feed all on its own, because it lacks in curtain areas (This is stated on many hamster websites and forums).
Right now I am feeding Delilah Higgins Sunburst which is found at Petco. I have never heard a single forum or website suggest this food, but who cares? It is free of any hays that could make my hamster sneeze, it is full of fresh fruits and enriched with digestive probiotics, plus it has no dyes or preservatives. Do I sound like a commercial? Oh well. I am in love.
|
2) Cages,
First of all if you got yourself a dwarf, I think the best cage is either a ten gallon or a habitrail Ovo. You want to keep your dwarf in a 55 gallon long? fine. Go look up some of the German cages, but that's just not me.
Syrians I have found a little more tricky. As you know I have kept Delilah in a ten gallon.
First of all if you got yourself a dwarf, I think the best cage is either a ten gallon or a habitrail Ovo. You want to keep your dwarf in a 55 gallon long? fine. Go look up some of the German cages, but that's just not me.
Syrians I have found a little more tricky. As you know I have kept Delilah in a ten gallon.
a 17 gallon bin cage.
The 17 gallon ended up too small, but it makes a great isolation tank. The wire "knock down" cage is a nightmare. Do yourself a favor and don't even consider one of these monsters! (unless you have a rat, because rats don't need bedding, and can be trained to come when they are called).
If your hamster isn't potty trained it would be impossible to afford to keep it in a cage like this (well unless your Uncle is a superstar who gives you lots of birthday money) because it is just SO big. I clean the bedding out of mine about once a mouth because Delilah has a litter box (sand) to use so it stays clean longer. Also, it is impossible to keep a hamster in a cage like this if you don't make yourself some type of levels, because they can hurt themselves climbing the bars. I got my Dad to make my levels out of wood. It was great at first, but became annoying to get Delilah out of there to play. So it took one out for easy access. The only positive thing about this cage is that it gives a lot of running space for the hamster which is nice. (Recently I have given up on the whole thing and am making a new larger bin cage for Delilah.
Vets: Today I had to take Delilah to the vet because she has an eye infection. (more on this later) I tried using a salt water solution that was suggested by a friend but she didn't get better, so eye drops it is! My current standing on vets is this, if you can find a way to treat it yourself, do it. Taking a hamster to the vet can be very stressful for them and if you can treat it yourself safely, its probably for the best. Though if your gut tells you they need professional help then go. But find a vet that is used to seeing small animals. I saw a big difference in the vet I went to today verses the one i went to for Chadwick. They knew how to hold her and were comfortable with it, even though Chadwick wasn't cured, I would at least have liked to see that.
If your hamster isn't potty trained it would be impossible to afford to keep it in a cage like this (well unless your Uncle is a superstar who gives you lots of birthday money) because it is just SO big. I clean the bedding out of mine about once a mouth because Delilah has a litter box (sand) to use so it stays clean longer. Also, it is impossible to keep a hamster in a cage like this if you don't make yourself some type of levels, because they can hurt themselves climbing the bars. I got my Dad to make my levels out of wood. It was great at first, but became annoying to get Delilah out of there to play. So it took one out for easy access. The only positive thing about this cage is that it gives a lot of running space for the hamster which is nice. (Recently I have given up on the whole thing and am making a new larger bin cage for Delilah.
Vets: Today I had to take Delilah to the vet because she has an eye infection. (more on this later) I tried using a salt water solution that was suggested by a friend but she didn't get better, so eye drops it is! My current standing on vets is this, if you can find a way to treat it yourself, do it. Taking a hamster to the vet can be very stressful for them and if you can treat it yourself safely, its probably for the best. Though if your gut tells you they need professional help then go. But find a vet that is used to seeing small animals. I saw a big difference in the vet I went to today verses the one i went to for Chadwick. They knew how to hold her and were comfortable with it, even though Chadwick wasn't cured, I would at least have liked to see that.
Wheels: This is what I think about wheels, I HATE THEM. lol.When you live in the same room as your hamster, wheels can be a real pain. Finding the quietest one is an art. I have tried the flying saucer (in two sizes) the silent spinner (in two sizes) the Habitrail wheel, the Wodent Wheel and the Hearts cage wheel. I have much to say about wheels, and will be making a You-Tube video on them soon.
Bedding: Don't get ceder don't get pine. Don't get aspen it makes your hamster oily. Don't use pellet bedding, (I tried that once it was horrible). Find something paper, I don't even care what it is anymore personally. I use Carefresh or Kaytee, depending on which is on sale.
Cleaning: I am horrible at cleaning! I just hate it. the most important thing is, if it smells, clean it. Oh and don't go by your own judgment on if it smells, get someone to go into the room and say if it smells, as febreze says so well, you could be nose-blind. (I am not associated with febreze in any way I do not sell or promote their products I just like their adds thank you very much).
Well I think that is all my mind has to offer currently. I might be really empty of anything to say now. I will go now so you can process all this while I walk around the house like a zombie muttering "there is nothing in my head" for a few hours. Hope you enjoyed!
Cleaning: I am horrible at cleaning! I just hate it. the most important thing is, if it smells, clean it. Oh and don't go by your own judgment on if it smells, get someone to go into the room and say if it smells, as febreze says so well, you could be nose-blind. (I am not associated with febreze in any way I do not sell or promote their products I just like their adds thank you very much).
Well I think that is all my mind has to offer currently. I might be really empty of anything to say now. I will go now so you can process all this while I walk around the house like a zombie muttering "there is nothing in my head" for a few hours. Hope you enjoyed!
R.I.P Tombo (March) & Mrs. Hundon (April 9th) 2015
Tombo
After my baby shrimps died I had an empty 2 gallon on my hands. What was I supposed to do with a tank that was set up for shrimp? It was too small for anything interesting (other than more shrimp). That's what I thought, but after thinking for about a week I would maybe just stick some of my sisters guppies in there so it wouldn't be empty, I thought of a better idea. I have almost always wanted some balloon molly's. I did some research and then stopped by Petsmart and I picked up this cute little guy! This is Tombo, my newest addition to the pet family. Tombo lives by himself because of properer fish-per-gallon measurements- It doesn't seem to bother him a bit though! He livens up our living room with his fast-paced swimming. Tombo is named after the character in "Kiki's Delivery Service" not the brand of pens (if you where wondering)
Mrs. Hudson's "Sons"
Mrs. Hudson's babies did well in the net for about a mouth, before one of the remaining three died. The two left ("Martha" and "Jones") where moved into a new 2 gallon tank that fit them quite well. They grew a bit and flourished for about two weeks before they also died suddenly:( I had the water checked and there was nothing majorly wrong with it other than a little elevated PH. They where just so small and fragile. The pictures above are of Martha, who was the biggest one. They got to be quite big compared to how small they where originally! I was excited to have raised them as far as I did. The picture on the right is about life sized.
Mrs. Hudson & Sons
So as I said in my latest blog post, Moriarty got a new tank. It is a Fluvel Spec 2.5. It is SOOO cute. Only problem was, I got this pretty white sand, which got dirty and messy- really fast! I looked into cleaner animals, and decided I wanted to get a Ghost shrimp. So welcome my newest pet, Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper:) I got her at Petco and didn't really noticed until the Bagging lady put her in the bag that she was full of eggs!!!!
It was yesterday that her eggs hatched (or more in proper terms, she released her eggs:) They all got sucked into the filter of the tank and I had to save them by dumping the filter into the tank (very messy business indeed) After netting them out (so Moriarty wouldn't find them a tasty treat) They are staying in a brine shrimp net until they get a little bigger. |
I also have to mention that I "adopted" 2 Marimo Moss balls. They add so much color and interest to the tank. They are so awesome. I named them Miki and Arnold. just for fun:)
|
Cage Upgrade 2
So I promised pictures of my new cage levels, so here they are. It is painted with Lullaby Paints, which are a non-toxic, edible paint. Then it is sealed with Kennel Seal, which I ordered off HomeDepo.com. I put in a LOT of research to make sure it was all none-toxic and waterproof. America unfortunately does not have PlastiKote like the UK does, which is a nontoxic water resistant paint, so I had to make due. If you are looking for a non-toxic paint for your pets, Lullaby paint sells sample colors your pretty cheep, thought the shipping might get you.
p.s I am in no way associated with the company, I just think the paint is good:)
p.s I am in no way associated with the company, I just think the paint is good:)
Cage Upgrade
Confession. After having Delilah a little longer I realized she had gotten SO much bigger, that the 17 gallon bin cage was about the same size the 10 gallon had been to her when she was little. Oh my word I can't believe how big she got!!! I could't put a lot of toys in the bin cage and she was really board. so I upgraded. Big time. I bought the Living World (Hagen) Ferret/rat cage. It is HUGE!!!! in gallons (although its wire) it would be about 40 maybe more. And for those wondering, the wire spacing is just a tiny bit more than 1/4 inch, so perfectly safe:)
Bin Cage Tutorial
Ok, so pretty much any hamster blog or forum will tell you about bin cages. They will say how great they are and so on. For the record I DID NOT want a bin cage at first. Who cared if they where light weight, large enough for your hamster, so on. They are UGLY. That was my mindset before I learned about three things, colored duck tape on bin cages, colored zip ties on bin cages (which I found out at Hammy Happenings, link down below) and that my hamster didn't fit in her 10 gallon (which was pretty obvious even though she is only 7 weeks old). Anyways...
I don't think your hamster needs 360 square inches in floor space. (Please don't eat me if you do think this) I'm not even good enough at math to know how much that is. But I do think a Syrian hamster needs a bigger habitat than a 10 gallon, if your hamster is a dwarf or two USE A 10 GALLON! They are pretty and beautifully clear and chew proof. They are a bit heavy, but who cares. Otherwise, Bin cages are probably the best. 20 gallons (or more) aquariums are SO heavy, relativity expensive and hard to fit anywhere. O.k now that we are through with that, on to the building!
The bin cage I made is about a 17 gallon. You can expect to spend about 20-25 dollars for all the supplies. Go to Target to get the bin, they are LOADS cheaper. DO NOT go to Office Depot or Home Depot They are really expensive.
These are the supplies you will need to buy:
1 bin with lid (I used a Rubbermaid bin)
1 extra lid, preferably a colored top, as they are made of more flexible plastic)
Colored zip ties (You can get these from Home Depot)
1 roll of colored Duck Tape (any design) ( JoAnn's has one of the best collections although you can get this at most department stores)
1 wire or mesh rectangle. I used a piece from a small pet play pen. You could use a piece of an old wire cage or get something from the store.
These are the supplies you need to work with:
A dremmel
Ruler or square
Dry erase marker
Large exact o knife
A sander
Sand paper
Drill
I don't think your hamster needs 360 square inches in floor space. (Please don't eat me if you do think this) I'm not even good enough at math to know how much that is. But I do think a Syrian hamster needs a bigger habitat than a 10 gallon, if your hamster is a dwarf or two USE A 10 GALLON! They are pretty and beautifully clear and chew proof. They are a bit heavy, but who cares. Otherwise, Bin cages are probably the best. 20 gallons (or more) aquariums are SO heavy, relativity expensive and hard to fit anywhere. O.k now that we are through with that, on to the building!
The bin cage I made is about a 17 gallon. You can expect to spend about 20-25 dollars for all the supplies. Go to Target to get the bin, they are LOADS cheaper. DO NOT go to Office Depot or Home Depot They are really expensive.
These are the supplies you will need to buy:
1 bin with lid (I used a Rubbermaid bin)
1 extra lid, preferably a colored top, as they are made of more flexible plastic)
Colored zip ties (You can get these from Home Depot)
1 roll of colored Duck Tape (any design) ( JoAnn's has one of the best collections although you can get this at most department stores)
1 wire or mesh rectangle. I used a piece from a small pet play pen. You could use a piece of an old wire cage or get something from the store.
These are the supplies you need to work with:
A dremmel
Ruler or square
Dry erase marker
Large exact o knife
A sander
Sand paper
Drill
Hi, Hamster fans,
Its good to be back into the world of hamsters! I have adopted another hamster, this time a Syrian (or teddy bear) Hamster. Her name is Delilah (after one of my all-time favorite songs by Plain White T's) She is 5 weeks old, and she was raised at Petco with her 6 siblings. All black-eyed cream, long haired. She was the biggest of the females. She is a little troublemaker already! She has been enjoying chewing, chewing, chewing.... oh, and eating too.
Its good to be back into the world of hamsters! I have adopted another hamster, this time a Syrian (or teddy bear) Hamster. Her name is Delilah (after one of my all-time favorite songs by Plain White T's) She is 5 weeks old, and she was raised at Petco with her 6 siblings. All black-eyed cream, long haired. She was the biggest of the females. She is a little troublemaker already! She has been enjoying chewing, chewing, chewing.... oh, and eating too.
Before We Start...
Hamsters are cute and curious critters.
Personally I find them irresistible!
But is a hamster right for you? Do not be fooled! Although hamsters may seem like incredibly easy pets, they can be time consuming and expensive like any other animal. But if you are up for the challenge, here is a brief look at what you will need to get started:
1) A 10-20 gallon tank (a Syrian (or teddy bear) hamster will need the 20 gallon, a solitary dwarf will need a 10, and a pair of dwarfs will need at least a 15 gallon).
2) A mesh top for your tank
3) Hamster food
4) Hamster bedding
5) Hamster hide box
6) Hamster wheel
7) Chew toys, hamsters teeth never stop growing, so this is necessary!
8) Food bowl
9) Water bottle and hanger
Hamster food
Hamster Food
Your hamster’s food is very important to its well being, especially for dwarf hamsters as they are prone to diabetes and cannot have sweet foods like corn and peas. There are loads of hamster foods with dye and unhealthy ingredients. There are some foods however that are okay for your hammy. Two of them being Oxbow healthy handfuls (that is now available at PetSmart) and Ecotrition organic blend (which is currently only available at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/?ref=4397&subref=AA&cmpid=PPC-G-4397 but it is worth it!!!) Right now I am using Unfortunately the ecotrition has corn in it, which you may pick out if you have a dwarf. You can get one of these, or mix them, as it lasts longer.
Your hamster’s food is very important to its well being, especially for dwarf hamsters as they are prone to diabetes and cannot have sweet foods like corn and peas. There are loads of hamster foods with dye and unhealthy ingredients. There are some foods however that are okay for your hammy. Two of them being Oxbow healthy handfuls (that is now available at PetSmart) and Ecotrition organic blend (which is currently only available at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/?ref=4397&subref=AA&cmpid=PPC-G-4397 but it is worth it!!!) Right now I am using Unfortunately the ecotrition has corn in it, which you may pick out if you have a dwarf. You can get one of these, or mix them, as it lasts longer.
Update on Hamster Food
I have realized that my hamster food article is outdated by now!
I decided to do a little re-done version.
I have learned over the almost-year I have owned Chadwick that feeding your hamster a
second-choice food is not the end of the world. I still believe Oxbow and Ecotrition Organic are possibly the best choices, but I have found it exceedingly hard to find the Ecotrition Organic anywhere. Drs. Foster and Smith have quit selling it, and the only place I know of to get it now is amazon.com
(which sells one bag for the absurd price of $14). Oxbow is still fairly cheap at Petsmart though. Currently I am using Hazel hamster, which can be found at Petsmart, so far it’s been a good food, and it’s like $9 a bag, which is not too cheap, but its 2lbs. and will last like- a long time.
I decided to do a little re-done version.
I have learned over the almost-year I have owned Chadwick that feeding your hamster a
second-choice food is not the end of the world. I still believe Oxbow and Ecotrition Organic are possibly the best choices, but I have found it exceedingly hard to find the Ecotrition Organic anywhere. Drs. Foster and Smith have quit selling it, and the only place I know of to get it now is amazon.com
(which sells one bag for the absurd price of $14). Oxbow is still fairly cheap at Petsmart though. Currently I am using Hazel hamster, which can be found at Petsmart, so far it’s been a good food, and it’s like $9 a bag, which is not too cheap, but its 2lbs. and will last like- a long time.
The Best Home for Your Hamster
Hamsters can be a fun pet, but remember even though they are
small they still have requirements and need plenty of play time. If you think
you can keep and care for your furry friend for the next 1-4 years, keep
reading.
There are all sorts of disagreements when it comes to what to
keep a rodent in. Most articles I’ve read argue against small plastic tube
cages. While I couldn’t agree more that these habitats have problems, I still
love my Habitrail cage which I use as a supplement home for my hamster. There
are ups and downs to these sort of enclosures, first of all they are difficult
to clean, and as you will need to clean your tank every week, you will have to
disassemble thee entire thing and clean out the tubes as well as the cage. It
sounds like a hassle but the smells and toxins that build up from your hams
waist can KILL your pet and it is better to be safe than sorry. There is also a
heightened risk of escape in these tanks, and if you hamster is a known escape
artist, I advise against these habitats. Then there is the bin cage. The bin
cage is basically any large tubberware bin with mesh installed to either the
side or top (or both) I have no experience myself with these cages, but have
heard loads of people rave about them. They provide plenty of space, and is
really cheap for the size. I can’t say anything too bad about something I have
never used, but I would still caution that your rodent may be able to chew out
of this much more easily than other cages. The glass tank is my favorite. And it
is what I use for Chadwick. It is sturdy, and with the right top it is literally
inescapable. It has a good amount of space, and there are different sizes. I
suggest a 10 to 20 gallon, depending on how extravagant you want to go. One
issue with the glass tank is that it doesn’t have very good ventilation. You
must clean your tank every week, because of the miner ventilation. It is also
really important that after you clean you tank that you dry it off REALLY good,
so it is not damp. Glass tanks are also quite heavy, which can be a pro or con,
just depending on you. I like it because we have cats, and I can rest assured
that they will not be able to topple over his tank. But I you have a larger
hamster (thus a larger tank) it may become more difficult to clean and move
around. Wire cages I have heard provide better ventilation (obviously as they
don’t have solid walls). This would be a better tank if you don’t have to worry
about other pets in the house. Smaller hams may be able to squeeze out of the
bars, and as I have seen my hamster squeeze through teeny spaces, I might say
that this would be a better home for larger hamsters.
Picking your hamsters home is really a personal preference, I am
not going to tell you off for getting one sort of cage, what is really important
is that it stays clean, and your hamster stays
happy.
small they still have requirements and need plenty of play time. If you think
you can keep and care for your furry friend for the next 1-4 years, keep
reading.
There are all sorts of disagreements when it comes to what to
keep a rodent in. Most articles I’ve read argue against small plastic tube
cages. While I couldn’t agree more that these habitats have problems, I still
love my Habitrail cage which I use as a supplement home for my hamster. There
are ups and downs to these sort of enclosures, first of all they are difficult
to clean, and as you will need to clean your tank every week, you will have to
disassemble thee entire thing and clean out the tubes as well as the cage. It
sounds like a hassle but the smells and toxins that build up from your hams
waist can KILL your pet and it is better to be safe than sorry. There is also a
heightened risk of escape in these tanks, and if you hamster is a known escape
artist, I advise against these habitats. Then there is the bin cage. The bin
cage is basically any large tubberware bin with mesh installed to either the
side or top (or both) I have no experience myself with these cages, but have
heard loads of people rave about them. They provide plenty of space, and is
really cheap for the size. I can’t say anything too bad about something I have
never used, but I would still caution that your rodent may be able to chew out
of this much more easily than other cages. The glass tank is my favorite. And it
is what I use for Chadwick. It is sturdy, and with the right top it is literally
inescapable. It has a good amount of space, and there are different sizes. I
suggest a 10 to 20 gallon, depending on how extravagant you want to go. One
issue with the glass tank is that it doesn’t have very good ventilation. You
must clean your tank every week, because of the miner ventilation. It is also
really important that after you clean you tank that you dry it off REALLY good,
so it is not damp. Glass tanks are also quite heavy, which can be a pro or con,
just depending on you. I like it because we have cats, and I can rest assured
that they will not be able to topple over his tank. But I you have a larger
hamster (thus a larger tank) it may become more difficult to clean and move
around. Wire cages I have heard provide better ventilation (obviously as they
don’t have solid walls). This would be a better tank if you don’t have to worry
about other pets in the house. Smaller hams may be able to squeeze out of the
bars, and as I have seen my hamster squeeze through teeny spaces, I might say
that this would be a better home for larger hamsters.
Picking your hamsters home is really a personal preference, I am
not going to tell you off for getting one sort of cage, what is really important
is that it stays clean, and your hamster stays
happy.
5 most popular hamster breeds
Here is a quick look at the most common breeds of hamsters available: Syrian (otherwise known as the teddy bear hamster); Dwarf Campbell (or Russian Hamster); Winter White; Roborovski Hamster (or Robo hamster) and the Chinese Hamster.
Syrian hamsters are the largest type of hamsters (4-7 in.) and are solitary critters these used to be the most common hamster, although they are not seen as often as dwarfs nowadays. Syrians come in long and short hair, with pink, hairless tails and feet.
The Russian hamster are dwarfs, they can be kept in same sex pairs if introduced at a young age. Very curious and fast. But are prone to diabetes. They come in many colors, with furry tail and feet (They are also known as hairy footed hamsters).
Winter whites are very similar to the Russian, they are dwarf hamsters getting 4 inches long, and have a pointier noise than campbells.
The Robo hamster is a very energetic hamster that is not prone to nipping. They are the smallest hamsters, ranging from 2-3 inches.
The Chinese hamster in not a very social hamster. It is best to let them live on their own because of aggression, they are rather timid around people. They are slightly longer than the other dwarfs, and have a longer tail.
Dwarf hamsters should have corn and peas picked out of their food because they are prone to diabetes.
Syrian hamsters are the largest type of hamsters (4-7 in.) and are solitary critters these used to be the most common hamster, although they are not seen as often as dwarfs nowadays. Syrians come in long and short hair, with pink, hairless tails and feet.
The Russian hamster are dwarfs, they can be kept in same sex pairs if introduced at a young age. Very curious and fast. But are prone to diabetes. They come in many colors, with furry tail and feet (They are also known as hairy footed hamsters).
Winter whites are very similar to the Russian, they are dwarf hamsters getting 4 inches long, and have a pointier noise than campbells.
The Robo hamster is a very energetic hamster that is not prone to nipping. They are the smallest hamsters, ranging from 2-3 inches.
The Chinese hamster in not a very social hamster. It is best to let them live on their own because of aggression, they are rather timid around people. They are slightly longer than the other dwarfs, and have a longer tail.
Dwarf hamsters should have corn and peas picked out of their food because they are prone to diabetes.
Where to Get a Hamster.
So have you settled on what hamster breed you want? Great! Now you are only one step away from getting your new pet. All you must do is decide where you wish to get your new furry friend from. Is there more than one choice? Of course there is! There are in fact, three; the first being the most common... the petstore. A petstore like Petsmart or Petco is the most popular place to get a hamster, but unfortunately most petstore hamsters are can be unhealthy or untamed (although there are some exceptions). But fortunately there are two more options! The second being a breeder. Yes there are hamster breeders, depending on the area you live there can be more or less breeders near where you live. Breeder hamsters can be very nice, tame hamsters as most have been handled from a very young age. They are also known to be healthier, but there are some exceptions here too. The third option is adopting from a local shelter (there are many hamsters that are in need of a new forever home!) to find shelter hamsters in your area go to:( http://www.petfinder.com/index.html).
Eiffel Tower Hamster Toy/Treat Bowl
This is my first craft for critters I have put on the website, I hope you enjoy and try your own, let me know how it goes, I'd love to hear your opinions
eiffle_tower.docx | |
File Size: | 125 kb |
File Type: | docx |
- Supplies:
Cardboard
Exacto Knife
Hot glue gun
Toothpicks or mini craft sticks
(optional)
Sewing pins
A work surface for cutting
Step 1) (see photos below) Print out Eiffle tower pattern (above) Take your pattern and pin it to your
cardboard with the sewing pins. Use a pencil to trace around the pattern and
remove, (or just cut around the pattern). Oh and start warming up your hot glue
gun now, so you don’t have to do it later!
Step 2) cut out 4 cardboard towers with your Exacto Knife. Don't bother to cut out the fancy designs that are on the patterns sides, they just get in the way:P
Step 3) after you have cut out four flat cardboard towers you get to start gluing:) take your hot glue and
put glue on one side of (one) of your tower cut-outs, quickly but carefully (you
don't want to get burned!) match the edge of another cut-out to the glued one.
Keep doing this until three of the towers are attached to each other, nearly
forming the tower.
Step 4) cut a square piece of cardboard that looks
the right size to fit in your tower, just below the little "windows" (I just
eyeballed it it doesn't have to be perfect) and glue it in.
Step 5) attach your last cardboard cut-out, it will be a little harder because you have
to attach it to the two open sides instead of just one.
Step 6) O.K now
you have your tower, it might be a little crooked, if it is just cut the feet
down until they all match up. Again it doesn't have to be perfect!
Step 7) this step is optional, you can "decorate" your tower by gluing toothpicks
(with the sharp ends cut off) to the edges of the tower, I used mini craft sticks.
Step 8) Give it to your hamster! (Or gerbil or mouse or...ok you get the point:) Put treats in it or just let your fuzzy friend explore it. Hope you enjoyed!
cardboard with the sewing pins. Use a pencil to trace around the pattern and
remove, (or just cut around the pattern). Oh and start warming up your hot glue
gun now, so you don’t have to do it later!
Step 2) cut out 4 cardboard towers with your Exacto Knife. Don't bother to cut out the fancy designs that are on the patterns sides, they just get in the way:P
Step 3) after you have cut out four flat cardboard towers you get to start gluing:) take your hot glue and
put glue on one side of (one) of your tower cut-outs, quickly but carefully (you
don't want to get burned!) match the edge of another cut-out to the glued one.
Keep doing this until three of the towers are attached to each other, nearly
forming the tower.
Step 4) cut a square piece of cardboard that looks
the right size to fit in your tower, just below the little "windows" (I just
eyeballed it it doesn't have to be perfect) and glue it in.
Step 5) attach your last cardboard cut-out, it will be a little harder because you have
to attach it to the two open sides instead of just one.
Step 6) O.K now
you have your tower, it might be a little crooked, if it is just cut the feet
down until they all match up. Again it doesn't have to be perfect!
Step 7) this step is optional, you can "decorate" your tower by gluing toothpicks
(with the sharp ends cut off) to the edges of the tower, I used mini craft sticks.
Step 8) Give it to your hamster! (Or gerbil or mouse or...ok you get the point:) Put treats in it or just let your fuzzy friend explore it. Hope you enjoyed!