View Full Version : My first hamster! I need name suggestions please!!!
Well, I didn't get the budgies and I'm not getting a puppy right away but I did get a hamster. :)I always look at them, pick them up and hold them and I finnally got one today!!! She is SO cute and sweet! :pShe had some carrot and is now investigating her new home. Super cuddly too! Any hamster owners out there feel free to give me some tips-I'll be reading up all I can even though I got the basics so far. I do need NAME SUGGESTIONS though!
:D
Here she is!
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/MISC%20PIX/100_8769.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/MISC%20PIX/100_8772.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/MISC%20PIX/100_8789.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/MISC%20PIX/100_8811.jpg
Plukie
11-28-2007, 05:14 PM
Well, she's a little darling!! When my daughter got her first hamster, it was a little girl but she insisted in calling it Bernard! No, I don't know why. lol. You said you know the basics, well then you will already know that they are solitary animals.......so no little friends for her. If you go to wake her up during the daytime, make a little bit of a noise first, gently tug at her bedding to wake her up gradually. Don't just put your hand in and pick her up, that frightens them and they will bite.......that hurts believe me. Worse than a tiel. I'm sure you will have a lovely time with her, they are so cute.
Thanks Plukie! She's going nuts on her little wheel! It's too cute!!!
She is very cute.
Butterscotch
Thanks Babi. I decided to name her Aluna.:)
xxxSpikexxx
11-28-2007, 07:00 PM
She is really cute. I heard that wood Chips are not good for them. I heard something like this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753656&cp=2767038.2769311&fbn=Taxonomy%7CBedding+%26+Nesting&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769311&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1#prodTab1 or this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753657&cp=2767038.2769311&pg=3&fbn=Taxonomy%7CBedding+%26+Nesting&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769311&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1 Is better for them. Something about the pine fumes or something.
Awwwwww!!! What a little cutie!!!!! :D I've always wanted a hamster but we don't get them here in Australia.
She is really cute. I heard that wood Chips are not good for them. I heard something like this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753656&cp=2767038.2769311&fbn=Taxonomy%7CBedding+%26+Nesting&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769311&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1#prodTab1 or this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753657&cp=2767038.2769311&pg=3&fbn=Taxonomy%7CBedding+%26+Nesting&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769311&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1 Is better for them. Something about the pine fumes or something.
Thanks. I'll try and go out tommorrow to get the other stuff. I heard that the other one reduces the odor too.
PS_ She's been running on her wheel for hours!!! and she loves carrots.
birdieness
11-28-2007, 07:52 PM
I'm scared of them. They are cute but after i got bitten and couldn't get the blood to stop its a huge no no for me. Mm as for name i think it should be peaches. Just look at her color lol
xxxSpikexxx
11-28-2007, 08:01 PM
I have had two hampsters before. One thing you should watch for is she does not get her fur stuck in her wheel. My one hampster got his fur ripped out that way :( He got better though. He had long hair. I hope you have fun with her. There are alot of cute hampster things to buy for her :p
I have had two hampsters before. One thing you should watch for is she does not get her fur stuck in her wheel. My one hampster got his fur ripped out that way :( He got better though. He had long hair. I hope you have fun with her. There are alot of cute hampster things to buy for her :p
Ouch! That's not good.- She has a closed in one so I think that one's ok....she apparently loves it. If only they made one for humans. I got her the food mix and some apple wood pieces. She's been running on the wheel eating carrots, she even knows to go to the place designated as a bathroom that's separate from the cage. I didn't realize how smart they are.:) There is one thing I forgot to get her which is that big ball thingie to roll around in and some other add ons that hook up to the cage. I think she'd like that. Now she's cleaning herself again.:)
OH- Birdiness- The first name I thought of was Peaches but I really like Aluna. It's in Romanian.
This is her cage:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/ALUNA/100_8810.jpg
and two more piccies.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/ALUNA/100_8833.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/ALUNA/100_8823.jpg
Laura
11-28-2007, 09:48 PM
awwww Aly she is lovely, what a cute colour she is, we have had hamsters for years at our house, we only have one at the moment her name is lulu and she is about a year and a half the average life span of a hamster is 2 yrs old but they can and we had one live to 3, I am not looking forward to the day lulu goes as she has been the sweetest hamster we have ever had I should get a pic of our little fur ball :p if you haven't got one I recommend getting one of those little balls to put them in they love to run around all over the house in it and it keeps them safe it is to funny watching them run around in there ball.
Plukie
11-29-2007, 12:05 AM
Yes Spike, I've heard of that happening to long haired hamsters.
I changed my mind....I don't want to call her Aluna. ...still thinking
She needs a cute fluffy sounding name. :p
She needs a cute fluffy sounding name. :p
I agree. She's so tame too!
I love the name Honey!! :D You should use it.
I think so- it comes out much easier. Plus she's sweet like honey!
Cryren8972
11-29-2007, 12:52 PM
What's the best diet for a hamster, I know what they sell in the pet stores isn't always the best for them...I'm getting my daughter who is in college and misses having pets a hamster for Christmas!
From what I've read almost the same as birds applies with minor exceptions. Variety is best. The mix in the store provides a basic (just keeping them alive) but it should be supplemented with fresh foods daily. Boiled egg, a little cheese, bread, grains, corn, carrots, apples...etc..I'll try and find the site where I got most of the info. I know Honey is crazy about carrots and apples so far.
Rosie
11-29-2007, 04:27 PM
Congats on your new addition, I LOVE hammies!! Although I've never had one myself, I would like to have one. Btw - I love the name Honey too :)
birdboykaufman
11-29-2007, 11:37 PM
So cute!
And just to let you know, they have to have wood to chew on, it keeps their teeth from over growing. They can't have strong scented woods like cedar, and pine, its something with the sap. I can't say I've ever owned one, but I know people who do and they said they have to be able to chew on wood.
Just in case you didn't know this I thought it might be helpful:).
So cute!
And just to let you know, they have to have wood to chew on, it keeps their teeth from over growing. They can't have strong scented woods like cedar, and pine, its something with the sap. I can't say I've ever owned one, but I know people who do and they said they have to be able to chew on wood.
Just in case you didn't know this I thought it might be helpful:).
I did get her some apple wood pieces that she likes to chew on.
Here are some more pics:
Her cage which I love because you can take it apart and it's easy to clean. She goes potty in her bathroom at the very top room (the green and blue one)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8915.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8907.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8931.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8917.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8924.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8959.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8881.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_8895.jpg
I think I'm in love! :o
hehe! Isn't she adorable! I never saw myself to be a hamster person but I'm loving her! The way she eats, cleans herself and sleeps is sooo cute! In that one pic I was holding her and gave her a sweet pea-she just took it in both of her hands and started nibbling away!
Laura
11-30-2007, 10:11 PM
I love the pic's in the basket how cute is she...hehe :) hamsters are great you will really enjoy having her ;)
xxxSpikexxx
11-30-2007, 10:15 PM
She is so sweet :D how old is she?
She is so sweet :D how old is she?
I have no clue but according to the store under two months...who knows-they never know anything.
Oh my gosh!!!! Look at her in the basket!!! :D That's got to be one of the sweetest things i've ever seen.
Ok, so I joined this hamster forum..hehe (I'm now part of a cockatiel forum, a budgie forum and a hamster forum). The only one who doesn't get a forum is my betta fishie. Anyways, just an update...
Honey is a cream, banded, longhair Syrian hammy. Here is another piccie.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_9130.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_9123.jpg
I had to take her out of that tree-she was having way too much fun with the decorations! lol
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x144/Gemini2984/HONEY/100_9126.jpg`
xxxSpikexxx
12-02-2007, 12:46 PM
awww too cute :D I want to get Christmas pic's of Spike now. Mabey after shoveling. We got a ton of snow.
Sophia
12-02-2007, 01:25 PM
I think she suites......:D munchies :D
About 2 years ago, we bought 2 russian dwarf hamsters, the pet shop owner said they were both girls:mad: But they ended up as a girl and a boy (we called them bubble and squeek) and they had 4 babies. We kept one so we had three , then my brother wanted one so we bought him one so we had 4 altogether (we took the other 3 babies to a pet store) .
So now we had Bubble & Squeek,Digger(one of the babies) And Martin(my brothers hamster)
Then Bubble and Squeek about 2 months later had 6 babies, we kept one because, we cleaned them out, then the next morning there was only 5 baby hamsters.:eek:
We looked in the cage and he wasn't there so I said he must be in the bin, with the sawdust, that we had cleaned out from the cage the previous day.
We got the bag out and he was at the bottom stone cold :eek: My mum was rubbing him so that he would warm up, and he was alive YAAYY!! :D:D:D:D:D So we put him back in and his mum(squeek) carried him out of the bed and buried him, because she thought he was dead. But he wasn't, so we put him back in the bed and he was having some milk, from his mum :p
So when we took the other 5 to the pet store my mum had to keep him (the one that had been in the bin) because he had spent a night in it.
So we kept him and called him wheelie. So we had 5 hamsters Bubble,Squeek,Digger,Martin & Wheelie.
But Martin died in 2006, and Digger died in the middle of November 2007.
Bubble & Squeek & Wheelie are still alive (Bubble And Squeek are the oldest and are still living)
R.I.P Digger & Martin :(
Rosie
12-02-2007, 01:28 PM
OMG, she is just so adorable!! Is she young, do you know?
OMG, she is just so adorable!! Is she young, do you know?
I'm assuming she is young since she is still small and the petstores keep them together (something they should not do with Syrians when they are adults)-She'll probably grow a little more though.
Laura
12-02-2007, 09:57 PM
OH I am good I said she would be long hair and I said she looked Syrian to me, you didn't need a hamster forum to tell that you had me....lol :p I didn't know about the banded though, all these years of having hamsters and I never even thought to join a hamster forum...hehe
She is defiently young she is a syrian and will get much bigger then that they grow 5-7 inches.
OH I am good I said she would be long hair and I said she looked Syrian to me, you didn't need a hamster forum to tell that you had me....lol :p I didn't know about the banded though, all these years of having hamsters and I never even thought to join a hamster forum...hehe
She is defiently young she is a syrian and will get much bigger then that they grow 5-7 inches.
Hehe! I know. I need confirmation. :p Sorry. I found one called hamster hideout-it has alot of info-since this is all new to me I thought I'd check it out. I realize now the Crittertrail cage will be too small for her..I think-the tubes will be atleast. I am not sure what kind of cage to get her now. I'm thinking a bin cage should be easy to keep clean and nice and big (plus I can always change it around) but then again it'll look ugly in my house-I like things neat..hehe (OCD) ...Maybe a nice size aquarioum..I don't know..
Serenity
12-02-2007, 10:55 PM
I actually joined Hamster Hideout just a few days ago myself. (How coincidental. :O) That and a mouse forum, just wanted to learn some more things about rodents since we're having problems with some of the hamsters where I work... We've lost about seven to wet tail in the past few days. :(
Laura
12-02-2007, 11:02 PM
It will be good for awhile but they do grow quick...lol they usually stop growing at about 6 months, I have had a few cages with the tubes I am not a huge fan of them I found the tubes really hard to clean and take apart on some of the cages, you would be suprised though how even the bigger hamsters can get through those tubes. I have a pretty basic cage for lulu nothing to fancy it has like one second level on it where part of it is covered thats where she usually sleeps I call it her bedroom.
Laura
12-02-2007, 11:07 PM
We've lost about seven to wet tail in the past few days. :(
thats sad, I have only ever had one hamster have wet tail shortly after I brought him home, its most often caused by stress but thankfully I was able to treat him and he was fine
I actually joined Hamster Hideout just a few days ago myself. (How coincidental. :O) That and a mouse forum, just wanted to learn some more things about rodents since we're having problems with some of the hamsters where I work... We've lost about seven to wet tail in the past few days. :(
Oh wow...I'm sorry..My name on there is Honey1
It will be good for awhile but they do grow quick...lol they usually stop growing at about 6 months, I have had a few cages with the tubes I am not a huge fan of them I found the tubes really hard to clean and take apart on some of the cages, you would be suprised though how even the bigger hamsters can get through those tubes. I have a pretty basic cage for lulu nothing to fancy it has like one second level on it where part of it is covered thats where she usually sleeps I call it her bedroom.
I'm kind of mad because the Crittertrail I bought was the bigger one with the top compartment that she uses for her potty and then the next day I got excited and bought the extention 3 pack to add more stuff...About $40 later I realize she probably won't even be able to use it in a little while so I am not sure what to do. I really hate the bin cage look...aquariums have no ventilation and are pretty pricy...wire cages, well...I don't know..I want her to be comfortable-I just wish they didn't tell me she was a dwarf at the store..or that I knew better before. Would you be able to post a pic of Lulu's cage?
Laura
12-03-2007, 12:34 AM
I will get one of her cage and post it her's is pretty basic she is small so she doesn't really need a whole lot of room but she still has lots to do in it ...lol I wouldn't recommend the aquarium as a cage just my opinion I don't know much about the bin cage, I think honey will do just fine in the cage you have already give it some time and see how she grows, I can't believe they told you she was a dwarf hamster...lol I can see she is not just from the picture
Laura
12-03-2007, 12:28 PM
Aly here is a picture of Lulu's cage it has a second level on the one side with a covered dome that she use to sleep in but now she seems to use it for the bathroom...lol and sleeps in the bottom corner all covered up in bedding, she has a wheel her water bottle and I have added a wooden log with different entrances that she likes to run through. she is also let out everyday to roam around in her little ball :)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t42/twinkleandsparkle/IMG_0965.jpg
Thanks for the pic! I will keep her current cage- she seems to like it alot and has plenty of places to go and things to do in it. When she wakes up at night I take her out and she gets some time in her ball also. We'll see how big she gets. Thanks for the help!
Laura
12-03-2007, 03:06 PM
I am glad your going to keep it, she will be fine in it, Lulu is about the 1/3 of the size Honey will be and there is alot more room in your cage and many places for her to go and she has time out of the cage, most of the time hamsters are either sleeping or on there wheel they don't do a whole lot of anything else in there cages ...lol she will not get stuck in any of the tubes you will see ;)
I wasn't going to say anything to anyone-I was hesitant that people would be judgemental but that's ok. I deserve it. I wanted to let everyone know I had to take Honey back to the store. I don't know what happen between the time I got her to now but I developed a serious phobia of her. It's my fault that I didn't think twice or research hamsters completly before I made the decision to bring her home. I was always the one that didn't believe pets should be "returned" or rehomed and they should have forever homes. I still belive that but unfortunetly me not doing my research caused me to go against what I believe. A few days after I got her I became really "disgusted" with her and didn't even want to hold her or let her run around in her ball. She peed and pooed everywhere and I was constantly disinfecting everything with rubbing alchool in fear that I or the birds might get sick from her. I don't know what happened and I will never forgive myself but she deserves a home where she is loved and handled and the owner is not disgusted by her. I felt sick when I was cleaning her cage and I touch bird poop daily with no issues. I can't really explain it but I wanted to post this message so others realize that a pet is forever and it is SOOO important that you do your homework before you bring one into your home. It wasn't fair to her for me to keep her this way so I tried to find another home for her but noane I know wanted her. I called the store and explained and unfortunetly I became one of those dreaded people that returns pets. I didn't want to touch her but I cried when I gave her back. I just felt bad and still do. This was a huge lesson for me on making split second decisions about another life-I should know better. Hamsters are just not for me-I knew that before but I thought it's no big deal and I'd get over it. I didn't and the only one who got hurt was Honey. She's probably wondering what she's doing back at the petstore now...I hope she'll find a home with someone that really loves her and can take care of her properly and not feel like they're holding a disease ridden animal everytime. I know some of you won't understand but I wanted to tell you what happen so others can hopefully think twice before deciding on getting a pet, whether it's a bird, hamster, dog, cat, fish, whatever it is. They all have feelings. I watched her for a long time before I left and she eventually went and cuddled with the other hamsters to take a nap. I hope she'll be ok-she was really sweet.
Oh *hugs*, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you and Honey. But i do think it was better that you were honest with yourself now and took her back. There's no sense in keeping her but being miserable and in turn making her miserable by not wanting to play with her.
Oh *hugs*, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you and Honey. But i do think it was better that you were honest with yourself now and took her back. There's no sense in keeping her but being miserable and in turn making her miserable by not wanting to play with her.
Thanks Bea. It was a really hard decision to make but it was best for both of us.
Laura
12-10-2007, 12:23 AM
Don't worry Aly I am sure Honey will be ok, You couldn't have know at the time that you would feel this way, you did the best thing for her and you ;)
Sophia
12-11-2007, 02:00 PM
So sorry to hear that but she will be ok :) She will find a new home that was just as good as yours :)
kyliesmom07
12-27-2007, 06:19 PM
aww sorry to hear that!
I went to the store yesterday and she wasn't there anymore so I guess someone bought her...
xxxSpikexxx
12-27-2007, 06:49 PM
Well she got a good home then :) no more rodents for you ;)
no more rodents for you ;)
Nope....:rolleyes:
Well, under your conditions I think it would be ok. It was a very unselfish thing to do. At least you didn't keep her in a dirty cage and never hold her. She probably got a good home.:)
I don't hate rodents but I'ld never own one (well I'ld own rabbits, chinchillas, maybe guinea pigs but no others). My friends hamster bit me once. I have been bitten by macaws & toos, but I felt like a hamster was dirtier for some reason, lol. The only ones I'ld keep would be Rabbits, Chinchillas, and maybe Guinea Pigs. They seem nicer. lol
Thanks Tiki. I've been bitten by a macaw as well. It was play bite but MY GOD did it hurt...lol! I don't know what happen but I just should have put more thought into in..I don't mind birds AT ALL and I don't think they're dirty by any means...I guess everyone's different...
I don't know what happen but I just should have put more thought into in..I don't mind birds AT ALL and I don't think they're dirty by any means...I guess everyone's different...
Hamsters do seem, to me, more 'unclean' than most animals. I went round a friends house and she has loads of hamsters, she let me hold one but when it peed on me I didn't wanna know. She also had 3 rabbits and I found them to be very sweet. All of her rabbits were hand-fed by her mum so they were extremely affectionate and were so cuddly. They were a lot nicer and cleaner than the hamsters she had.
when you get bitten by a hamster, you need to put this stuff on it to kill the germs. Bird bites are worse and they can get infected, but not from the birds mouth. Hamsters never seemed that clean to me either, no offense to those who like these animals.
I wish I would have realized it earlier. They seemed so cute at first but then having to live with one was a different story. I was constantly using antibacterial after I touched her stuff and I don't know...it just wasn't for me. Either way, hope she has a better home now with someone that's not phobic...
Laura
12-29-2007, 11:54 AM
Hamsters do seem, to me, more 'unclean' than most animals. I went round a friends house and she has loads of hamsters, she let me hold one but when it peed on me I didn't wanna know.
Hamsters are only unclean if there left that way, you have to change there cages just like you would any other animal if there not cleaned then they can become unclean, I have had lulu a long time and I can honestly say she has never pee'd on me once...lol my birds use me as there toilet :eek: more then the hamster ever has and hamster poop is much easier to clean then many other animals, if we are comparing cleaning cages my hamster cage is much cleaner then my bird cage :p
I've always heard that rodents are supposed to be extremely clean animals, it's just the way they're viewed by a lot of people in society that has given them the reputation of being unclean vermin. I did find myself washing my hands to the point that they dried out when i had mice though, because mum put it into my head how filthy they were. :rolleyes:
It does have alot to do with how clean you keep their cage. I still feel terrible for bringing her home and changing my mind but I had a really hard time. I was cleaning her cage daily with gloves on and I still washed my hands all the time. She was in her ball and would constantly poop and pee and then roll around in it..I don't think that was very hygenic. Sorry Laura, I don't mean anything toward Lulu..I also heard they're very clean but that was a big turn off for me...I guess my ocd played a part in it too...I walk around with antibacterial and I'm constantly cleaning everything..
nic bike
12-29-2007, 06:11 PM
I've always heard that rodents are supposed to be extremely clean animals, it's just the way they're viewed by a lot of people in society that has given them the reputation of being unclean vermin. I did find myself washing my hands to the point that they dried out when i had mice though, because mum put it into my head how filthy they were. :rolleyes:
its strange how people create that image of them being dirty or unclean but compared to my birds my sisters rats extremely clean.
its strange how people create that image of them being dirty or unclean but compared to my birds my sisters rats extremely clean.
I don't know why that is. I couldn't help the way I felt though. I tried for a week to see if maybe it'll get better but it got to the point of me not even wanting to handle her. For some reason bird poop doesn't bother me at all...:rolleyes:
xxxSpikexxx
12-29-2007, 09:36 PM
hamsters do pee alot more than birds though. Iam sure she is happy where she is now :)
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.