[Hamster Tales Part 5]
The story so far: I have acquired a pair of female Roborovski hamsters. They’re skittish as hell. I allow them to settle in without interference as start of the taming process. But they get territorial and fight, so I give them a big new cage with new toys. The trauma of being in a new environment makes them forget their feud and they kiss and make up by the end of the day.
Day 5
Sunday, 30 Dec 2007
I think introducing Picnic and Pixie to their new playground has traumatised them back to square one. They’re so terrified (or disapproving) of the new place that they’ve been huddled together in the basement corner of the Pink Princess Castle an entire day and night.
It’s now 2 am and they’re still not coming out to play.
I’ll have to wait another three days, let them get back their sense of security, before taming can start.
The first three days, I didn’t give them a roofed house (most hamster guides say that dwarf hamsters need those) because the castle didn’t have room for a house like that.
So, when I bought the new cage, I also bought a proper house for them to sleep in. It cost me $22.
They’re not sleeping in it.
They prefer to bury themselves under a pile of shavings and tissue in the castle basement.
I hope it’s because they’re still wary of the new cage and don’t dare to sleep in there yet. It’s possible they will migrate later. I’ve read that hamsters are fond of changing their sleeping spots every so often.
My little princesses are also still pooping in the wheel and in the food dish.
I read through six pages of a poop thread in the hamster forum. It seems like only 20% of hamsters are conscientious clean freaks and will poop in one logical designated spot. Most hamsters just poop wherever they feel like pooping at the moment.
Oh, well, not a big deal. Hamster poop is so tiny you can hardly see it, anyway. It’s like the size of a small ant. And there’s no smell.
I don’t know where they are peeing, though. Wherever it is they’re doing it, it gets soaked up before I can see it. I hope not where they’re sleeping or that’ll be really disgusting.
Picnic has appointed a new dining room in the castle. She has decided that the best place to eat is in the wheel, since she’s already pooping in there.
Yes, it makes perfect sense to eat and poop and play in the same spot. Then you can stay put and don’t have to waste time travelling anywhere else for hours and hours and hours.
So Picnic brings all her food into the wheel.
I bet she will drag her water bottle into the wheel, too, if she can figure out how to.
Sometimes she sits there and eats quietly. Sometimes she holds the food in her mouth and runs.
Sometimes she leaves the food on the floor of the wheel and runs and the food makes an awful rattle as it spins around the wheel.
Sweet little Pixie rolls her eyes and sighs with resignation.
Next Chapter: Tissue Thief
Awww…they look so cute!
I wanna go your place to look at them, and Good Luck with the taming!
Minou: Thanks! I’m sure you’ll get a chance to see them soon! :) But then if you come in the day time, they always sleeping and hidden under tissue so you can’t see them. lol.
Well, if you install SCV and wireless internet hor, maybe the hamsters will like the new home better?
Monster,
Now I want hamsters too! And guinea pigs and rabbits! I want fluffy animals!!! But Greyee will think I’m mad and the apartment is too small for anymore pets!
Hmm, you might wanna check on the hammie forums if tissue’s ok for them. BTW, do you feed them hay? Hay’s actually part of a balanced diet for rodents and they should have free access to hay. Grass hay like timothy, bermuda, orchard grass, is preferred to alfalfa hay.
I am waiting for the Hamster Tales to turn into a book and a film. I imagine:
“20th Century Fox is proud to bring you ‘Sisters’… A touching tale of sisterhood that will make you laugh and cry. A story of the trauma of two refugees thrust into a new world. A world where $22 homes are rejected for the old comforts of pee-soaked shavings, where food and tiny poop gets mixed up in the great wheel of life…”
Here’s what reviews will say:
“A family blockbuster…” – The Straits Times
“I laughed and cried…” – The New York Times
“So cute!” – Kawaii News
QY, it’s really a joy reading your blog… You have no idea how your entries (except those dark entries) brighten my days and cheer me up!
Luv u!
/muack
/hug
You’re a great writer. One day, could you teach me how to write such that I can attract more visitors to my blog? Sorry about my comment spree. I just can’t help it. Just have to voice my thoughts.
JayWalk: Oh, that’s a brilliant idea. Why didn’t I think of that?
Monster: Yeah, but I’m sure Greyee won’t deny you anything you truly wanted. :P
Derrick: I used tissue because that’s what the hammie forum recommended! It says hamsters like toilet or tissue paper. I used tissue because I feel iffy about using toilet paper that’s been sitting in the toilet.
I bought wheatgrass hay for them. I hope that’s ok.
Jesta: Very funny. :) I like the Kawaii News review. Haha. Well, I guess a hamster animated movie would be great. I think hamsters are way cuter than penguins anyway.
Wang Wang: AWw, thanks for saying that! YOu make my day, too! :) *hugkisslickcuddle*
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-: Thanks for the compliment! I think you write pretty well, too. :) I don’t think I’m all that qualified to teach anyone how to write, lol, but maybe I’ll do a post on that some day to share what I know. :)
You just know that someone, somewhere is writing a bloody hamster movie. We had mice and dogs so hamsters are the next logical choice.
Hey, aside from movies, hamsters are now penetrating the games industry too. I actually got 1 for the DS which I tried because of these hamster articles… LOL. :D
Jesta: I hope Disney makes it. I love Disney animation!
modchip: Really? What hamster game is that?
It’s called “Hamstez Life 2” — It’s a pet (hamster) simulation game. Go hunt it down. Heheheh.
Oh yeah, here’s a link: http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/hamsterzlife2/index.html?tag=result;title;0
modchip: Oh. But I don’t like pet simulations. I got bored with Nintendogs after an hour and never went back to it again. lol.
LOL. Yeah, I know, it gets old after a few hours.
they are so cute!
Wheatgrass is fine.
modchip: So are you bored with the hamster sim, yet?
rn: Thanks! :)
Derrick: Great! :)