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Post by megs on Apr 27, 2006 3:40:10 GMT -4
Dwarf hamsters are weaned faster than Syrians, so you can probably bring home your hamster in about a week and half or so. I think by 25-28 days old they are ready to go. Be sure to have a nice cage set up before hand. A tub or aquarium works really well. Sometimes cages meant for larger Syrians have bars spaced too far apart for Dwarfs and they can squeeze through and escape Don't want that! You are lucky to be able to get one at such a young age. But really - try... TRY to get a pair of them. Your hamster will be so much happier and friendlier with a cage-mate. I think sharing a cage makes a Dwarf hamster a little less territorial. If your parents are absolutely firm that you may only get one Dwarf, then I guess one dwarf it will be. But it's best to NOT attempt an introduction of a new Dwarf at a later time. It's not a good idea to attempt this if you don't have previous experience with Dwarfs and Dwarf introductions. Really though, if you explain to your parents that you've done some research and learned how much happier they are with a littermate, and that it's not easy to introduce a strange new Dwarf to a Dwarf that has lived alone, would another little Dwarf really be too much trouble? The biggest trouble you could experience from this is getting a boy and girl, instead of two boys or two girls. But caring for two Dwarfs is really not that much different than caring for one. The only difference you might notice is that they squabble a bit and "talk" to each other I am happy to hear that you are infact joining many of us in the joys of Dwarf ownership. If you have any questions at all, please, post away, that's what we're here for
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 18:33:40 GMT -4
I have one little problem, my mom is upset because my syrian is aperently trying to drill a hole through the bottom of his cage, we know he can't but he is so LOUD that when I put his cage out in the hallway (in our house) I can hear him from my bedroom! I don't think they'll mind another dwarf since they are pretty tiny, but I'm worried about getting two that are of opposite sex!! By the way, I got the pictures today ^-^ . Befoure I post them though, keep in mind that this guy is the smallest in the litter... And I don't know who's hand that is xP .. Anyway here he/she is! We think, they are around 9-14 days old, but we're not completly sure, anyway I'll get two boys!! I managed to convince my parents it's better off that way, they nodded and agreed although they arn't too happy about so many hamsters. One more question though, will the small critter trail cages be okay for two dwarf hams?
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Post by megs on Apr 27, 2006 18:59:05 GMT -4
I've never owned a crittertrail, so I can't be too sure. DF would be the best to answer this, as he has used many different types of cages and habitats. He'll be around soon I'm sure. I'm glad they don't mind that you get two. Really, they will be so much better off. Cute pictures!! The little guy in the picture looks like an Argente (brown/grayish colouring), like Scarlet, but he may have black eyes. Can't tell yet. When I have more time, I'll find a good site that can teach you how to sex the Dwarfs before you pick them out. It's not too hard, basically it looks like females have "one hole" or two very very close together, and males have two holes further apart. We can help you with this and give you more suggestions later. DF is more experienced at it then I am. I'm very excited for you. Now about your Syrian... make sure he has alot of other things to chew on, like toilet paper rolls or small cardboard boxes, and that he's getting out for playtime so he doesn't get bored. Hopefully that will lessen his need to chew on his cage. Another suggestion. Put him in the closet when you're sleeping. Often, if they can't see any light at all and it's completely dark, they don't chew quite as bad. Hope this helps
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 19:26:15 GMT -4
Yes, thanks!
I'm excited and worried... I hope the two dwarfs won't fight or anything like that... T_T. It's be so sad if they killed eachother or something! But anyway, I can't wait to get my two hams!!
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Post by megs on Apr 27, 2006 19:41:00 GMT -4
It is unlikely that Dwarf littermates will fight to the point of it being dangerous. Expect squabbles, with lots of squaking at each other. The may fight a little. Just be aware so they don't hurt each other. If you see any blood, separate them.... but I doubt this will happen. My dwarfs squabble all the time, but none of them get hurt in the end. This is just their interaction
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 19:43:23 GMT -4
Ok!! I am so excited! The person said she thinks they all have red eyes, but she's not too sure! Aw.. I can't wait to get mine!~
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Post by megs on Apr 27, 2006 20:03:46 GMT -4
If possible, try to get two that look slightly different, so it's easier to tell them apart
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 20:13:18 GMT -4
Yes, I will try and the girl is takeing a few more pictures for me, of all of them. My syrian though, has his food that says it's for hamsters and guineapigs, can my soon-to-be-new dwarfs share it with him [likeeat the same food but in a diff. cage?]
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 27, 2006 21:07:04 GMT -4
Expect dwarfs to "squabble": one stands on the other's belly with two legs and the bottom one squawks louidly. A dominance thing. I have never seen an injuries from this. It is WAY different from an actual fight in which the screaming is much louder and they BALL UP trying to bite.
When one gets dwarfs from the same litter they can be very tame - but they are often hard to tell apart. That is the one downside of same litter dwarfs. . . as you will see when I post my photos.
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 21:37:16 GMT -4
Okay, but, what about the cage? What cage do you reccomend? Are the small [dwarf] crittertrail ones alright?
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 27, 2006 21:48:20 GMT -4
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 27, 2006 21:56:01 GMT -4
>> will the small critter trail cages be okay for two dwarf hams? << You never can tell. I already posted photos that are relevant in this thread: READ THISI have had a very few Syrians gnaw a hole through the side of a thick Sterlite 30 gallon bin. Very rare. I had one pop the hinge on the explorer of a Habitrail and get out. But I never had a dwarf do THIS before. Maybe if the habitat was kept in a box so that there was less light around the sides which attracts the hamster. Dwarfs can easily go up the big vertical tube of a Crittertrail2. I've seen it here. Most of mine live in Habitrails with many tubes and add ons and they have never tried to gnaw out. it depends on the ham, dwarf or Syrian. Keep watching. But usually it will be OK.
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 28, 2006 0:18:48 GMT -4
I can't wait!! I'm so excited! I have to wait two weeks though, but I'll be getting pictures almost daily, to see how they grow and which one I want! Also, I have to know, do I put two food bowls in their cage or just one and they'll share?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 28, 2006 4:17:28 GMT -4
One. But it seems if you also scatter some food around it then they will be happier - they love to forage. Mine take sunflower seeds from my hands. Only a few!
Mine also like a little brocolli, ocasional scrambled eggs, a bit of cheddar cheese (not too much), and spray millet (that stuff they give to birds that looks like a piece of branch).
Cut way back on any sweets, fruits, and such as Cheerios - they all make dwarfs more prone to diabetes.
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Post by megs on Apr 28, 2006 9:05:30 GMT -4
Wow! Nice pictures! They all look like Argentes! Amazing. Such are genetics! Perhaps you can tell them apart by eye colour. There are both black eyed and red-eyed Argente vaieties.
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