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Post by pinky on Apr 28, 2006 14:17:07 GMT -4
Hi crittercrazy,
To answer your question about food, I would recommend feeding your new hams the food they are accustomed to eating now, at least for a while. They will be stressed by the change of environment--new sights, sounds, and smells, etc.--when they become yours, but having the same food might be comforting. Hams can be picky about food too--so go with the sure thing. You want them to eat properly, as they grow SO quickly!
It's very responsible of you to be learning what's best for dwarfs by asking questions on this forum. Keep the questions coming!
You sound so excited! It's great to see pictures already! So cool that you can watch the litter grow and pick out "your" hamsters over time. Looks like those hams will be very pretty.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 28, 2006 18:18:09 GMT -4
Whenever you see problems or bad treatment at a store politely ask to speak to the manager about it; het others to do the same. If a chain store speak to the district manager whom you an find by going to the chain's online site and looking for customer service. Speak out!
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 28, 2006 18:50:16 GMT -4
I have spoken to the manager befoure, I was VERY surprised when he said he doesn't really know anything about hamsters but people want to buy them so they sell 'em!!!!! He can't tell the diference between males and females, I think I'll just avoid the pet shop, and leave it alone.
Yes, it's very fun being able to see them as they grow. I have the person's phone number, e-mail and user name on the forum that I go on.
Food bowls: Will the fight over the food if I leave only one food bowl? And the waterbottle, should I leave the waterbottle and a food bowl filled with water if the other dwarf is very thirsty, just so they don't push eachother off while they're drinking? And also can they choke if they do push?
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 28, 2006 23:10:59 GMT -4
I'll wait for someone's reply..
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 28, 2006 23:29:38 GMT -4
>> I think I'll just avoid the pet shop, and leave it alone. <<
You do that and you condemn the hamsters to bad treatment.
I assume it is not a store that is part of a chain. Otherwise you could complain to the district manager and company president.
I would also complain to Humane societies, ask the SPCA for advice, complain to local newspapers to get the word out about them. Post warning flyers in public places (a library bulletin board). Etc.
Don't worry about those feeding and drinking issues. When I scatter food to let them have fun foraging SOMETIMES one stands on top of the other who squawks. That is NOT a fight, just dominance stuff. Everybody gets their food. I have never seen them push around the water spout, although now that you mention it I never saw them drinking together as I often see with gerbils and mice.
As I posted elsewhere, use a bowl, but also scatter a little mix. I have five (had six) females in one bin with one spout and one bowl; never had a problem, although I also scattered a little mix in a few different places.
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Post by megs on Apr 29, 2006 5:31:36 GMT -4
I only have one water bottle for my 3 Dwarfs, and I've never seen them pushing each other around when they want a drink, or fighting over it.
And the food dish, I have one large one, and then there's little tiny built-in one, that I think is too small. I've also been scattering food around the cage and the girls seem to love digging for it, or climbing up onto the yellow platform. It is very cute though, to watch all three of them attempt to squeeze into the food bowl at the same time! Amazingly, they don't sqwak at each other when attempting to get into the food dish.
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 29, 2006 13:44:17 GMT -4
Okay, cool! Thanks A LOT! But if anyone had ideas for names It'd be really helpfull!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 29, 2006 17:45:02 GMT -4
I have named scores and scores and have no more ideas - why I recently asked Megs to name my deceased dwarf (Gareth). Maybe Megs can help you, or you can try www.petnamesworld.com/. |
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 29, 2006 19:24:07 GMT -4
Aw.. Lol! You copied my bunny pic.. xD
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 29, 2006 19:26:48 GMT -4
And I just thought of Skater... But I need to name his brother too, but I think I'll wait and check out the hamster's personalities then name them!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 29, 2006 19:40:20 GMT -4
That is always best.
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 29, 2006 19:43:00 GMT -4
Yes... Also, I'm a little worried, I don't know if I'll really like the way the hamsters will look... I've never had a red eyed hamster, and I don't know how they'll look and how they'll behave and all..
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 29, 2006 19:58:40 GMT -4
I like them all. What else can I say. . . except they will be your responsibility regardless, and they will depend on you for a good life.
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Post by crittercrazy on Apr 29, 2006 20:01:12 GMT -4
I don't know which litter to pick... I have about 3 choices.. Soon I'll have 6 and they are all cute!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 29, 2006 20:03:05 GMT -4
I'd take them all. But that is just me. I find there is minimal difference in caring for one - or several.
I really gotta go, and eat!
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