Tafit Pet Sleek Little Sandbath (SLS)
Tafit Pet recently gifted me this sleek little sandbath (I’ve now dubbed the “SLS”) to give a try. I have to admit, at first, I didn’t really get it. It just looked like a little, plastic, container, and while I know those work well as sandbaths, I didn’t know what special features it contained that a simple Pyrex dish couldn’t do.
And see- this is why giving this a try is helpful!
I recently gave Lester the robo a little bin-cage upgrade. He has been in a christmas tree bin, the bin he came in, since I got him a few months ago. I upgraded his enclosure a bit since he arrived with some nice, cozy cardboard boxes, a Niteangel corner shelf & corner sandbath. And then I just left him alone to get comfortable.
Fast forward a month or two and I decided it was time to upgrade his situation to more permanent items (like the used, Nitenagel, wooden, multichamber hide I recently scored from Mercari), plus some Niteangel & Tafit Pet peep sheds. I thought I was done with the upgrades and then I found myself looking at the little sandbath from Tafit Pet thinking, “… hmm, where can I add this in too?”
I decided that little Lester was missing a coconut fiber digging area, so I filled the little sandbath with coconut fiber, some dried flowers and seeds, and placed it on top of one of the peep sheds.
The sleek, little Tafit Pet Sandbox at work in Lester’s Christmas tree bin (well, in this case, it’s a coconut fiber digging box)
A zoomed-out view of Lester’s Christmas Tree Bin
Here’s why I love it:
it’s super lightweight. Like lighter than you could even imagine. I like light things when it comes to hamsters because you don’t have to worry about them falling and injuring your hamster. It’s one of the main reasons I’ve been moving away from Pyrex in my enclosures and switching to acyrlic sandbaths instead.
It’s accessible! has a cute little step to get in! Getting in and out of sandbaths can be an issue, particularly for tiny guys like robos. The little ridges around the edge also seem to help Lester effortlessly climb in and out of this little digging area all night long (as I can see from my Wyze cam footage!)
It’s spill-proof - it has a little lip around the edge to keep all the sand (or in my case, coconut fiber) in the dish.
it’s easy to clean! The interior part is removable so you can lift it out for easy cleaning! Voila!
It’s amazing what a few items can do to improve a lackluster bin-cage set up!
Including a full list of everything in his current set up below for your reference.
What kind of sand-bath do you use?
Items in Lester’s Bin:
Christmas Tree Bin (NOW available, but only through Christmas!): https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Sterilite-Clear-Base-with-Red-Lid-Tree-Box-19876620/318528650
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Niteangel Snacks!
Dexter the hybrid dwarf hamster enjoys a Niteangel Cheerio during playpen time
Niteangel was nice enough to send me some of their new snack line recently, so of course, I had to do a full taste test!
The snacks come in a variety of flavors. I have six, but I’m seeing other flavors on their website I don’t have in my collection (okra, tofu & worms!).
I’m a cheerleader for Niteangel Snacks!
I thought I would do some amazing taste test where I put the snacks down and the hamsters just go crazy tasting each one… BUT! Turns out hamsters don’t love being filmed while eating out in the open. Of course! They’re prey animals! So the taste test was mostly little hams, running around, nibbling here and there. The real taste test didn’t come until I put the snacks in the playpen and let them snack at their leisure (see above image of Dexter realizing the joys of Cheerios, or another video of Dexter enthusiastically snacking on the Niteangel Freeze Dried Peas).
Regardless of how “successful” my taste test was, the point is, I actually love these snacks - for many reasons!
Veggie Based & Healthy (ish)
Outside of the Cheerios, the Nitenangel snacks are veggie based and healthy! These are not your sugary, yogurt-drops of olden, hamster care days. They are fun and interesting for your hamster but still not a bad snack for them to snack on.
*a note- Cheerios aren’t specifically un-healthy, but dwarf hamsters can be diabetes prone and so should limit the amount of refined carbs they intake. A baby puff or a Cheerio during bonding time won’t hurt, but I wouldn’t recommend too many Cheerios at once or every day of the week.
a Great Way to Have Veggies Anytime
I try to feed my hamsters fresh veggies and fruit when I can. However, sometimes life gets busy. I'm working a lot of hours, I don’t have time to wash tiny, hamster plates, I don’t have any fresh veggies in my fridge, etc etc. I love that this is a great way to have veggies anytime, without worry of them growing mold when carried off to a burrow.
Variety of Flavors in Appropriate Quantities
I’m sure we’ve all done the over-buying hamster treat thing - for example, wanting to buy your hamsters some in-shell peanuts but end up buying a five pound bag (okay, I’ve done this…). Not to worry with these treats- the Niteangel snacks come in cute, little manageable tins with enough to keep your hams happy, but not so much that you’re making a five-year investment in this particular snack.
The reasonable quantities mean you can try a wide range of flavors and see what your ham likes best!
Unique, Freeze Dried Snacks
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see a ton of freeze-dried veggie snacks out there for hamsters. I like that this is a unique offering! It’s super crunchy and I’m sure it is fun to eat for our little, gnaw-oriented friends, but it’s also soft enough that elderly hamsters (who maybe don’t have the jaw or tooth strength they once did) would be able to enjoy too.
Great For in-Cage or Out-of-Cage Snacking
If you are new to hamster-ing, you might not have built up an arsenal of hamster-snacks yet… but you wil soon, hehe, don’t you worry! New flavors and textures are not only enriching and stimulating to your hamster, but they can also be a great addition to bonding time with your hamster.
As you may have realized, a major part of hamster enrichment is built around hunting, gathering & storing food. Hamsters love to explore new tastes and textures. Having that experience be a part of their time with you can help build that special, human-hamster bond.
In Conclusion…
You might notice your hamsters don’t immediately seem interested in a particular snack. Leave it around in a playpen space for them. Maybe after a few exposures to it, you’ll find that they eventually pick one up and cart it off to a cozy, safe corner to nibble on it.
Hamsters can be picky about what they will or will not eat (like any of us), and sometimes it takes a while for them to build a taste for a new item. I’ve also seen hamsters who really like one particular snack for several months, then suddenly decide they are no longer interested in it and move onto something new. This is why I recommend having a wide variety of treats & snacks for your hamsters - getting some of the Niteangel Snacks is a great way to add variety to your cupboard!
Do you have any favorite treats you use during playpen or bonding time? Please leave me a comment!
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Bucatstate Pumpkin treats have arrived!
The pumpkins are here, and the timing couldn’t be better!
What a fun way to add taste variety and enrichment into your hamster’s life. Bonus- great for fall-themed photoshoots!
I got these adorable little pumpkins by winning an Instagram contest! But honestly, if I hadn’t, I would have bought these… they are TOO cute!
Wee Peggy poses while nibbling on the pumpkin-flavored pumpkin treat from Bucatstate
The pumpkin-shaped treats come in two flavors, pumpkin & broccoli. They are very light and seem to be freeze dried. They are great treats, particularly for elderly hamsters who might have difficulty chewing.
My particular set of hamsters seem to be less interested in broccoli, but I have had many dwarves and robos who LOVED broccoli, so, hard to say what your hamster might prefer, but regardless, worth it just for the photos!
Also functions as a climbing toy :)
Pumpkin flavor box
Broccoli flavor box
The pumpkins come individually wrapped so they stay fresh until they are ready for use!
… the cutest little pumpkin though, is definitely Peggy
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Support Happy horizons hamster haven’s fall auction!
If you are in the market for some holiday gifting and want to support a great cause, I highly recommend checking out the Happy Horizons Hamster Haven’s Fall Auction!
The auction goes until 11/16, all bids start at just $1!
I’m not sure if international shipping is available, but please inquire if you are outside of the US and looking to participate :)
Pumpkin or Hamster? 🐹
The pumpkins are ready for picking over at the hamster pumpkin patch! The hamsters enjoy doing their best pumpkin impression while snacking… I think they have an unfair advantage given their natural, round shape :)
Want to create your own pumpkin patch?
Sunflower Head from Oakwood Forest Shop (in the “build your own box” option)
Foraging pumpkins from Hungry Hammies Shop on Etsy
Sheet Moss from Galapagos on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BQCtNM
*as an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases
When in doubt, Stack ‘em!
Hi Friends!
If you listen to my podcast, you’ll know I recent adopted a one-eyed fluffball from Happy Horizons Hamster Haven! Her name is Lemonade and she is TOO FUN. More on her soon.
I needed to figure out how to better maximize my space in my hamster room and discovered the Ikea Lagkaptel Olov! It’s the PERFECT size for stacking 200 qt bins!
I got mine off of Facebook Marketplace for a great deal (bonus- no assembly required!) I highly recommend!
Ikea Lagkapten Olov (47” width): https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lagkapten-olov-desk-white-s79416770/
The Ikea Olov in action! Little Stan on the bottom, Lemonade on the top!
How do you keep your hamster rooms organized? Do you have any fav furniture or accesories?
Feeling Lucky this Fall :D
Um, apparently it’s been over a month since I last posted here. WHAT HAPPENED! How is Fall almost over!?
Well, the good news is I just uploaded some photos from my fall themed playpen and mmm, can I say it? I have some cute hamsters! Okay I said it. But just FYI, I also think your hamsters are cute too. I love them all. Especially when they are surrounded by pumpkins :)
Dexter is really living up the fall life
Tafit Pet (https://amzn.to/48d8xHz) gifted me a box with a few new items that just hit their Amazon store - including their new & improved wheel (https://amzn.to/4dTavOH) , a super sleek little sand bath (https://amzn.to/3Ytt9ba) & a ceramic hide that ties back to their honey pot collection (https://amzn.to/3Ytt9ba ).
The honey pot items fit in perfectly with my orange & green themed playpen this month, so the hams got to enjoy the spacious & cute new hide!
More on the other new Tafit Pet items coming soon, but for now, please enjoy some fall themed hamsters !
Maurice shows us how spacious the Tafit Pet Honey Pot Ceramic Hide is!
…he thinks he can sneak away without me realizing…
“no more photos pls”
“oo! a flax seed”
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Niteangel Vista size Large Cage tour!
Hey Friends!
I FINALLY completed my Niteangel Vista Size L Cage Tour!
I started this video almost two years ago when I first got the Vista Size L! I filmed myself putting it together and imagined that one day I’d share it with the world… and here it FINALLY is! Yipee!
I don’t even consider a cage set-up “complete” as I’m constantly trying to come up with new and creative ways to keep my hamsters active & engaged. BUT, I hope sharing this tour and assembly of the Niteangel Vista size L is helpful to you if you’re a new hamster owner, and older hamster owner, or in the market for a hamster enclosure… I highly recommend the Vista! I LOVE it!
Products featured on today's tour (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Niteangel Vista (I recommend size L or M, tour is of size L): https://amzn.to/3AiJHJB
Niteangel Vista Wheels: https://amzn.to/46GLyUr
Wyze Cam V3: https://amzn.to/3yuqaFw
Magnets (to hold Wyze cam in place): https://amzn.to/4dieWTC
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Paper Bedding: https://amzn.to/3YBvnFW
Small Pet Select Paper Bedding: https://amzn.to/3LZtMTa
Niteangel Paper Bedding: https://amzn.to/3LXSdAk
Niteangel Water Bottle, Clear Plastic & White: https://amzn.to/46GEoQ1
Hamster Ceramic Water Bowl: https://amzn.to/3SJ4pZj
Niteangel Platform: (currently, 12" is not available) https://amzn.to/3M0aHjq or here from the Niteangel website
Bucatstate Cactus Hide: https://amzn.to/4dyjNQn
Zoo Med Medium Cork Flat: https://amzn.to/3YVoFLt
Straw Tunnel from Happy Hamstery: currently out of stock, but you can see other lovely items for sale here: https://www.happyhamstery.com/store
similar from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3ApUZvq
Niteangel Peep Shed size S: https://amzn.to/4chHg7s
Acrylic Tray (for Coconut Fiber digging area): https://amzn.to/3WW3Gqg
Loose Coconut Fiber: https://amzn.to/3WWkfT6 or https://amzn.to/4fA91e9
Niteangel Loose Hamster Flowers (sprinkled throughout cage and in loose coconut fiber): https://amzn.to/3WH1h1p
Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hide, size Small, 6 Room - https://amzn.to/4ddXr6J
Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hide Stilts: https://amzn.to/3WYIO0z
ReptiSand (sand used for sand baths): https://amzn.to/33XaBaa
Sand Bath Tray (acrylic or Pyrex work great!): https://amzn.to/3HpDji4
Acrylic riser from The Container Store (this keeps your sand bath supported so your ham can burrow under It safely!): https://bit.ly/3gslHqa
Adhesive Cork (I put cork on top of my acrylic rises so they are less slippery): https://amzn.to/3JdcvT3
Refrigerator Organizer (from Target)
Bucatstate Snake Bridge: https://amzn.to/4cl58qK
Bucatstate Star Bridge: https://amzn.to/3Aa603V
Niteangel Elephant (no longer avail, but similar): https://amzn.to/3AiN3wb
Niteangel Birch Tunnel: (no longer avail, but similar): https://amzn.to/3yz8dpg
Eaton Hemp Bedding: https://amzn.to/3WX2EKO
Zoo Med Sand Blasted Grapevine Wood: https://amzn.to/3YVqzf5
Lotus Pod Boredom Breaker: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1679610191/lotus-pods
Whimzee Small Alligator Chews: https://amzn.to/3WxQtCC
Sphagnum Moss: https://amzn.to/4dlcLik
Eufy by Anker Cordless Handheld Vacuum: https://amzn.to/3yuGTsh
Niteangel Flower Sprays: https://amzn.to/3ynzNpz
Niteangel Seed Sprays: https://amzn.to/46DQucX
Oakwood Forest Sprays: https://www.oakwoodforestshop.com/category/all-products
Barred Cages for Hamsters, no more?
Hello Hamster Friends!
If you’ve been listening to my podcast, you know I recently came across a troubling post from Hamster Info Ireland about barred cages - apparently they can be quite dangerous for our little hamster friends!
To see the post about a hamster in their care who lost a leg after it was tangled and stuck in a barred cage, click here.
Hamster Info Ireland now suggests that if you have a barred cage, you should cover the bars with something like cardboard, cork or acrylic.
I personally do not use barred cages with my hamsters, although I have used Critter Trails in the past for travel or as a medical cage. There are a lot of benefits to using a barred cage when in the car (good airflow, less risk of overheating, able to adhere a water bottle and wheel to the bars), and I’m not sure where I stand currently for those situations.
For now, I do think I’ll be removing any barred cages from my “suggested” enclosures.
Do you use barred cages for your hamster (like the Prevue 528)? What are your thoughts?
Vote for Dexter!
Hi Hamster Friends!
Today I entered a photo of Dexter into a pet photo contest with my local Humane Society.
If you’d like to vote (each vote costs $1, proceeds go to the Humane Society), you can do so here!
Wouldn’t it be cool to spread hamster awareness by having a hamster win a photo contest!? #goals
Vote for me!
Episode 4 is up!
Hello hamster friends!
Episode 4 is up! You can check it out on Spotify or YouTube!
Some notes & links from today's episode:
Justice for the 318 one year anniversary:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Justice-For-318/61552230294140/
https://www.bonfire.com/store/justice-for-318/
Happy Hamstery: https://www.happyhamstery.com/store
Lotus Pods on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1679610191/lotus-pods
Bucatstate Hamster Flower Mix: https://amzn.to/4dsgo5o
Tafit Pet Honey Pot Sand Bath & Bowl: https://amzn.to/46yI8mW
Adirondack Mini Chair: https://www.etsy.com/listing/957790975/miniature-adirondack-chair-i-unfinished
Niteangel Items: https://www.niteangelpet.com/
Corner Platform: https://amzn.to/4caOTMX
Sand Bath: https://amzn.to/3LLn5DU
Snacks: https://amzn.to/3LM45Fc
Paper Bedding: https://amzn.to/3yiZmrH
Flowers: https://amzn.to/3ypyshL
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
List of rescues you can volunteer for & other FB rehoming groups: https://www.rachelgothamsters.com/adopting-or-surrendering-a-hamster
Other resources / communities you can get involved with: https://www.rachelgothamsters.com/resources
Rescue of the week: Duchess Hamster Rescue in Florida - go give them some love https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561727153294&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Thanks for joining me on my hamster care journey!
Music by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/hx2mwp/
Justice for the 318
One year ago today, 318 small animals were driven from the San Diego Humane Society to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona claimed to have rehomed the animals at small animal rescues in the area… however, no small animal rescue reported receiving 318 small animals.
When it was clear something was off, demands to learn the truth revealed that the animals were actually sold to a snake food company. The animals who were bred to be pets were left in hot vans in 106 degree F heat then frozen to become food.
While I understand that snakes need to eat, illegally selling animals who are supposed to be under your care is clearly unethical. Even at that- animals meant to be eaten still deserve to live in dignity and respect; they deserve to live lives free of suffering.
A member of the small animal community has created a Facebook group to continue awareness and to help fundraise for small animal rescues. If you’d like to buy a t-shirt or hat from their Bonfire campaign, you can view it here.
To join their cause and help fight for basic animal rights, you can join it here.
Bucatstate Ceramic Tree Stump Collection
Hello Hamster Friends!
Bucatstate was lovely enough to gift me two items from their “Tree Stump” ceramic collection - the large, ceramic hide, AND the ceramic water bottle + stand.
Both are really nice- great quailty, sturdy, and nice to look at!
I hope these reviews are helpful to you!
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Purchases
Bucatstate Hamster Sandbath & Ladder
Hi Friends!
I did another review! This time of an adorable little sand bath I recently got from Bucatstate - it’s working out so well for my Roborovski hamster, Peggy!
What is your sand bath of choice?
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Innodove Love
Okay, I’m officially obsessed with Innodove!
Have you seen their Etsy store??
I got a few items for the summer-themed hamster playpen… and I love them!
Innodove Custom Ice Cream Truck
Have you ever shopped at Innodove? What did you think?
Zoo Med Sand-Blasted Grape Vine
Hey Hamster Friends!
I decided to do a new thing I’m calling “Product Spotlight” - highlighting products I’ve owned and loved and doing short product reviews for them to help new hamster owners (or old hamster owners!) decide if the product is right for them!
Today’s video is about the Zoo Med Sand-Blasted Grapevine in Size Medium. I’ve purchased a few of these throughout the years and they have always made great additions to my hamster set ups. It’s fun watching my hamsters try to climb on them or use them in different ways.
I also love how each one is different each time I order - it really makes it a fun surprise to see what shape you’ll get!
The grapevine serves as an easy way to add “clutter” to your hamster cage instantly!
Do you use sand-blasted grapevine in your hamster set-ups? How do you like it?
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Goodnight, tiny Miles
Tiny Miles posed for me while he enjoyed some time in the playpen
If you have been listening to my podcast, you probably already heard the news - little Miles passed away a few weeks ago on May 29th, 2024.
It was both happy & sad. Prior to his passing he made enormous strides, in both coming out of his shell and spinning & pacing significantly less.
I honestly didn’t think I’d see this kind of progress from him - he had been with me for about 5 months and the spinning & pacing seemed to only escalate. I suppose after almost a year in a small, pet-store cage, taking 4-5 months to detox seems reasonable!
He was the only hamster I had no photos of… until May 21st, when he popped out of his nest mid-day, hopped into a transport cup and happily snacked, sniffed & groomed in the playpen. If I got close to the playpen he would start pacing and spinning again. So I left him to his own devices and watched from afar. I couldn’t believe it! He continued to come out every day, each day getting a little braver, with body language clearly more relaxed, even if I was around.
This lasted for a little over a week. I was so happy to see him, to see how much progress he had made, to feel that contented feeling of giving a hamster the home they needed.
And then one day, he didn’t come out.
Had it been any other week, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. I hardly saw the guy! But after one day of not seeing him, I knew. And there he was, his sweet, tiny little bod, buried in his nest.
It’s bittersweet to see a hamster make so much emotional progress and then lose them, right as they get there. But at least I can know that he was happy & relaxed at the end, after such a stressful beginning.
I wish I could say I knew Miles more. I don’t feel like I knew his quirks, his likes or dislikes. He seemed to like flax seeds, like most hamsters, and freeze dried tofu. But otherwise, the sadness I feel is knowing I didn’t really get to know him.
One thing I do know is that he reminded me of Steven and Oscar, my other husky / white faced Roborovski hamsters who came before. They were also very shy and skiddish in the beginning, and, like Miles, unbelievably cute. Sometimes I would marvel at how a creature like this just exists in the world. We didn’t breed them, we didn’t even interact with them much until the 1990s (Roborovski hamsters, that is). And here one is, in my office, doing impossibly cute things all day long.
The world is a mysterious and magical place!
Sleep well, my little Miles.
Gotta love those little robo legs!
Thor’s Celebration of Life
Welp, it happened! I hosted my very first, hamster, “Celebration of Life”.
It was nice. And lovely to have a real, event, to mark the occasion and feel like I honored little Thor for all that he was.
I wish I would have, could have, done this for my other hamsters. They died in a time when I was still heavily avoiding people, thanks to COVID, and also, a bit displaced as I bounced around from job to job.
I buried my first five hamsters at my parent’s house, underneath some rhododendrons in their garden. Finding time, between working 2+ jobs and feeling so sad every time I thought about their deaths really made me delay their burials. I feel like I did it hastily, trying hard not to cry and just get it over with.
Having a party, in this case, really did help me feel closure. “Closure” - in the sense that I feel content, happy with the life he had with me, happy with the moments I had with him, accepting the fact that his life has come to an end and now he lives in my garden & memories.
I’ll definitely be doing this in the future, and I’ll definitely be getting more Custom grave stones from Innodove on Etsy! How cute is it!?
I only wish I had purchased some sort of sealant for the grave. Next time maybe I’ll get a spray or something from the hardware store. So far, the grave has held up well though, even in LOTs of rain!
This was the photo I sent Innodove to base the grave on. I think it turned out pretty well, considering i’s not the easiest photo to pull from. In the future I’ll have better photos of my hams now that I’ve invested in a fancy camera.
Rest in peace, little love.
Luftpets Guinea Pig Cage Liners
No, I do not own guinea pigs (at least not yet anyway….although I’m often tempted by adorable Insta & YT accounts!), but I DO own some guinea pig cage liners, and let me tell you, they come in handy!
Dexter shows us one of his best angles (I mean, all his angles are the best, really) while cruising around on a Luftpets Guinea Pig Cage Liner
I primarily free roam my hamsters in nylon, pop-up style playpens (https://amzn.to/3QYzlUO ). This is because I tend to have a lot of nervous, little robos and dwarf hamsters, depending on their previous situation, and they aren’t always big into being held or having significant human-hamster interaction.
Once in a while I get a hamster like Dexter, who just cannot get enough attention and wants to be out ALL THE TIME. Day or night! He is here to make friends!
In either situation, playpen OR outside of the playpen, I like to protect the ground with something that will keep hamster pee from getting on carpets, couches and so on. I also want to protect my hamsters from finding their way deep into couch crevices or chewing through the pop up playpen. In the past I’ve used fleece blankets but have found they sometimes get caught on little hamster nails if they are a bit too long. It’s a nice signal that it’s time for a trim, but not really a great surface for hamsters to walk on.
AND THEN! I discovered Guinea Pig Liners!
Well, actually, they discovered me.
The company I got these from, Luftpets, reached out to me and asked if I’d like to try their guinea pig liners & cuddle blankets. I’ll admit, at first I was confused - I don’t have guinea pigs, what would I use these for? Luftpets responded that people use their liners and cuddle blankets for all sorts of animals!
“But I’m not a guinea pig… am I?” - Dexter
“Ooo this cuddle blanket is so soft! Please cuddle me with it!” - Dexter
So, I gave them a try! Luftpets sent me the five pack - three cuddle blankets and two cage liners to try out (yes, I got the 5-pack for free, but am otherwise not being compensated for this post!)
I actually liked them so much, I purchased an additional package of cage liners on my own dime!
The liners are great bc they are smooth & have little rubber grips on the back so they stay in place wherever you put them. I tried a variety of my hamsters on these liners none of them had any nail snags at all.
The cuddle blankets are nice too! They are fuzzy in a way that seems not to get caught on hamster nails (the fuzz is not looped like a towel, so you don’t have that issue here). I have been using them as an additional cover on couches etc, and have also been experimenting holding Dexter with the blanket to trim a nail or two.
I watch my vets do this with skill all the time- they secure the hamster gently with a small wash-cloth and then are able to trim a nail or look at teeth etc. I’m trying to build up my hamster wrangling skills, so Dexter has been patiently allowing me to practice holding him while I attempt to trim a nail.
On the whole, I find him too wiggly and I’ve only been able to confidently get two nails so far (I definitely don’t want to risk hurting him so I’m taking a lot of caution here). I think I might need a second person for this- I can hold him if someone else could trim? I have seen my vets and vet techs do it this way too - I think it depends on the hamster and how wiggly they are. Maybe I could pay them to teach me…
ANYWAY, back to the cage liners.
If you are interested in trying out Luftpets cage liners, I have exciting news!
What! Free Giveaway?!
Yes, that’s right! If you’re interested in trying out Luftpet’s Guinea Pig Cage Liners & Cuddle Blankets with your hamsters, Luftpets is giving the first 20 people a FREE set of these if they DM Luftpets on Instagram and use the code “Rachel’s Gift” !
You can check them out on Amazon by following the link below.
What do you use as a protective cover during free roam time?
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Miles is Spinning
If you listen to my podcast, you’ve probably already heard about Miles the Roborovski hamster and his spinning issues.
Poor guy!
Miles came from Pet Supplies Plus, where he was for at least 3/4 of a year and at that point, marked down 75% (from $20 —> $5). I decided to take him and another hamster, “Ginger”, home, in hopes I could give them a good life for what time they had left.
Miles, at first, was extremely shy. He would fling himself into a burrow at the slightest sound of sight of me. But after some time, he started coming out more in my presence. I wouldn’t call him “friendly”, but at least he was willing to come out!
It was at this point I started to notice an issue… Miles was spinning! Always in the same direction (counter clockwise), Miles would pace or spin.
At first I thought, “this might just be from stress after a year of being in a small cage & being born at a breeding mill.” But time went on, and the spinning got worse.
I was afraid to touch anything in his bin lest it stress him more. I tried to give him more enrichment (like seed sprays from Oakwood Forest) but it didn’t seem to help. He spun and spun, doing tighter and tighter circles.
So, Miles went to the vet.
I wasn’t sure what they would say. Last time I had a spinning hamster (Sofia the robo), it was clear there were other health issues going on with her (her eyes bulged & she seemed to be going blind). I prepared myself for the worst, but he checked out fine! He did well at the vet visit, although he did scream at the vet after she put him down.
The vet took some time to look into causes and possible solutions and eventually came back to me with some advice.
She said she felt that the issue was similar to what she sees in dogs who chase their tail - a form of OCD . She also mentioned (something I already knew) that this issue is most often seen in white face / husky Roborovski hamsters, just like Miles.
The vet suggested that I try to disrupt his OCD / pacing & repetitive behavior by making his enclosure as crowded & enriching as possible, in addition to moving things around in his bin.
While giving him an enriching environment seems obvious enough, I wouldn’t have thought to move things around - usually the advice is to not move things too much so your hamsters aren’t stressed. This was an interested suggestion and I’m glad I went to get a second opinion.
So far, the vet’s advice helped a lot! I got out every little hide & tube I had left to clutter up his space. I also started moving them around every day or two. I think it’s helped! I was just watching the footage from last night and I see him spending more time exploring the new items / new locations than I see him pacing & spinning.
I don’t think I’ll ever get Miles to stop spinning, I’m hopeful I can help minimize it so he can still have an enjoyable life. As my next step, I’d like to focus on getting him to the play pen more frequently in hopes that a change of atmosphere will help break up that behavior. So far, I’ve only been able to get him there once (last week), as he his a very trickly little guy to catch. I’ll keep trying!
Have you ever had a hamster with neurological issues? How did you deal with them?
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