Time to Shop for a Syrian!
Welp, I got another hamster.
How did this happen?
Well, it all started when I found myself scrolling the pages of the midwest hamster rehoming page on Facebook.
I saw a Syrian hamster who wasn’t too too far from me (about 2 hours) who was looking to be rehomed. The photo posted didn’t look too great- he had a scab over his eye and the photo showed him in some sort of bucket. The post also mentioned he was 1.5 years old, which is entering into “elderly” territory for a Syrian hamster. I worried he needed urgent medical care, so I volunteered to help if the nearby rescues were unable to.
Four days passed by and no word from any of the local rescues, so I agreed to meet up with the woman who posted to get this little guy. The transfer was very smooth. She was so easy to work with and I am so thankful. She said they didn’t really know how to care for him and they were grateful he was going to someone who was going to take good care of him. The two, young daughters in the family came along to say “goodbye” to little Fluffy (as they had named him).
He actually didn’t look so bad once I had him. The scab over his eye had fallen off and it looked like maybe he had scratched himself somehow on his nose area, but his eye looked okay. He still went to the vet on Monday just to get a once-over and everything looked great! He did so well with the vet too, she was able to hold him and he didn’t try to bite her. Only curious sniffs!
I have never had a Syrian and I was a little nervous… but now I’m just obsessed. He is so sweet. I have begun giving him treats from my fingers and he takes them so gingerly. The family said they didn’t handle him much, and that’s clear because he does seem nervous when I try to gently pet him. But so far, he is doing so well, I can’t wait to get to know him more!
Fluffy explores his temporary setup in a 200 qt bin cage
I realized, as I was trying to quickly arrange a set-up for him, that basically all of my things (except a few cute, ceramic hides from Bucatstate) are for dwarves only. I need some Syrian things! So, I did a bit of shopping. I’m going to set up up in my Size L Niteangel Vista that is now free. Dexter had been most recently living in it, but I have decided to move him into the Christmas tree bin, since he is getting older, doesn’t burrow much, and I need to be able to more easily access him to give him his daily eye drops (he seems to have chronic dry eyes, poor thing).
Here’s what I got (including things I already owned that will go in his enclosure, like the ceramic hides and bedding):
What are your fav Syrian hamster items?!
