Here are some random pictures I've taken of Sasha being herself! :)) 
Friday, July 27, 2012
It's Been A Week!
It's been a whole week since we adopted Sasha!
She is already very tame. She hasn't bitten anyone yet, aside from some gentle nipping, and she will eat from my hand. She likes walking on my boyfriend's chest and stomach, and she is the sweetest little thing! So far I've learned that her favorite foods are pumpkin seeds and corn, and every day after I freshen her food she hides it in between her food bowl and her igloo house and eats it from there. She rarely eats it straight from the bowl.
She still hasn't quite figured out how to climb down the tubes in her cage so she spends all of her time on the upper floor. I'm sure she will figure it out soon, but if she doesn't I'm going to have to get a different cage for her. (Which I'm really hoping I won't have to do!) But aside from that Sasha is a very good girl and I'm very happy we chose her. <3 Until next time!
-Tracy
Monday, July 23, 2012
New Name, First Bath!
A New Name For A New Hamster!
After much though, we have finally named our little ham ham! My boyfriend and I were talking about her and I said that Winter Whites were Russian. My boyfriend then suggested we name her "Sasha" because it is a Russian name. I love it! The name is super cute, and suits her well! So this little girl's name is now Sasha! :))
Sasha's First Sand Bath!
Today Sasha had her first Sand bath! Sand baths are fun and cleansing for your hamster. Hamsters should never need a bath, but if you would like to let your hamster enjoy a sand bath, then that's ok! Sand baths are easy! Buy some Chinchilla sand from your pet store. (make sure it is SAND not DUST because dust baths can lead to respiratory problems and eye problems) You can either place a few spoonfuls of the sand into a bowl or a special bath house. Either one will work fine. Next put your hamster in the bath and watch him/her roll and play in the sand! This is super cute and it leaves your ham ham fluffy, soft, and dirt free! Sand baths can be a part of your ham ham's habitat, but keep in mind, your hamster is very likely to kick sand out of the house or bowl so if you don't want sand mixed with your bedding you may want to save sand baths for once a week or special occasions and do them in separate containers (such as supervise them in a box like I did) or in their cage on cleaning day.
After much though, we have finally named our little ham ham! My boyfriend and I were talking about her and I said that Winter Whites were Russian. My boyfriend then suggested we name her "Sasha" because it is a Russian name. I love it! The name is super cute, and suits her well! So this little girl's name is now Sasha! :))
Sasha's First Sand Bath!
Today Sasha had her first Sand bath! Sand baths are fun and cleansing for your hamster. Hamsters should never need a bath, but if you would like to let your hamster enjoy a sand bath, then that's ok! Sand baths are easy! Buy some Chinchilla sand from your pet store. (make sure it is SAND not DUST because dust baths can lead to respiratory problems and eye problems) You can either place a few spoonfuls of the sand into a bowl or a special bath house. Either one will work fine. Next put your hamster in the bath and watch him/her roll and play in the sand! This is super cute and it leaves your ham ham fluffy, soft, and dirt free! Sand baths can be a part of your ham ham's habitat, but keep in mind, your hamster is very likely to kick sand out of the house or bowl so if you don't want sand mixed with your bedding you may want to save sand baths for once a week or special occasions and do them in separate containers (such as supervise them in a box like I did) or in their cage on cleaning day.
Sasha enjoyed rolling, digging and scratching around in the sand, and I had so much fun watching her do it!
-Tracy
Friday, July 20, 2012
Welcome Home, Little One!
After months of research I'd finally decided on a Djungarian Hamster and had my heart set on one. After only previously raising Syrian Hamsters I thought this would be a nice change. Well, I went to the PETCO near my house to do some pre-hamster-homecoming shopping, only to find out that they did not sell the Winter Whites I'd set my sights on! So I ended up getting a friend of ours to haul us completely across town to another PETCO that did have them. We run in and I bee-line straight to the small animal section, where I almost have a heart attack: The tank marked "Female Djungarian Hamster" is empty. But I peek inside the igloo and see the bedding rustling around a bit. There was still hope! Two workers came over to help us. A girl picked up the igloo and two tiny little noses poked out of the bedding. The boy scooped up one of the hamsters in the igloo and let me see her. She was beautiful. But she just sat there. She didn't appear to be frightened at all, but she just sat there. She let me pet her, but she just seemed so disinterested in the world. My boyfriend whispered in my ear, "Look at that one" I looked at the other one. She was peeking at us from behind a mound of bedding. The man saw me looking at her and switched the girls for me. This one was much more beautiful, and so much more lively! She ran in circles around, and around the igloo. It was the cutest thing! Then she stopped and looked up at us. I gave her a very gentle pet and announced "She's the one." They boxed her up, I signed the papers, paid, and we were on our way! When we got home, I cupped her up and put her in her new home. She is kind of shy and is currently adjusting to her new home. I can't wait until I can start interacting with her more. :))
I have yet to settle on a name for her though! If you have any suggestions, please let me know! Thank you!
-Tracy
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Ham-Ham-Must-Haves!
Below I will list what I will be referring to as Ham-Ham-Must-Haves. Ham-Ham-Must-Haves are simply things that you will need to provide for your hamster so he or she can live a happy, healthy life. (In a later post, I will list some hamster products that are fun, but not completely necessary)
1. Cage/Habitat: Your hamster will need a safe cage/habitat to live in. Make sure that it is an appropriate size. Many hamster cages on the market are a bit small, though you can make them bigger and more fun by attaching other cages to them via tubes and other methods. Make sure that the bars are chew-proof and are not too widely spaced apart to prevent escape. There are many types of hamster cages. Wired, wire-plastic, tanks with screen lids. As long as your hamster can not gnaw through it in any place it should be ok.
2. Food and Chew Sticks: Hamsters love to eat! There is a very wide variety of food that is acceptable As long as it is a mixture of seeds and pellets it should be ok. Chew sticks are also very important because hamsters have teeth that are constantly growing and they need to chew on things in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Chews come in a wide variety. There are natural one and colorful ones that are sometimes flavored. Chews come in simple sticks or blocks and also houses and toys. These help your hamster stay healthy and active! Keep in mind that you should refresh your hamster's food every day. (There are also other things your hamsters can eat but I will discuss this in a later post)
3. Food Bowl and Water Bottle: Of course you will need something to put your ham ham's food in. A small hard plastic or ceramic bowl will do just fine. Many hamster bowls are made chew-proof and spill-proof. You will also need a water bottle! Every day your hamster will require clean drinking water. It is best to provide this in a water bottle. Putting water out in bowls in unsafe because your furry friend could tip it over or get wet, and hamsters don't do well when wet, as they can get chills. When placing the water bottle make sure that is is not too high or too low.
4. Bedding: There are many types of bedding to choose from. As far as wood based bedding goes, aspen is the only thing you should use as it is not harmful to your hamster. Carefresh is also a good choice. Many other products have dust that can cayuse your ham ham to have eye problems. Make sure you put enough bedding in the cage for your hamster to play in, dig through, and use as nesting materials.
5. Running Wheel: Don't let their size fool you....Hamsters love to exercise! They will need a running wheel. Wheels are essential to hamster health! They keep them from getting over weight and bored. Make sure that it has a solid surface instead of spokes, as hamsters can get their tails and feet caught in the gaps and hurt themselves. No one wants a hurt hammy!
6. House: Your furry friends needs a special place to sleep and hide in. It should be something they will feel safe in. Hamsters like to hide in small spaces so a ham ham hut is essential. If hamsters don't have someplace to hide in when they are scared, tired, or sick, they can become irritable or possibly fall into shock. There are many types of huts, and you can even make your own out of cardboard. Just make sure they are free of glues, tapes, or any other harmful things because hamsters will chew anything they can get their cute little mouths on!
Once you have all of these things you are set to care for a hamster! There are many toys, treats, and accessories that are great for your hamsters but not quite essential. I will go over some of these in a later post. But for now, bye!
1. Cage/Habitat: Your hamster will need a safe cage/habitat to live in. Make sure that it is an appropriate size. Many hamster cages on the market are a bit small, though you can make them bigger and more fun by attaching other cages to them via tubes and other methods. Make sure that the bars are chew-proof and are not too widely spaced apart to prevent escape. There are many types of hamster cages. Wired, wire-plastic, tanks with screen lids. As long as your hamster can not gnaw through it in any place it should be ok.
2. Food and Chew Sticks: Hamsters love to eat! There is a very wide variety of food that is acceptable As long as it is a mixture of seeds and pellets it should be ok. Chew sticks are also very important because hamsters have teeth that are constantly growing and they need to chew on things in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Chews come in a wide variety. There are natural one and colorful ones that are sometimes flavored. Chews come in simple sticks or blocks and also houses and toys. These help your hamster stay healthy and active! Keep in mind that you should refresh your hamster's food every day. (There are also other things your hamsters can eat but I will discuss this in a later post)
3. Food Bowl and Water Bottle: Of course you will need something to put your ham ham's food in. A small hard plastic or ceramic bowl will do just fine. Many hamster bowls are made chew-proof and spill-proof. You will also need a water bottle! Every day your hamster will require clean drinking water. It is best to provide this in a water bottle. Putting water out in bowls in unsafe because your furry friend could tip it over or get wet, and hamsters don't do well when wet, as they can get chills. When placing the water bottle make sure that is is not too high or too low.
4. Bedding: There are many types of bedding to choose from. As far as wood based bedding goes, aspen is the only thing you should use as it is not harmful to your hamster. Carefresh is also a good choice. Many other products have dust that can cayuse your ham ham to have eye problems. Make sure you put enough bedding in the cage for your hamster to play in, dig through, and use as nesting materials.
5. Running Wheel: Don't let their size fool you....Hamsters love to exercise! They will need a running wheel. Wheels are essential to hamster health! They keep them from getting over weight and bored. Make sure that it has a solid surface instead of spokes, as hamsters can get their tails and feet caught in the gaps and hurt themselves. No one wants a hurt hammy!
6. House: Your furry friends needs a special place to sleep and hide in. It should be something they will feel safe in. Hamsters like to hide in small spaces so a ham ham hut is essential. If hamsters don't have someplace to hide in when they are scared, tired, or sick, they can become irritable or possibly fall into shock. There are many types of huts, and you can even make your own out of cardboard. Just make sure they are free of glues, tapes, or any other harmful things because hamsters will chew anything they can get their cute little mouths on!
Once you have all of these things you are set to care for a hamster! There are many toys, treats, and accessories that are great for your hamsters but not quite essential. I will go over some of these in a later post. But for now, bye!
-Tracy
Monday, July 16, 2012
Welcome To Hamster Talk!
Do you love hamsters as much as I do? Do you have a ham ham of your own that you care for, or are you thinking of caring one? Are you helping out a friend by hamster-sitting, or are you just curious about hamster in general? Say yes to any of these? Then your in the right place! :))
In this blog I will be sharing my knowledge of hamster care, and maybe even learning from my readers! I've noticed that there are a lot of people that think that the smaller an animal is, the easier it is to take care of. In fact the opposite is more accurate. I've also noticed that there is a lot of hamster care information that is either outdated or untrue that people are raising hamsters by. I'm by no means here to make anyone look or feel dumb. I just want to help people raise their furry friends to the best of their abilities! :)) I know the pains and fear of trying to care for a creature that you know nothing about, and I know that many of the most reliable sites are really long, drawn out, boring, and even a little confusing. I also know that while most of the time you can depend on what your pet store tells you, but from personal experience, I know that there are some that don't know all the facts. (I'll be sure to post stories about this later, and I'm NOT saying to distrust your pet stores because they usually do know what their doing and are very reliable!)
I will try to keep my blog simple, fun, educational, and cute! I'm open to suggestions and I love hearing about your hamsters! :))
In this blog I will be sharing my knowledge of hamster care, and maybe even learning from my readers! I've noticed that there are a lot of people that think that the smaller an animal is, the easier it is to take care of. In fact the opposite is more accurate. I've also noticed that there is a lot of hamster care information that is either outdated or untrue that people are raising hamsters by. I'm by no means here to make anyone look or feel dumb. I just want to help people raise their furry friends to the best of their abilities! :)) I know the pains and fear of trying to care for a creature that you know nothing about, and I know that many of the most reliable sites are really long, drawn out, boring, and even a little confusing. I also know that while most of the time you can depend on what your pet store tells you, but from personal experience, I know that there are some that don't know all the facts. (I'll be sure to post stories about this later, and I'm NOT saying to distrust your pet stores because they usually do know what their doing and are very reliable!)
I will try to keep my blog simple, fun, educational, and cute! I'm open to suggestions and I love hearing about your hamsters! :))
-Tracy
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