Nesting material from Fu Han

My colleague Fu Han, the syrian hamster owner of Ruby gave me some hamster nesting material. It comes in strips clump together. The hamster would usually try to open up and make it as its nesting bedding.

I had placed some strips for Udon to try. It seems like it cannot be bothered.

Confused about Udon's gender

I shall declare Udon as "it" again. This is because I'm not too sure about its gender again. I thought it was a male at first because I could see it's "balls" forming. But now the "balls" look less obvious and I could see its little nipples instead! Maybe it is a female!

So I decided to observe it a few more days before confirming whether it is a he or a she.

A trip to Serangoon North

Its a Sunday today and we had no idea where to go. I suggest to hubby that we could go to Serangoon North to take a look. I got know from a local hamster forum that there are many pet shops located in that area. I was interested to take a look.

Indeed, there were many pet shops selling small animals, birds, fishes, food and accessories. The prices for their food and accessories were very competitive. As Udon is growing much longer faster that I expected, I decided to get a bigger wheel for him. I wanted to buy a 21cm wheel but it was sold out so I bought a 17 cm one instead. Also I think it was much worth it to buy a bigger pack of bedding and since we drove there we bought a 35L pack of bedding from Serangoon North.

Sandbathing and a biscuit box

This the the first time I tried sandbathing Udon. Poured some sand inside a used strawberry box and placed Udon inside. His kept digging the sand and not taking a bath . I put some sand on his body so that he will shake off.

After bath, I let Udon walk into the biscuit box. Looks cute in the box rite?

Exploring outside the cage

After Udon's 1st steps out of the cage yesterday. He (I found out that he is a male) has the desire to go out. So I let him out a while and he ran to my TV console trying to bite it.

I quickly put him back to his cage. Udon kept looking outside when he was in the cage.

Then I remember that I had borrowed a hamster ball from my bro. Udon walked into the ball and loves running inside. I tried to let him out of the ball a few times but he dun want to come out until he was very tired.

Brave steps out of the cage

Udon was very brave today. I would normally remove the cage leaving only the base when I am cleaning its toilet and replenish its food.

Usually Udon will remain in the tray eating its food and would not go out of the tray area. But its climbed out of the tray today!

I think Udon is starting to get familiar with my routine.

Also, this is the 1st time seeing Udon standing on roof the its toilet!

Angela's Robo passed away yesterday

My colleague, Angela who is a ultimate hamster lover was on leave yesterday. She came to work to today informing us that her little female roborovski had passed away. She was about 2.5 years old which is a old age for a hamster.

I can see that Angela was very sad, especially when she saw her robo took her last breath before leaving this world.

Busy Udon

Everynight is a busy night for Udon. I will wait for it to wake up, clear its soiled toilet and replace new dried food.

I will give to a treat 1st before letting it go to its food bowl have its meal. Then it to proceed to the toilet and pee.

Its playtime after fulfilling its needs. Walking thru tunnel, exploring its area and running the tunnel.

1st time on Strawberries

I bought some strawberries back yesterday. After having some strawberries for my hubby and myself, I decided to give a portion for Udon.

Udon likes the strawberry and is its 1st time eating it. It even eat the leaves.

Angela's presents

My collegue Angela who had 3 Roboviskis and 1 dwarf dove campbell brought some of her hamster treats for me. There are biscuits, pine nuts, yoghurt etc.... The treats smell very sweet, so I will not be able to give it everyday. In order to keep Udon happy and healthy, I will alternate between treats and fresh food every other day.

Angela also bought an ice cream cone shape salt bite for Udon to bite. The salts bite works like a wood block for hamsters to gnaw on. It is also a mineral block at the same providing nutrients for hamsters.

I gave Udon a yoghurt treat today and I think it loves it! Thank you Angela for being so generous to Udon. :)

5 days at home

It have been 5 days since Udon 1st came to my home. I think it is getting used to its new home. I had bought a hamster house and introduced toilet roll.

I had also been trying hard to toilet train it. Udon will sometimes pee at wrong corners. Have to quickly wipe away the pee and put the pee into its toilet. Hopefully it will know the exact place every time it needs to pee.

Udon is still very afraid of my hand. It will walk away everytime I put my hand near it. I haven;t had a chance to make it walk willingly to my hand yet. But I would still try to put my hand near it so that it will get familiar to my scent soon.

Here are some pic of Udon.

3rd Day

4th day

5th day

Udon's Home

Featuring Udon's home. The dark blue cage used to be my collegue's hamster, Ah Huang's. This cage has not been used since Ah Huang passed away more than a year ago.

Thanks to Fu Han who gave me this cage. In this way, I can save some money and save the environment (by reusing it). She had also gave me a food bowl, water bottle and a wheel.

I did not install the wheel from her because I find the wheel quite noisy. I had bought a silent wheel instead. The silent wheel will not be big enough when Udon grows up. I will have to find a bigger wheel then.

I bought a triangular pink toilet. I had put layer of sand in. I have to toilet train Udon and make sure it pee at the correct place.

Now Udon's home is still short of a little house for it to lay as its nest and sleep. I have to find it a house. Maybe I will put a toilet roll for it to play with.

Udon arrives our home!

Introducing Udon! It is a cream banded short haired syrian hamster. It was born on 16-Feb-09 and is only 25 days old only. As it is still very young, we can't figure out its gender yet.

We brought it home today. I had prepared its cage (which was previously used by my colleague's hamster) and also bought bedding, food, toilet, wheel and carrier beforehand.

Udon looks very small and fragile when I picked it up and I slowly put it in the hamster carrier to bring it home. Upon reaching home, I transferred it to its cage, place some dried food and give it water.

I'm leaving it alone for a day to let it get used to and orientated to its new home 1st.