Super Pets' Silent Spinner (The background Story)

The last post was so so long ago.

Today, I am doing a review and sort of a background story for a Silent Spinner wheel I got Sheldon 2 months ago. I am late, sorry.

So, I went to a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina with my class in May, and while we were staying in Sarajevo, a friend suggested to go visit some local pet shops. Sadly, we only came across one, and when we went to see animals. They didn't have any, we asked like "Do you sell animals?". They said they do, but not all the time, they did had some tanks on shelves, but there was no water or bedding inside. I was, of course "Do you sell hamster?", and they said only Syrians, occasionally; when litter arrives, which surprises me, since pet shops in Croatia overbreed and always have full stock. So after a big no-animals-whatsoever dissapointment I went to check on hamster stuff they are selling, not expectinmg to see anything mayor. But then when I got to the rodent shelf, I was happily surprised to a blue Silent Spinner in size medium. I asked if they do have more of it, but they said it's the last one left and new stock comes next week, but we were staying only 2 days. Too bad. I ended up paying 20 convertible marks, near 80 kuna, about some 10-11 $, which I believe is not too much to pay for a decent wheel. I couldn't wait to get home that night, and when I got home, first thing I did was replacing Sheldon's old bar wheel with Silent Spinner. I had no idea it was shaky, so we ended up not sleeping for half an hour that night since Shells decided to destroy that wheel. " Hell SILNET, should be called WAKES-YOU-UP-IN-THE-MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT Spinner", thought I and was disappointed with this product everyone else seems to love. The day after I did my research on noisy Silent Spinners and discovered it should be taped down to the cage floor. I did it, and sleeping the folowing night was as peaceful as sleeping in heaven would be. All in all, I fell in love with this hamster product, and I can't see a reason that Croatian pet shops don't sell it. I do have plans, however, about ordering these wheels for all of my hamsters as soon as I turn 18 and get to shop online.

Introducing Dwarf Hamsters

• A WEEK METHOD (My personal choice that works in more cases for me)

First, second and third day put A hamster in ball and put it it B hamster's cage (do this when both hamsters are awake). Leave ball in cage for about 10 minutes, making sure there is no way hamsters can hurt each other. After returning A hamster to it's cage, put B hamster in ball and place it in A hamster's cage for 10 minutes. 

Fourth, fifth and sixth day put A hamster in a ball and leave it in it's cage and release B hamster in A hamster's cage. Repeat this process vice versa.

Seventh day clean the cage (wash all plastic stuff and cage with 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water and change all bedding). Release hamsters to the cage at the same time. 

• AN "OPEN" AREA METHOD (Didn't work out for Bella and Peanut)

Ensure big enough "open" area (a.k.a. play pen) for your hamsters and make sure both get used to it.

Put a lot of toys (new toys that neither of hamsters used before) and some treats in to keep hamsters occupied and not letting them have much time to hurt one each other.

Release both hamsters to the area at the same time. 

Preparing cage for babies

Hia everyone.

Since Peanut is pregnant and I needed to rearrenge her habitat to suit soon to be mother and her pups, here are few tips on  how to do that:

1. Space. Consider a hamster is active, and pregnant hamster is super active. The usual advice is the bigger the merrier. But with pregnant hamster I wouldn't go for too big cage. Enormous cage could be too big for hamster that just gave birth since it can confuse them if there is too much toys and stuff. So, if your hamster's cage is stuffed with toys and is really large, I would probably separate smaller area (not to small) and let hamster get used to it on time. 

2. Wheel and toys. Hamsters enjoy running on their wheel and playing with their toys. Pregnant hamsters are really energetic and enjoy it even more. But that isn't really healthy for pregnant hamster/mother to exercise too much. You should take out as all toys that could harm the mother or baby (pup) in any way. Be extreamly careful and don't take the risk of losing either mum, her babies or both. The safest thing to stick with in preggo's cage are paper roll tubes.

3. Bedding. Pregnant hamster need more bedding then usually. I put about three inches of bedding all over the place, but Peanut took half of her bedding in one corner and using paper tubes created tunnels. Having alot bedding is MUST because hamster will use it to provide better birthing nest for babies.

4. Food and water. Water bottle must be really low so babies can reach it and you should have one bigger/two smaller bowls in orderto provide your hamster both usual mix and protein-high food.

5. Cage Location. Imagine yourself raising a child in middle of highway. Hamster mother needs as much privacy as possible. Place cage somewhere you don't spend alot time talking/singing/studying. Future mother and her pups need peaceful and quiet place to live. Keeping cage under desk, walk-in wardrobe, attick/basement (if not too hot/cold) or garage. 

These are my top five tips on how to make hamster's cage pregnancy and baby safe and secure. Hope I helped you. Have a nice morning/day/afternoon/evening/night.

-Marko

Review on DIY paper bedding

Owning a hamster is a joy. But it also asks for good care. And it can get pretty pricey. Even more if you have multiple hamsters like I do. So I watch out for every single penny I can save. Of course I do not want to save money on hamster food because it is important for every single live being to eat healthy. But all hamster owners buy bedding as one of pretty important thing for hamster cage. And good bedding can become pretty pricey, if not too expensive. So I decided to do something I have seen a lot of people do: craft my own hamster bedding. Sadly; there is no paper based bedding avalible in my local pet store so I can't really compare my bedding to anything, but based on what I've seen and read online I belive it is pretty good. It is fluffy, soft, light, and the most important, it's not dusty at all. I am using it in Pixie's cage at the momment since he pees a lot so each time I scoop out some bedding, I put some of paper bedding in that place. For some strange reason, he is refusing to pee on it. That is pretty cool due the fact paper based bedding usually absorbs all the urine and then it smells pretty bad. I like the fact it works kind of like toilete paper or paper towels, once it apsorbs water, it doesn't wet anything else. To conclude; this is really good bedding if you aske me, as long it doesn't come in contact with too much water.For any additional informations visit my video on how do I make thsi bedding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JehcyGfZApg