Hamsters (merged)

abaxas

Hi all,

Sadly 'Ozric' the hamster died last night :< He was 2 1/2 years old, so I guess that's quite a good innings :>

The problem is his friend 'Tentacle' looks a bit lost, he keep walking round the cage in search of his friend. (we got them both at the same time and they lived together). Also he's not sleeping during the day and keep staring into space.

So, has anyone got any experience of this? Maybe it'll pass, but we might as well make his twilight days as good as possible. Any ideas?

foreign_correspondent

sorry, no ideas, apart from maybe a few treats and extra fuss - love the names tho- are the ozrics still going? I think generally hamsters tend to be solitary animals, so I dont think many people keep two together... obviously yours were more sociable though!

naturally_2

Last night? Poor guy will be mourning, a natural behaviour for all animals. I wouldn't worry about him just yet.;)

roxalana

As per other peoples suggestions, give him a bit extra attention as he will be mourning his friend.

Fifer73

I take it you have russian hamsters ?

I have always had syrian hamsters, russian ones were always too small for me.

Sorry to hear about the loss, My " old guy " was also 2 and a half and had a stroke, seemed to pick up as i had him at the vet, sadly the week that followed Bonesy got worse and iller, I had him beside me in my fleece keeping him warm, the next day he was tipped on his side struggling to get up, I had to take him to the vet to get put to sleep.
I was crying my eyes out as he was such an amazing little thing, he would squeak when his porridge bowl was empty ans squeak back and forth to me.

Like other posters said give him extra treats, ( all of mine have loved porrige, just make it as you would for yourself and put it in a little bowl )do you have anything in the cage that still smells of the other one ? As they each would have had their own ind smells.

He will prob take a few days to get used to being just him

Hope this helps

abaxas

Hi and thanks for all the help.

Yes, they were russian hams and we've swapped over the cage, so he doesnt smell his old friend.

Also, we've added in more toilet roll tubes and things to make his bed with. He's having a bit go at nest building as we speak.

We have some porrige oats, so I think I'll have a go at that tonight.

Finally, yes the Ozrics are still playing. Saw them last year in Sheffield

marshallka

Don't know much about russians but would he take to another little friend maybe??

Lady_Fluff

hammies rarely do well with new introductions, especially as Tentacle is old too (2 and a half is a fab age for such a small animal!). One of the things with hams is they don't have very good memories (bless 'em) so, although they've had a lovely life together, memories of Ozric will soon fade from his mind (so sad!). Just give him plenty of extra fuss and he'll be fine. Give him an extra cuddle from me!

kindofagilr

Help

I just went over to the hamster cage, and there is brown liquid on the top of his ramp!!!!

I am worried, he is asleep in his house, its one of those houses though that has the water and food bowl on top of it and he enters under his ramp so I cant actually see him and I dont want to wake him up cos he doesnt usually get up till 9pm

Do you think he is ok? do you think he might have the runs? if so what do I give him to help him with that?

Do you think I should wake him up to see if he is ok?

jessicamb

Have you found any answers yet? Have a look for wet tail symptoms - that can be very serious in hamsters. I would wake him up and see your vet asap