Well, I guess I have to admit I didn't think this hamster thing out so well after all.
I knew that all this "taxing" work on my brain would require more sleep than usual so I was all over the "silent wheel" and really applauded myself on that purchase. The thing I didn't take into account was that we might not actually purchase the AVERAGE hamster to use the silent wheel.
This has been our nightly routine for the past couple of weeks or so: Chub- Chub wakes up when she darn well wants to, let's say 6-p.m.ish . Rachel does most of the hamster-rearing, transferring her from cage to cool pink ball to hamster bus to PRIORITY MAIL BOX clubhouse (with doors and windows) with plenty of treats in between. . We were very surprised to learn from Salesman (but believe we bought the exception to the rule) that hamsters don't overeat. They "hoard" their food for future use, if needed. They fill their cheeks, and then deposit the food in a safe place. Now, I don't know about other rodents but when ours has full cheeks, the only way you can tell which end is which is by the eyes or tail. It's unnatural-looking to say the least. When the hamster is put back in her cage, she goes about what Rachel calls "dehoarding". Can you guess where her safe place is? That's right...she "dehoards" all of her treats into her silent wheel - Usually about this time the kids go to bed.
- Now, another note about the "silent wheel" - This wheel is also SOLID plastic with decent sides on it to keep our precious Jub-Jub from hurting her little pudgy self while she strains to do her measly leisurely stroll around a very short block every night. ( let me remind you of Salesman's words "she'll do 4- 6 miles a night" ..... 4 - 6 miles, my Aunt Fanny!)
Sonny and I sit down together, finally, to watch tv and get a little "us" time. At this time Chubs inevitably starts her "running" regime. Now remember, there is 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds, corn and grains IN the solid, silent wheel, and she decides to run. False advertising. Wheel is not silent. I would liken this to gluing pretzels and potato chips on a treadmill and going for a jog. I had earlier cautioned Sonny on moving a hamster's hoards as it's very unsettling to the hamster so we both, really, did try to ignore it. Couldn't be done. And so begins our ritual. Reach in, empty the seeds back into the food bowl, all the while talking to the hamster who is on standing up on 2 legs, looking us in the eyes and discerning our weaknesses to use against us at a later date.. Then watching her, because it really is kind of endearing, as she gathers up her food, nut by nut and seed by seed to do it all again. At this point we usually open the cage door and wait to see if she'll trust us enough to venture out onto our hands.(So far she likes me best). We haven't watched any of our shows for the past week with the volume level below 26. Thank goodness the kids are sound sleepers.
Today I bought Her Fluffiness a wire wheel, larger to accommodate her size and wire mesh to NOT accommodate her snacks. Let's see if she'll play by my rules now. The adventure with mammals continues....
Carol
