An update on Peter Turbo

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Coderedfield47

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He's doing well. During the winter I noticed a shift in the whiteness of his fur, though he didn't go all the way white or anything so I'm assuming he's a hybrid winter white after all. He's overcome his nippy tendencies, but I'm sad to say I feel like this is because I dropped him 3 times (he was being squeamish and kept scurrying too fast in hazardous ways) and IDK if he took the stress from that as his cue not to be too fiesty or scared but he's oddly docile now. Still I feel really bad for dropping him and have been checking for signs of injury. He still gets on his wheel in the night and he doesn't seem to have any kind of pain preventing him from physical activity. I've been supplementing him vitakraft mint drops.
So far me and my ham have seemingly reached a place of trust and understanding, as I can stick my hand in the cage without scary aggressive biting tendencies and he will pause to let me scoop him up if he's feeling adventurous.

His 40 gallon cage hasn't really changed. I fiddled with the tightness on the bolt of the wheel to find a sweet spot I think is better for his size in case use has loosened it. Theres no overpowering smells in the cage, I've cleaned out some hidden "poop hoards". He's probably a year or close in age by now, if the age suggested at the pet store was accurate. I feel like he's due for some enrichnments (he doesn't yet have a solid platform other than his cardboard box hut)

IMG_20231216_122533.jpg
 
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Goodness, I hope he didn't fall too far. It can be an idea to use a "taxi" to transport them to avoid dropping. Eg they walk into a tube, mug or hide and you put your hand over it and set it down where you want them.

He is looking incredibly winning and gorgeous on that photo :-)
 
Maz said:
Goodness, I hope he didn't fall too far. It can be an idea to use a "taxi" to transport them to avoid dropping. Eg they walk into a tube, mug or hide and you put your hand over it and set it down where you want them.

He is looking incredibly winning and gorgeous on that photo :)
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Yeah no more holding without him being over the cage and his soft bedding.
 
The Vitakraft drops "Composition
Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Whey Powder, Dried Skimmed Milk, Yogurt Powder, Corn Starch, Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, vanilla"

Mint is a potentially harmful sedative in hamsters. The fat content of Vitakraft drops is reported to be 22%, very high, especially if saturated fats. Unfortunately this makes this item extremely high risk for diabetes.

acrackers.co.uk

Vitakraft Yogurt Drops Small Animal Treats - Animal Crackers

Animal Crackers, a pet shop based in Petersfield, Hampshire, provide high-quality natural food for dogs, cats, small animals and wild birds.
acrackers.co.uk acrackers.co.uk
 
Coderedfield47 said:
He's doing well. During the winter I noticed a shift in the whiteness of his fur, though he didn't go all the way white or anything so I'm assuming he's a hybrid winter white after all. He's overcome his nippy tendencies, but I'm sad to say I feel like this is because I dropped him 3 times (he was being squeamish and kept scurrying too fast in hazardous ways) and IDK if he took the stress from that as his cue not to be too fiesty or scared but he's oddly docile now. Still I feel really bad for dropping him and have been checking for signs of injury. He still gets on his wheel in the night and he doesn't seem to have any kind of pain preventing him from physical activity. I've been supplementing him vitakraft mint drops.
So far me and my ham have seemingly reached a place of trust and understanding, as I can stick my hand in the cage without scary aggressive biting tendencies and he will pause to let me scoop him up if he's feeling adventurous.

His 40 gallon cage hasn't really changed. I fiddled with the tightness on the bolt of the wheel to find a sweet spot I think is better for his size in case use has loosened it. Theres no overpowering smells in the cage, I've cleaned out some hidden "poop hoards". He's probably a year or close in age by now, if the age suggested at the pet store was accurate. I feel like he's due for some enrichnments (he doesn't yet have a solid platform other than his cardboard box hut)

View attachment 6416
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Lovely photo, Peter Turbo is a total cutie 💓
 
Socks Mum said:
The Vitakraft drops "Composition
Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Whey Powder, Dried Skimmed Milk, Yogurt Powder, Corn Starch, Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, vanilla"

Mint is a potentially harmful sedative in hamsters. The fat content of Vitakraft drops is reported to be 22%, very high, especially if saturated fats. Unfortunately this makes this item extremely high risk for diabetes.

acrackers.co.uk

Vitakraft Yogurt Drops Small Animal Treats - Animal Crackers

Animal Crackers, a pet shop based in Petersfield, Hampshire, provide high-quality natural food for dogs, cats, small animals and wild birds.
acrackers.co.uk acrackers.co.uk
Click to expand...
what about for my rats?
 
Coderedfield47 said:
what about for my rats?
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I wouldn't recommend giving rats food with dairy in it, and high sugar treats aren't healthy for them. I would bin the Vitakraft. Cooked macaroni should be popular and is safer. As well as small amounts of fruit and veg.
 
Socks Mum said:
The Vitakraft drops "Composition
Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Whey Powder, Dried Skimmed Milk, Yogurt Powder, Corn Starch, Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, vanilla"

Mint is a potentially harmful sedative in hamsters. The fat content of Vitakraft drops is reported to be 22%, very high, especially if saturated fats. Unfortunately this makes this item extremely high risk for diabetes.

acrackers.co.uk

Vitakraft Yogurt Drops Small Animal Treats - Animal Crackers

Animal Crackers, a pet shop based in Petersfield, Hampshire, provide high-quality natural food for dogs, cats, small animals and wild birds.
acrackers.co.uk acrackers.co.uk
Click to expand...
Sorry to be a wet blanket. I'm surprised Vitakraft is marketing such unhealthy food for pets. They like it because it's sweet, but a sugar habits isn't healthy. You can get baby strawberry puffs food your rats as well as special treats. They should enjoy rthoae as much as the dreaded Vitakraft drops.
 
Small pieces of toast crust should also work well with rats as an occasional treat.
 
Lovely to have an update on Pete turbo. I agree it is best not to feed the vitamin drops. They are just a way for the company to make money. A good diet will give him all the vitamins he needs. I love that picture of him.😊
 
I agree about the Vitakraft drops too. I'd just bin them. They are sugary as well so agree that they are bad for a diabetes prone species. It might not show anything now but could increase the risk of diabetes onset.

The other issue with vitamin drops is, if they are put in water, it can actually put the hamster off drinking the water which can be serious. They can tell when there's something in the water.

If the hamster mix is good and they have a tiny bit of fresh veg daily, he will be getting all he needs - but if you feel he might need a vitamin or mineral boost, then a safe supplementary food is a pinch of hemp seeds daily - maybe on a separate dish. You can get shelled ones which are kind of nutty and fluffy and can be licked up, or whole ones. These are supposed to contain just about every vitamin and mineral there is - so a good supplement
 
I've seen sugar free Vitakraft drops, but they use palm oil which is a very hard fat and best avoided in concentrated amounts. Unprocessed food is much healthier.
 
Socks Mum said:
If he is jumping out of your hands, he is still nervous about being held, and you need to take it back a few steps. He shouldn't be falling, even onto bedding.
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Maybe let him step onto your hands and eat there, and only lift him a little bit until he gets more confident. If he eats treats on your hand he should get to like being on your hand. It is good to get them used to being handled if they will accept it.
 
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