Pip the Robo

[Maz]

Here's a video of Pip exploring the cage last night This was around 11.30pm. the lights were on (but he's in a dim corner of the room so it's still come out in black and white), Raffy was out free roaming and I was in the process of setting up the nightcam (hence it moves a couple of times!).

He seemed to explore everything fast at 90 miles an hour lol. He does seem a bit skitty here, but later, he was more chilled. I think I can safely say he loves it It's a bit long - about 4 minutes. I chopped out a couple of bits where he was sitting still eating for ages or wheel running for ages.

Later on that same evening he was more relaxed and exploring some more, then early hours (I checked the video), he finally sat and nibbled some of the sunflower head. He seemed to have explored every inch of the cage throughout the night - but not the salt pig with cork granules in - but eventually he explored that too. He did a 1 second check of the water bowl and pulled back quickly - then used the bottle throughout the night. So time will tell if he likes the water bowl or not.

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[RainbowBrite]

It was so cute to watch Pip inspect everything. I loved it when he popped up from underneath the cork log tunnel. There is so much for him to explore and try out.

 

[elusive]

He really does zoom around doesn’t he! He certainly had a good explore of everything, lovely to watch him.
The water bowl must have been a bit of a surprise for him, he wasn’t expecting that I don’t suppose, it will be nice if he does take to it though.

 

[Maz]

About an hour or so later he had slowed down and was exploring things in detail, more slowly. This is for Rainbow - he found the sunflower head and had a forage of it I chopped the odd bit out again (eg when he was under the shelf for ages). It's also useful to see that the water bottle is a bit too high for him. He managed but only just. It's easy enough to push it down in the holder a bit further.

He seemed confused generally about the water bottle. You then see him try to pull himself up on the shelf. In another part of the recording he is on the shelf trying to reach over to the water bottle. He was used to the bottle being over the shelf.

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[RainbowBrite]

Lovely to see Pip looking more settled there. He looked so cute trying to pick out the seeds on the sunflower. Wasnt it clever of him to try to get onto the platform to make it easier to reach the water bottle. Clever boy.

 

[Maz]

Very clever

 

[Frida]

Pip looks very happy in his new home

 

[Maz]

Thanks Frida. Yes he was out and about most of the night until about 3.30am. He seemed quite relaxed - he had plenty of treats and snacks to eat. He seems to have settled in well with the familiarity.

 

[Zara]

Great videos Maz, love those back legs Pip, so cute . He’s definitely having lots of fun exploring, it’s great the way he disappears down into the substrate then pops back up. He’s a lucky boy, have fun in your new enclosure Pip

 

[Maz]

Thanks Zara. I am so pleased he's happy with it and feels at home (apart from the water bottle needing adjusting!). It means it was worthwhile. I must have missed him disappearing in the substrate and popping back up again! Which bit was that? I only remember him emerging from the cork log.

 

[Zara]

He, he, I'll have to rewatch and find the time. It's near the end of the first video 'pip moves into perspex plaza'. Its not a night vision one. Pip is sitting next to the rock hide then disappears (dives) down the side of it to pop his head back a few seconds later. So sweet. I should've got a camera when I first brought Hams. I really enjoy all the videos that members post

 

[Maz]

In one video clip (which I haven't shown), Pip is sitting on top of his cork log, where I left 4 pumpkin seeds in their shells. Enjoying cracking it open. Raffy had the same when out of the cage. I bought a bag recently (can't remember where from) and will continue with these rather than shelled pumpkin seeds. The hamsters seem to get a lot of enjoyment from them.

 

[RainbowBrite]

How cute! That is a nice puzzle for them to open the shell and then get their reward.

 

[Member ID2]

Do you think the water bottle could be a little too high up for Pip? It looks a bit high up for me but it's hard to tell from a video.

Pip looks very happy to be home again.

 

[Maz]

Absolutely I mentioned that earlier - it's one good thing about a nightcam - you can spot an issue! It was easy enough to lower it in its holder though. I had a look at the video from the night before last and he is using the water bowl. He was very cautious about it at first. And he's using the bottle as well (now lowered). The bottle is now the right height for him. But he still seems confused that there is no shelf under the bottle - so he jumps off the shelf to get to the bottle. Then tries to climb back up onto the shelf (which he can't) - I guess going the long way round and up the ladder isn't appealing! It could do with a little bridge there, but there's no room with the bottle there.

 

[Member ID2]

I must have another good look at the videos but remember him trying to climb the shelf.

Can't you relocate the bottle even if it is not the place where you want it but Pip may prefer it?

 

[Maz]

Nope. It's the only place I can put it. Along that side - it's attached to the bars. I'll see how it goes anyway. But he was used to have the bottle over a shelf and maybe he'll adjust to it's new location. It's only been a couple of days.

 

[Member ID2]

What about something light and submerged to climb on like a carrot house? Below the bottle.

 

[Maz]

That's a good idea but it would make the bottle too low then and it would get wet and go manky. I could lose his carrot house in the corner and move the bottle along a bit and put a bridge by the shelf, but I don't think he'd like that after seeing him tonight. I think it's just adjustment. The little terracotta plate that sits under the bottle to catch the drips, is the one that used to be his veg plate. Then when he was in the temporary cage I used it on top of his cardboard house under the bottle, but continued to put his veg on it. As I had to use it to catch bottle drips with the new set up I gave him a new little plate for the veg on the shelf. I think he is used to having the veg and the bottle and dish in the same place (although before the temporary move they weren't together - but his bottle was over a shelf). I think it's just adjustment to the change again. It's only been a few days.

But tonight I saw he had taken the veg, jumped off the shelf and was sitting on the terracotta dish under the bottle eating his veg. I think he just likes to sit on the dish to eat his veg! Because that's what he's always done. And he's a bit confused that the shelf is smaller than originally.

Everything is accessible though and the bottle is now the right height - so I just think it's settling in time again. It's quite funny seeing him trying to climb the shelf when he could just go up the ladder, but I will have a think about that. I don't think he'd like me changing anything just yet while he's settling in and he zooms around the cage happily.

But I will just put his veg on the usual veg dish under the water bottle for now, if he likes sitting on it to eat. That would be better anyway because there are blueberry stains all over the wood shelf now!

Anyway he's drinking from the bowl and the bottle now. Here are the short clips from the night before last. He initially sniffed the water bowl and backed off but came back to it later and drank out of it at least twice. It's right in the right hand front corner so you can't see that well. They are all very short clips. You'll probably need to watch them full screen to even see what he's doing!

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The one thing he hadn't explored the first night, was the salt pig with the cork granules in, but he has now. I think he might need a mini step in front of it as he can only just climb in it. Unfortunately you can't really see what he's doing in there as the bolt and bars are in the way.

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In this one he is drinking from the bottle (now the right height) and you can see him trying to climb the shelf again after. He got that sussed tonight, by taking the veg with him before he jumped off the shelf. Maybe he just felt a bit exposed eating the veg on the shelf and prefers the cosy lower down bit by the bottle.

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[elusive]

Lovely to see little Pip, he’s certainly enjoying his new set up!
Is he standing on substrate when he uses the the bottle? He seems to be managing ok anyway but just wondered if he finds it a bit difficult without something solid to stand on.
Glad he’s using the water bowl, mine all preferred the bowl to the bottle & he might use it more as he gets used to it.