R
RainbowBrite
I can imagine Leos epic sulk if that happened!
September DIY Projects
- Thread starter Daisy
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Indeed. I may not see him again this side of Christmas.
At least the gerbils seem content...
R
RainbowBrite
Aww! They are adorable!
M
Member ID2
Do you know where the mites came from? I always thought mites can't be seen with the naked eye.
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I'm not sure where they came from. I think it depends on the type of mite. Demodex mites which rodents naturally carry aren't visible, but some types are.
These ones are just like little moving brown dots, except when they've recently fed on an animal's blood, when they swell up about the size of a flax seed (and will leave a red stain when squashed). I discovered the mites after I had had my arm in the gerbil cage for a while and when I removed it, I saw the mites crawling around. Then on closer inspection I found more mites in the bedding and on the gerbils.
I think they might be tropical rat mites but not entirely sure. Apparently there's a real epidemic of mites this year (as well as moths and bugs in general).
F
Frida
Cute photo of the gerbils 
M
Member ID2
Maybe that's the type of mite found in hay.
Fingers crossed they are contained to the gerbils enclosure.
Fingers crossed they are contained to the gerbils enclosure.
- Messages
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Today Leo has moved to the Savic Plaza. I spent yesterday and today making his new hammocks.
Here is the Plaza all set up:
There were no signs of mites on Leo or in his cage, which is a relief. I did give him a preventative dose of topical ivermectin just in case.
I had to go to Hobbycraft to get some thread and bias binding and this was a fairly dangerous trip in terms of the risk of adding new craft projects to my pile! This month was supposed to be all about getting through that pile of unstarted craft projects, not adding new ones, but fortunately I managed to resist the temptation to buy any new fabric, sewing patterns or anything else nonessential. I did see these cute squidgy hamsters, though I didn't buy one.
I also saw these ceramic pumpkins which would make great hamster hides when painted. You do have to be careful with the holes in these things as hamsters have been known to get their heads stuck in holes (I wouldn't use the one with stars for example). But I thought I'd post it in case anyone wants an idea for new hides.
Here is the Plaza all set up:
There were no signs of mites on Leo or in his cage, which is a relief. I did give him a preventative dose of topical ivermectin just in case.
I had to go to Hobbycraft to get some thread and bias binding and this was a fairly dangerous trip in terms of the risk of adding new craft projects to my pile! This month was supposed to be all about getting through that pile of unstarted craft projects, not adding new ones, but fortunately I managed to resist the temptation to buy any new fabric, sewing patterns or anything else nonessential. I did see these cute squidgy hamsters, though I didn't buy one.
I also saw these ceramic pumpkins which would make great hamster hides when painted. You do have to be careful with the holes in these things as hamsters have been known to get their heads stuck in holes (I wouldn't use the one with stars for example). But I thought I'd post it in case anyone wants an idea for new hides.
R
RainbowBrite
I love hearing all about your DIY and craft projects. The hammocks you made are so cute. I bet Leo will enjoy using those.
By the way, if you made the cushions out of the hamster fabric from Asda I would love to see a picture.
By the way, if you made the cushions out of the hamster fabric from Asda I would love to see a picture.
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- Points
- 1,020
Thank youI love hearing all about your DIY and craft projects. The hammocks you made are so cute. I bet Leo will enjoy using those.
By the way, if you made the cushions out of the hamster fabric from Asda I would love to see a picture.
That's another project for later this month.
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The hammocks you’ve made for Leo do look great, I’m sure he’s really going to enjoy those. Good to hear there were no signs of mites & he’s been able to go into his new cage, I love that castle you have in there too.
I haven’t been to Hobbycraft for a long time but I know how tempting it is, you did well to resist!
I haven’t been to Hobbycraft for a long time but I know how tempting it is, you did well to resist!
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Cage looks great! I like how you used the cheese cube as a support for the Cork log Did you make the wood house on the right side? He has loads of lovely things to do in there.
Love the squidgy hamsters! Painting pumpkin hides would feel like hard work to me though
Did you make the wood house on the right side? He has loads of lovely things to do in there.Love the squidgy hamsters! Painting pumpkin hides would feel like hard work to me though
F
Frida
Leo's new home looks great
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The wood house is from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BB2DT95J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's much smaller than the product photo suggests though. Only really Robo or Chinese sized. I left off the ramp too because the gaps look dangerous.
It's much smaller than the product photo suggests though. Only really Robo or Chinese sized. I left off the ramp too because the gaps look dangerous.
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- Reaction score
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I didn't have time to do much the past few days, however today I had a few hours spare so I made this:
I saw this wooden dolls house in Hobbycraft a few weeks ago and couldn't resist it, so I bought it and turned it into a free roaming toy. The gerbils will probably like the different levels and windows, though I'm not so sure about hamsters. Of course I had to make it pretty too.
I cut away part of the floor to allow access to the second level, and I also cut an extra back door. Then I painted it and cut pieces of balsa wood for the door and window frames and the bricks at the side. I'm also going to seal the floors against moisture at some point.
I saw this wooden dolls house in Hobbycraft a few weeks ago and couldn't resist it, so I bought it and turned it into a free roaming toy. The gerbils will probably like the different levels and windows, though I'm not so sure about hamsters. Of course I had to make it pretty too.
I cut away part of the floor to allow access to the second level, and I also cut an extra back door. Then I painted it and cut pieces of balsa wood for the door and window frames and the bricks at the side. I'm also going to seal the floors against moisture at some point.
F
Frida
Wow that looks amazing 