Tino's thread
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Tino says thank you Steve
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As mentioned on the moth thread, Tino has had a cage change. Due to moth outbreak in his cage, it needed dismantling and a full disinfection, so decided to set up a smaller cage for him - the 80 x 50 Savic Mickey 2XL - without a wheel. He has become a lot more doddery and fragile in the past month, and regularly gets sticky eyes. He is still really quite energetic, and very keen to be out of the cage, and was reasonably speedy in the playpen, but his legs are doddery. I bathe his eyes but they get sticky again. One eye is a bit milky and he may be blind in that eye.
He explored his new cage quite thoroughly, came across a sisal carrot and clearly decided it shouldn't be there so picked it up in his teeth and threw it somewhere else He went straight into the house so he'll probably sleep there, but also had a good scratch and rummage inside the Omlet cardboard hide.
He was out in the playpen twice tonight and really quite energetic, while still being doddery. He had a bit of time on the sofa as well but nearly jumped off a couple of times, so back in the playpen. He also explored my sun hat.
It's a sort of mixed feeling seeing him at the moment - he is looking very old and frail, but he also still has a zest for exploring and enjoys his baby food and metacam and his veg and soaked science selective.
I wouldn't normally move an older hamster to a different cage, but unfortunately his needed a full disinfect (yet to be completed) and he knows this cage - it was the one he was in when he was a baby. He seemed quite happy with it and had a good explore.
He wasn't supposed to be able to get up onto that tall platform - it was there for a bit of coverage - but he did! Somehow he climbed from his cork log onto the roof of the cardboard hide and pulled himself up onto the tall platform. So I've taken it out again! I had also put in a small fuzzbutts corner hammock to make it cosier, as I was sure he wouldn't chew it, but have taken that out again as well after seeing him pull himself up onto the platform.
His ramps are much less steep now - he was struggling with his bridge in his old cage recently.
He explored his new cage quite thoroughly, came across a sisal carrot and clearly decided it shouldn't be there so picked it up in his teeth and threw it somewhere else
He went straight into the house so he'll probably sleep there, but also had a good scratch and rummage inside the Omlet cardboard hide.He was out in the playpen twice tonight and really quite energetic, while still being doddery. He had a bit of time on the sofa as well but nearly jumped off a couple of times, so back in the playpen. He also explored my sun hat.
It's a sort of mixed feeling seeing him at the moment - he is looking very old and frail, but he also still has a zest for exploring and enjoys his baby food and metacam and his veg and soaked science selective.
I wouldn't normally move an older hamster to a different cage, but unfortunately his needed a full disinfect (yet to be completed) and he knows this cage - it was the one he was in when he was a baby. He seemed quite happy with it and had a good explore.
He wasn't supposed to be able to get up onto that tall platform - it was there for a bit of coverage - but he did! Somehow he climbed from his cork log onto the roof of the cardboard hide and pulled himself up onto the tall platform. So I've taken it out again! I had also put in a small fuzzbutts corner hammock to make it cosier, as I was sure he wouldn't chew it, but have taken that out again as well after seeing him pull himself up onto the platform.
His ramps are much less steep now - he was struggling with his bridge in his old cage recently.
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That's brutal, didn't this happen once before or was it another user that had moths? Sounds like a pain to deal with, I hope you're able to get rid of them 
Only so much you can do for the elderham issues. It's heartening he wanted two adventures, still wants to see his beloved human.
Only so much you can do for the elderham issues. It's heartening he wanted two adventures, still wants to see his beloved human.
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Yes it was meThat's brutal, didn't this happen once before or was it another user that had moths? Sounds like a pain to deal with, I hope you're able to get rid of them
Only so much you can do for the elderham issues. It's heartening he wanted two adventures, still wants to see his beloved human.
. Raffy had them about three or four years ago. Oddly only his cage had them and not my other hamster’s cage at the time.My first outbreak was with our first Syrian - before I knew about freezing food.
Yes Tino is wobbly - his spirit is willing but his legs and eyes are failing. His energy was very surprising though - wish I had video’d hid earlier outing.
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Tino says thank you.Huge virtual hammy hugs tinoNess
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Tino was up quite a few times in the night and using things in his cage - up and down his new shallow ramp a few times and emptying his food bowl. He doesn’t eat hard food any more but pouches and hoards it. He gets his soaked science selective as well.
Main issue I had yesterday with food was I had only recently put two new bags in the lock and lock box from the freezer. And no other bag of food. With the moth outbreak in Tino’s hoard from food I put the food back in the freezer and ended up putting lots of punpkin seeds and sunflower seeds out For both hamsters last night - plus some science selective. Which has also gone back in the freezer.
I will just have to hope the same food is ok after another 24 hours in the freezer - because it will be about 10 days before any new food arrives and has had freezer time.
I suppose it could have been from the science selective …
Tino has also started getting up about 10am in the morning recently and did again today - which makes me suspect he might be partially or fully blind - or maybe old age just changes sleep patterns.
Main issue I had yesterday with food was I had only recently put two new bags in the lock and lock box from the freezer. And no other bag of food. With the moth outbreak in Tino’s hoard from food I put the food back in the freezer and ended up putting lots of punpkin seeds and sunflower seeds out For both hamsters last night - plus some science selective. Which has also gone back in the freezer.
I will just have to hope the same food is ok after another 24 hours in the freezer - because it will be about 10 days before any new food arrives and has had freezer time.
I suppose it could have been from the science selective …
Tino has also started getting up about 10am in the morning recently and did again today - which makes me suspect he might be partially or fully blind - or maybe old age just changes sleep patterns.
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Yes he has always come to the door at a certain time of night if he knows I’m there. And especially if Higgins is out!
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So Tino is awol tonight - not coming out of his house. Normally he comes out at feeding time and is waiting for his baby food. I suspect this is the cage change. First night exploring - then hiding away for 2 or 3 days when they realise it’s permanent and not going back to his old cage. He had a good go at his sunflower head during the night and dragged a baby food lid with hemp seeds on into his house and was up at 10am this morning so I think he’s ok - but probably won’t come out till lights out.
I’ll probably need to leave him for 2 or 3 days now while he adjusts to the change - which is tricky because his eyes need keeping an eye on. Mind you last time he had a cage change he disappeared for 8 weeks!
I’ll probably need to leave him for 2 or 3 days now while he adjusts to the change - which is tricky because his eyes need keeping an eye on. Mind you last time he had a cage change he disappeared for 8 weeks!
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Great that he is tackling his sunflower seed head and taking home the hemp seeds, tin lid and all. Sweet Tino, he's a great ham 
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Aw thank you - I am sure he will feel the love and support Having a hamstercam is very reassuring. He came out a few times in the night, a short time at 2am and then longer around 4am. He did plenty of foraging for food, his sunflower head and from his bowl as needs to build up a hoard again. It also meant he had his metacam much later than usual which is a slight concern.
It's understandable, after a cage move, all new items and no hoard, that he would want to avoid us at first sadly. The positive is he is still doing hamstery things and getting organised. Last night was only his second night in the new cage.
Having a hamstercam is very reassuring. He came out a few times in the night, a short time at 2am and then longer around 4am. He did plenty of foraging for food, his sunflower head and from his bowl as needs to build up a hoard again. It also meant he had his metacam much later than usual which is a slight concern.It's understandable, after a cage move, all new items and no hoard, that he would want to avoid us at first sadly. The positive is he is still doing hamstery things and getting organised. Last night was only his second night in the new cage.
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Last night I put Tino’s baby food and Metacam just inside his house door under his bridge. Sure enough it had mostly gone by 10.30am. Via the hamstercam he was then out and about quite a bit last night - just after midnight, 3am for a while and again at 6am. Mainly foraging but also climbed on top of his cork log. And came to the front bars looking out for a while. So he clearly does want to come out. Maybe after a few days of settling in and building up his hoard, he’ll be coming out at feeding time again and want to come out
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Lovely that Tino is up and busy with his hoard and exercisingAw thank you - I am sure he will feel the love and support
It's understandable, after a cage move, all new items and no hoard, that he would want to avoid us at first sadly. The positive is he is still doing hamstery things and getting organised. Last night was only his second night in the new cage.
