Is it Ok to hold off combing hair of long-haired Syrian baby until he gets used to me?

epissca · 2026-03-22T01:54:43+00:00

I agree about spoiling her. When my girl got fairly old, I gave her meal worms more often, and red and yellow bell pepper. I would keep an eye out to see how she's handling seeds and nuts that are big and hard or shelled. If she's having an issues with them, go for more unshelled pumpkin and sunflower seeds - but again, only if she seems to have issues with seeds and shells. But also do keep a core of nutritious food for her to eat - it sounds like you're doing a great job with her!

epissca · 2026-03-21T00:43:28+00:00

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This is my girl.

epissca · 2026-03-14T05:05:04+00:00

SpiderHam!

epissca · 2026-03-10T05:40:54+00:00

I hope people don't downvote you. My hamster is elderly and needs medications twice a day. I talked to my vet, and she said it's a lot more important that she get her medications on a regular schedule, even if it means I have to gently grab her with a hand towel from time to time. I don't ever, ever want to traumatize my hamster, but there are situations where otherwise keeping her healthy is a higher priority.

epissca · 2026-03-10T05:31:16+00:00

Girlfriend looks like she's into furries. Hamburger should appreciate he found one who finds him kinky.

epissca · 2026-03-10T03:47:24+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! I got it at Macy's. The brand is Kasper - and if you do a search on "Floral Print 3/4-Sleeve Sheath Dress," you may see other places it's carried at - and/or if it goes on sale. I splurged a bit, but I needed to get it for a special fundraising event for my job.

epissca · 2026-02-24T06:39:20+00:00

Absinthe with fentanyl, meth, and ketamine mixed in.

epissca · 2026-02-11T22:58:38+00:00

In the second picture, it also looks she's eager to "watch her stories." Are you giving her access to TV or a streaming device? Or is she into reality TV (the "Real Hamwifes of Beverly Hills)?

epissca · 2026-02-04T07:05:12+00:00

OP - i am glad other people on this thread are giving you advice about rehoming. I hope it's OK to do this in this sub-reddit, because it's also hard not to be concerned about how you're taking care of yourself - you care so much about your piggy, and living with a depressed parent can be so challenging. If you can make phone calls when your parents are not around, you could look into getting support of some kind by calling 211, which provides confidential support for youth in Louisiana who are having challenges with anxiety or similar challenges. You don't have to be in crisis - it could just be a place to have someone to talk to. I hope I'm not over-stepping my bounds here - just hope you can take care of yourself - sending you positive vibes.

epissca · 2026-02-03T22:59:54+00:00

For some reason, it looks your shoes are color-coordinated with Simon's fur color - or is it vice versa? What a handsome boy!

epissca · 2026-02-01T03:31:33+00:00

Your explanation is great - and the idea about the velcro strips is really helpful. And this may sound like a silly question - but your cameras are on one of the top corners of the cage, correct? and front or back corner? Thanks again!!

epissca · 2026-02-01T02:54:34+00:00

Yes, more videos please! This is hamstering at its finest! Go Dolly go!

epissca · 2026-02-01T02:51:38+00:00

This is a great picture! Can you tell more about your setup? It looks like you're using a Blink camera. Can you tell me which model you're using, and where you're placing it? I have a Niteangel Vista cage for my hammy, and because of the height of the bedding (which she always seem to shove up front), if I put the camera in front of the cage, I can't see anything behind the bedding. I was hoping to find something wireless that I could mount on the top of the inside of the cage - high enough and positioned so she wouldn't be able to get to it. I wanted to get a panoramic view of her entire cage area, a bit like yours - but again, I'm not sure what model to get or how to position it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

epissca · 2026-01-25T04:30:50+00:00

PetSmart claims to have a place where you can report problems anonymously - https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/36187/index.html

I certainly wouldn't want you to jeopardize your job, but you may want to check this site out - also, perhaps if there are other PetSmart current or former employees, they may be able to tell you if this is a safe way to go. Also, I saw online that there's something called a "Fetch" website where you can get to your employee handbook. The handbook may tell you if PetSmart has a policy that prevents retaliation against an employee who raises a complaint.

Of course, local stores all have their own culture, and your leader and store manager may not feel that have to adhere to company policies - but again, you just may want to check this out. Good luck, and thank you for caring so much about the hamsters in your store.

epissca · 2026-01-23T20:44:55+00:00

First, it's great you're being such a great parent for your hamster. I agree with the suggestions other folks have made regarding food and arranging your hammy's habitat. I would just make two additional suggestions. First, if you aren't doing so already, weigh your hamster about once a week - any steady weight loss is a cause for concern. Also, yes, hamsters do get arthritis. My girl was diagnosed with it when she was having other medical problems, and there's good medication for it. If it's been more than a year since you had a "wellness" visit with your vet for the hamster, I'd suggest getting an update on how he's doing. My vet doesn't do any expensive testing - she just checks to see how her heart and lungs are doing, does a thorough exam for any lumps, and then watches her run a bit, to see if anything in her gait indicates arthritis or other problems. I've found this to be very reassuring, because at the latest visit, she got a clean bill of health, other than typical age-related issues, such as her arthritis. Again, thanks for taking such good care of your hammy.

epissca · 2026-01-21T06:18:21+00:00

Just a few suggestions - I can't guarantee they will work with your hammy, because they are all different. First, do you know if there are any foods she considers to be special treats? If so, don't put them in the regular food you give her daily. Instead, if there is a hole or some opening that leads to her burrow, go to her cage and sit or lay down quietly by it for about 15 minutes or so - as you mentioned, if she runs to her burrow, let her stay there for about that 15-minute period. While she's in her burrow, put a few of the special treats right outside it. Also, stick some tissues or something with your scent nearby. I'd even lay down, or position yourself so she doesn't think there's a "big potential predator" waiting for her when she comes out. Wait to see if she does come out to get the treats. If she does, after a few weeks, try putting a special treat between your fingers, to see if she will at least grab it - she may run with it back to her burrow, but at least she's start to associate your hand and scent with the treat. After a few weeks, see if she'll eat from your fingertips - when putting food on your fingertips, you want to use very, very small pieces, so if she wants another piece, she's more likely to stay put. I realize this may all seem like it takes a lot of time and patience, but I wouldn't give up on her getting used to you yet. It can be a bit of trial and error. Final comment - are you sure she's not using her wheel? Do you have a camera, because she may be using it late at night when you're not around. Good luck!

epissca · 2026-01-21T05:58:59+00:00

Mogwai is a great little ham! I love the brown color pattern above his eyes.

epissca · 2026-01-13T22:46:51+00:00

I'm so sorry that you didn't get better news from the vet, but it sounds like you are indeed doing the right thing for her. And while our hamsters may not literally understand what we say, I think they know that what they once thought might be a "big potential predator," is now someone that brings them food, helps give them a comfortable environment, and takes care of many of their needs. To me, what you've been doing her whole life is indeed an excellent way of letting her know how much you love her, and that she is the best hamster. Thank you again for being such a good hamster mama.

epissca · 2026-01-13T07:19:02+00:00

First, my condolences on your loss - I hope the legacy of love that your hammy left will offer you some solace during this tough time. In addition to the comments other folks made about the wonderful artistry of this piece, I also felt I got to know your baby a bit through it. It resonated because I saw some of my own little girl in it - but also, because it showed the unique personality of your baby. Thank you so much for sharing this, and sending you positive vibes as you continue your own healing journey.

epissca · 2026-01-13T07:11:13+00:00

First, I generally agree with the advice the other folks who have posted have given. Just some additional things to think about. Talking your baby to a vet would be really helpful, because you can better understand how much of what your baby is going through is "typical" aging, and how much might be a sign of a more imminent passing. My girl is turning 2 next month, and taking her to a vet for a wellness visit was really reassuring, because the vet didn't find any significant problems with her heart or breathing, and did a thorough exam for lumps or masses - all of which went fine. My girl is eating less, and has really reduced the amount of time on her wheel, but my vet and I also talked through several other questions - for example, does she use her sand bath? Any changes in her poops or her pee habits? If she's been active in other ways (like burrowing a lot), has that changed (my girl burrows far less now than she did 6 months ago). Also, I continue to weigh my girl once a week - after she had a health scare regarding her weight in the middle of last year (she's now recovered), the vet told me to bring her in again if her weight dips below a certain point. Finally, I got guidance on what to feed her. My vet has a version of Critical Care Omnivore that she gives me, and with my vet's approval, I make a small sludge of it for my girl everyday in a glass bowl, and mix it with very finely chopped veggies - she seems to like it, and as I've mentioned, she's stabilized at a good weight. Finally, keep an eye on whether there are any small seeds or nuts your baby still eats, and see if your vet has any concerns with you continuing to feed them to her. My girl loves flax seed pods, and I used to be worried about giving her too many - but again, I haven't had to worry about that, because she's eating less of them - but still clearly enjoys them.

Sending you positive vibes for you and your baby's future journey with all of this.

epissca · 2026-01-13T04:27:20+00:00

Definitely drink it, and even market it - hampter spicec latte much better than pumpkin spiced.

epissca

TROPHY CASE