(Part 2) Top products from r/hamstercare

Her cage looks great! It really shows that you put effort into research before buying her, so let's get her feeling a bit more comfortable in her new surroundings. If you've only had her for a few days, she could still be adjusting to scents and her new enclosure. My hamsters were really sweet the first few days and then realized that they were in my house for keeps and started to lash out, so have patience.

Can she get on/off the wheel with the green ceramic house there? She might be having trouble accessing it. I would also maybe get another wheel (as in two wheels in her enclosure) in case that is not her favorite - I am a fan of flying saucers as well. The one I linked should be the right one for her.

It doesn't look like she has any chew toys. The big log bundle she could use, but that could be too big for her to comfortably bite. When I adopted my dwarf hamster, the rescue suggested walnuts in shell as a boredom buster. You use a screwdriver to break a couple of small holes and then she'll be able to work her way through to get to the meat. You can also invest in some sweet potato sticks - our little guy LOVES his potatoes.

As for her bedding, I love that you included hay and aspen bedding but our vet recommended we use some natural paper bedding, like this one. She said there's a risk of skin or eye irritation and we didn't want to risk that.

May I ask what food you have for her? Any other treats? Just make sure there is NO molasses or sugar in what you are feeding her because dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. I'm also asking about treats because I really loved to spoil my little ones and encourage them into my hand/not to bite by rewarding them with little seeds or millet.

So this is in the files of the group I admin on facebook, another admin wrote it up for us but hopefully it will help you:

Mites are a royal pain in the ass. Here is how I fought them:

1. Go to the vet. You need revolution for them as various mites are resistant to ivermectin. Cat dilution will be fine and go a long way. Excess medication should be stored in these to remain usable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IP87H5U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   The hamsters need a drop on the back of the neck. I pull their scruff up and drop the medication onto what is between my fingers. Given what you guys are looking at, dose then once, then two weeks later, then three weeks later. Pregnant mums can be dosed, and the medication can be passed onto their pups. I wouldn't dose the pups until 4wks.
   
   
2. Toss everything wooden. Yes, it sucks. I'm so sorry. You can try bake/boil/freeze but in my experience this DOES NOT WORK. I'd have a good cry, then pitch it and remember you can always buy/make it again.
   
   
3. Clean everyone out. Use vinegar+water to clean everything. Be thorough. I would give everyone smaller cages if you can/have the means. Paper towel bedding, an igloo, water, food dish, and a wheel. That's it. They might be unhappy but they'll live. It’s a temporary accommodation.
   
   
4. Vacuum all your carpets. Throw out your vacuum filter, or wash it very well. If you have hardwood, vacuum it for now. We'll get to floors/furniture/etc later.
   
   
5. Hot wash/hot dry all your clothes, towels, bed sheets.
   
   
6. Buy permethrin (https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP649-Permethrin-Repellent/dp/B001ANQVZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468184846&sr=8-1&keywords=permethrin). If you have cats, get rid of your cats. Dogs and other animals that are mobile around the house need to be removed from the house for a while. Open windows and doors and put fans on. Then permethrin the hell out of everything. Anything you cannot wash (floors, carpets, sofa, chairs, curtains, bed) needs to be permethrined. It smells like gasoline. If you get light headed, get outside. After ~24 hours it's safe to go back. If you can, move the hamsters outside too. They like your backyard, they can be stacked there.
   
   
7. After a week, clean everyone out. More paper towel. No bedding. Vinegar and water.
   
   
8. Minimize contact and handling. If you do handle, wash up to the elbows with anti-bacterial dawn soap.
   
   
9. There is an invermectin dose you can give yourselves to protect you from mites. (https://www.amazon.com/Denorex-Therapeutic-Maximum-Dandruff-Conditioner/dp/B00BR01AV0/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468185361&sr=8-2&keywords=denorex) or (https://www.amazon.com/The-Healing-Tree-5060-Charcoal/dp/B008LUP5JC/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1468185373&sr=1-10&keywords=charcoal+soap) to alleviate itching.
   
   
10. Clean every week. Dose after two weeks. Then dose again after three weeks. Keep on the DL to followers for now, then use it as a teaching opportunity for everyone else. I wouldn't adopt out babies until you guys are certain you're mite free.
    
    
11. To find mites, they're easier on males - usually on the testes you can see them. Check and rifle through their balls and scrotum for bites. They also like to go under the arms.
    
    There’s also the tape trick. Wrap a bit of tape around your finger so the sticky side is facing outwards, then brush your hamster with it. Just be careful the tape is not too sticky (run it over your clothes to reduce stickiness if needed). Mites will usually come up as black specks.
    
    
12. YOU CAN DO IT! I believe in you.

My robo has one of these. Not the same one as in the picture but similar. He LOVES it! I think it's his favorite toy. He also likes teeter totter type things, maybe you could look into those?

When I bought the Rosewood gym thing, it was random what kind you get (think there are 4 types?). My russian dwarf has one of the other versions and doesn't care for it. But, she does not care for climbing on things, really, or playing at all. She's more into eating, sleeping, and occasionally running on her wheel.

Place the cage on top of a heating pad (set on LOW heat), the warmth will radiate up to warm the bedding. Make sure the cage has LOTS of bedding for them to burrow in for warmth. Put the heating pad under 1/2 of the cage, so that if it gets too warm they can move to the other side to cool down.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IV4N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ad4QzbRRJ555C

Something for him to chew on, because rodents teeth don’t stop growing, so he has to file them down somehow. Some wooden chews from the pet store work perfectly. Also occasional treats, such as dried fruits/veggies or yogurt drops will help him be happier.

I wouldn't recommend using one of the soft heating pads meant for human muscle relaxing - they actually make cage heating pads for exactly this purpose! they are safe to be left plugged in for long periods of time, and the soft ones are not. I had one of these under my ham's cage for a long time.

Use a washcloth to scruff your hamster. Get a good grip that holds loose skin from between the ears all the way back near the tail. This should make your hamster freeze or at least nearly freeze. Use these or similar nail clippers to cut the nails back. There is a "quick" (core of blood vessels) in the center of the nail that goes part of the length. Cut as close as you can to the quick without cutting it. If you do cut it, don't freak out. It's a tiny injury that will heal fine. Just get better for the next time.

Stuff like sand or rocks can help as a preventative, but you're probably too far along to avoid cutting, and some hamsters just always need their nails trimmed no matter what toys they have. Wild dwarf hamsters would spend hours each day digging through sandy dirt to make tunnels and find food. No rock, toys, or wheel will ever compete with that.

Not taking care of it will eventually lead to the nails getting long enough that your hamster walks on the sides of her nails. This will twist her toes and can cause permanent injury.