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Meet Chewy and Peanut
I wanted another pet in the worst way but my patience level is slim at best so I knew a puppy or even a guinea pig would be too much at this point in my life.
So I looked into gerbils because growing up, my sister and I had 3 gerbils and we had so much fun with them. Looking back, we probably loved them so much because we wanted a dog so much but our apartment wouldn't allow one.
Anyway, I came across Roborovski hamsters. They are the only breed of hamster that you have a chance of keeping in a pair without them fighting. They are also the smallest, fastest hamster species in the world and are more of a "look, don't touch" kind of hamster because they are so fast and skittish, they are nearly impossible to tame. Perfect for me! I would try to tame them but if it didn't work, they would be perfectly happy on their own.
I saw YouTube videos on how easy it is to make a bin cage. Basically buying a cheap and large clear plastic storage bin and cutting out ventilation areas and using hardware cloth to close up the holes. I compared the square footage of space of a 66 qt bin vs the 10 gallon tank I would use and the little girls would have so much more room with the bin! Plus it is easier to clean because it is so light, no worries about breaking glass.
They were fine the 1st night home, but the next morning they started fighting bad! Chewy would not let Peanut anywhere near the wheel. I bought a 2nd wheel, and they haven't bickered again once. (I wish DS was as happy to appease  )
I have been working on taming them in the bathtub. I set up a little playpen type area, with their wheels, tissue boxes, paper towel tubes, etc and just keep picking them up and letting them get used to my hands. Chewy is taking to it very well and I would say is halfway tame (in 1 week) but Peanut is the typical Robo hamster, she would rather jump to her death than let me hold her but she has taken a treat from my hand so there is potential!
Wow... I just wrote a novel about 2 hamsters that I have had for a week.
More info on them if you are interested
Some pictures of mine (they are SO quick, its hard to get good pictures):
Chewy
Peanut
Peanut in the lead, Chewy in 2nd place (I added another wheel and now they like to share that one but at least they aren't fighting)
Murphy, my Jack Russell guarding the cage (and/or thinking "yum, lunch")
Little cuties
And in case you want to make a bin cage:
How to make a bin cage video
Message edited 8/14/2013 10:34:04 AM.
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