Hamster Hideout is pleased to present the winner of Aug 08’s Hamster of the Month award, Misty!

Entries: 30 |Votes: 14 out of 42

Here’s the exclusive interview with Tom, the owner of Misty:

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“Misty was born around September 2007, she came to live with me in early March 07, she was a very special hamster.

She recently passed away on the 19th of July 2008, she was nearly 2 years old and she will be missed. She came home from a bad pet shop; she was covered in droppings, in no condition suitable for any animal. She was smaller than most other hamsters but she showed me more love then any other hamster has in all my time of keeping.

As she got older, she never slowed down or developed an illness. She passed away peacefully and without pain, it was very unexpected.

For the 15 months we had spent together, she was very very special and even though we’re apart her prints lay in my heart.

I hope she never thinks I will forget her and she knows I will meet with her once again.

Thank you for voting Misty as your Hamster of the month.”  ~  Tom

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Credits: HH Designer Cloudpuff for making the award certificate

See past and present winners, at the HH Hall of Fame

Psst … Want to win? Check out the current contests at the forum

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Hamster Hideout is pleased to present the winner of Jul 08’s ‘Hamster of the Month‘ award, Cricket!

Entries:16 |Votes: 12 out of 53

Here’s the exclusive interview!

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1) Congratulations, Cricket for being voted Hamster of the Month (July)! The competition was intense this month!! How are you feeling now?
I am feeling very exhilarated and thankful! It was a tight race, and I only won by a hamster’s tail!

Cricket - July’s Ham-star!

Tell me more about how you became LunarFlame’s pet.
Well, I had been sleeping in my cage one day, all by myself, when I heard some voices. I got a bit excited that it may be my brothers and sisters returning, but instead, I saw three humans and then, the roof of my home was removed. A hairless paw slowly made its way into my cage and I must admit, it was love at first sniff. I promptly hopped into this paw, as it was warm, and smelled lovely. Then next thing I knew though, I was put into some kind of dark box. I had thought I had been tricked, but within a few minutes, I was released into a large bin that looked like a hamster mansion!

What kind of bond/friendship do you share with LunarFlame? And how would you describe your personality?

Lunar and I are best buddies, although she can also take on the role of my manager, per se. She works hard at managing the Ham-Cam. As for my personality, I would say that I have a rough exterior, but inside, I’m a big creampuff! Many people make the mistake of assuming I bite, because I am a dwarf hamster, but I actually love humans. Humans have treated me well since birth, I have no reason to bite them. I’d much rather nibble on the sunflower seeds that they have to offer me. When it is hot, I don’t like to exercise, which worries Lunar sometimes because she doesn’t want me to get fat. I have no issue with being chubby though.

What do your home look like?

As I mentioned above, my home is a mansion! Lunar spoils me. My home consists of two large bins, connected by tubes. I have an upstairs and a downstairs. Lunar likes to co-ordinate the colors, so I have a pink level and a purple level. I have heard her speak of changing one of the levels to be more “masculine,” but I really don’t mind the pink and purple. I am just happy to have such a wonderful home with lots of toys.

What are your favourite activities?
Wow, where do I begin? Sleep would have to be my number one activity. I also really enjoy the company of Lunar though. I look forward to be held, and will always jump right into her hand if given the opportunity. I also love playing in my playpen. When I’m in my cage though, I star on the Ham-Cam (http://lunarflame.camstreams.com). How many hamsters have the opportunity to be famous? It’s like Big Brother- Hamster Style!

Let me ask you something which all humans are curious about - Do hamsters dream? Have you ever had a sweet dream (of sunflower seeds and stuff?)
I often dream of a land that resembles a big food dish. I love food. Seeds, nuts, greens, and of course, things that I am not supposed to have, like carrots and berries! When I don’t dream of food (which is rarely), I dream of my brothers and sisters. I often wonder how they are and where they live.

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Credits: HH Designer Cloudpuff for making the award certificate

See past and present winners, at the HH Hall of Fame

Psst … Want to win? Check out the current contests at the forum

  Share with the web

Our last article compared the pros and cons of tanks vs. bins, now let’s take a look at the differences of plastic vs. wire housing…starting with plastic.

PROS:

• Protects against drafts
• Easy to see through
• Prevents bar chewing

CONS:

• Usually has poor ventilation
• Might be chewed up quickly
• Prone to crack over time
• Might be hot and stuffy inside

Plastic cages are probably one of the most popular/sold housing types available today. They are usually designed to be very colorful and eye appealing to both children and adults

There are many different types and styles, ranging from round to rectangular, and some are even made to be clear and in the shape of an “aquarium” tank, which can be a great thing if you want the look of a tank without the weight! However, the largest these are typically manufactured to be is in a 10 gallon size, so if you ever wish to expand, the only possible way is to insert long tubes through the lid or to perform modifications such as cutting a hole at the side of the unit and joining the tube through it. Some brands that are available in the UK (such as Savic, ZooZone, and FOP) make wonderful housing as they are quite roomy and allow for an 8 inch wheel, if needed, but again they might be difficult to add on to, should you wish to expand.

With a plastic cage (I happen to use the Habitrail OVO line as an add-on), I love the fact I can blast the fan or a.c. in my room without worrying about it blowing directly on my hams and they can stay toasty warm in their little dens. However, this also means I need to control the temperature more closely to avoid it getting hot & stuffy on summer days. The ventilation in most plastic cages that are on the market today can also be very poor, if you use these as a sole habitat, so if you choose to use plastic, be sure to clean it out often to avoid ammonia fume buildup inside. Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Perhaps you can consider attaching a wire cage for better airflow so your hamster can have the best of both worlds! Oh yeah, wire cages….let’s look at those now:

PROS:

• Allows proper ventilation and air flow
• Gives opportunities for climbing
• Allows for better interaction with your hamster
• Gives your hamster a chance to smell and see his surroundings

CONS:

• A bad choice for hamsters who are impulsive bar chewers
• Bedding & droppings do not stay inside without a deep base
• Hard to take photos through the bars
• Not ideal for drafty environments
• Hard to add on with no pre-cut tube holes

With wire cages, you need not worry about them getting as stuffy or stinky like a plastic housing unit, but of course they still need dilligent cleaning, like any cage. There are some models on the market today which are made for easy disassembly where you can slide out a bottom tray or lift the top wire part off and clean the base out. Try to find a cage with a deep enough base to allow for ample shavings for your hamster’s burrowing pleasure, but also so the bedding isn’t kicked out and ends up on your nicely-vacuumed carpet! Also take care, when cleaning the metal parts, that water and other solvents are wiped and dried off completely to avoid rusting the bars.
The main drawbacks of a wire cage is that 99% of them do not have precut holes to connect tubes for expansion. Unless you get one big enough to start, such as the Jack 72 resort, it will be frustrating to add-on to these. Another thing to keep in mind, if you are a budding photographer, is that the wire bars make a great “prison cell” effect for your photos, but after about 3 shots, they will start becoming annoying and you’ll wish you had a better view of your furry critter!
Overall, Wire cages are a great choice if your ham is a little monkey who loves to climb and you live in a warmer climate, but keep in mind what was said about bar chewing……*nom nom nom*

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