Wednesday 29 February 2012

Orbiciser - The new hamster fitness ball!

When I was browsing the web for hamster-related products, I found this: an orbiciser.

At first I thought it was just a normal exercise ball with a fancy name, but after watching the video, (below), I understood that it was designed to keep out the wee/poo when your hamster is going around the house in the exercise ball.
This is perfect for carpets, as hamster wee can sometimes be hard to remove.
I would get one, but they are quite expensive, $14.95, and as I live in England I would have to get it shipped too.




"The Leak-Proof Pet Ball is a unique pet product that hygienically allows a small animal to walk inside a ball and exercise on the floors of your home. It locks in the animal's waste and droppings between two layers thus keeping both the floor and the animal clean.
It allows the animal to exercise safely while simultaneously keeping it and your home environment dry and clean.
Air circulates freely letting your pet breathe and stay cool."



For more information please visit their website below:

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Sunday 26 February 2012

Rodent Recipe Challenge - Pasta

This is an entry for Inky's Rodent Recipe Challenge.




My recipe consisted of carrot, cut up and crushed 'Raviolos', and pasta.

I peeled a carrot, and until all the outside bit had gone, and peeled it again and used the fresh peel to create a circle.

Then I sliced a bit of carrot, and used that as the base.

Then I filled it with the crushed Raviolos.

I then cooked one strand of spagetti then cut it up into small pieces and   lay it over the top of my carroty recipe.

- And vouila, I had a perfect hamster treat!








Lolly seemed to really enjoy it, so it was a huge success! :D


Hamster Taming

Many people get a pet hamster, but unfortunately do not know how to tame him or her. This means that the hamster may bite or become twitchy or scared all the time, and may never grow used to being handled.

So, I decided to do a post all about just how to train your hamster, and the hamster training 'DOs' and 'DON'Ts'

       Hamster Taming DOs
  • Talk to your hamster in a soft, gentle voice
  • Move slowly when holding your hamster, and when approaching your hamster
  • Be patient with your hamster, it will take a while to tame him/her
  • Allow him/her to smell your hand before picking him/her up
  • Wash your hands before handling so that you always smell the same (it will help your hamster recognize you)
  • Allow him/her to calm down and relax for a while if she is afraid at first



    Hamster Taming DON'Ts
    • Let your hamster fall from high heights
    • Make loud noises (hamsters have very sensitive hearing)
    • Pick up your hamster while she/he is sleeping
    • Make quick or jerky movements
    • Do not try to wake your hamster with a small poke, as your hamster may think it is food and will probably bite


    Also, when you first get your hamster, you should always make sure you handle him or her every day for the first few weeks. This will help your hamster get used to you.

    HOWEVER, make sure you leave your hamster alone in its cage for at least 24 hours before handling her, as he or she will need time to adjust and get used to everything.

    This post has also been featured in a guest post at http://inkythehamstermommy.blogspot.com/


    Saturday 25 February 2012

    Giveaway coming on the 3rd March!

    I was inspired by Inky's amazing giveaway (http://inkythehamstermommy.blogspot.com/) and couldn't help myself for wanting to do one too.

    So, I am going to be doing a giveaway lasting from the 3rd of March to the 17th of March, so look out for it!

    The prize will be a large hamster magnet, with Lolly on it. (Pic below)



    Friday 24 February 2012

    Haven't got much to say particularly, but I just thought I would post this picture of Lolly peeping out of her bed, cause its cute :)


    Thursday 23 February 2012

    I am going to start a new poll, which is based on how often you buy a new bag of sawdust for your hamster/gerbil. (I am talking about the big bags you buy in most pet shops)

    It would be really helpful for everyone to vote on it, as I want to use it on a post in the future. Also, thanks to everyone who voted on my last poll!

    The poll is available now, look on my right-hand sidebar, near the top.

    Thanks for reading,

    Wednesday 22 February 2012

    Beware of Aspergillus fungus

    Aspergillus fungus can become a huge threat to our hamsters. Unfortunately, many hamster owners don't even know it exists...

    It grows on the bedding in the area of a hamster's cage where the hamster wees. Once it starts to develop it will appear white and in time turn black. It can cause damage to your hamster's lungs, and in many cases can lead to death. 



    If your hamster suffers from these conditions, then take him/her to the vet immediately :
    • Breathing problems/wheezing 
    • Blood in the wee/urine
    • Inflamed or irritated skin 
    • Diarrhea (chronic - don't worry if you don't know about the chronic bit, just watch out for the diarrhea)
    • If your hamster is tired and lazy/ lethargic


    Luckily, this fungus can easily be prevented by simply cleaning out your cage regularly and thoroughly with disinfectant or anti-fungicide.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.hamsterific.com/Aspergillis.html


    Sunday 19 February 2012

    Like the Bunting?


    I'm going to put this bunting at the top (or maybe bottom) of all my posts. I used a picture from google images and edited it on power point (2010), before changing the size and putting it on this blog. :)
    Like it?

    Saturday 18 February 2012

    Animal Tails is now on facebook!


    Animal Tails is now on Facebook, so please follow to get updated, and maybe for some cool privileges....



    I'm Back




    I'm back!

    I have been skiing and luckily not killed myself! (despite falling over loads)

    Will be posting again soon......
    But for now on the left is a sweet photo of Lolly I took a while ago but never put up :)

    Hannah xxx :)

    Friday 10 February 2012

    No posts for the next week!

    Sorry everyone, but I am going on holiday from tomorrow to late next Saturday, so I will not be able to post for a week.

    Lolly has gone to stay at my best friend's house, so she will be fine.

    Will be blogging again soon!

    Wednesday 8 February 2012

    New title or old title?

    Just changed my blog title, and can't decide whether I prefer the new or old title, (or the even newer title), what do you think?

    Don't worry if you prefer the old one, I don't mind! ;)

    I need your help to decide!


    -OLD TITLE-
              
         -NEW TITLE-
    -EVEN NEWER TITLE-

    Tuesday 7 February 2012

    Hamster Nests

    Hamster Nests


    Today I thought I would blog about hamster nests, as I think I need to do another informative post. :)

    It is important to give your hamster lots of bedding, as in a hamster's original habitat, they burrow underground and build underground nests.
    I always give lolly 'safe-bedding', which is strips of tissue paper.


    (You can buy it in most pet shops,or even make your own out of un-scented toilet paper)


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



    Most hamster care books say it is best to leave your hamster's bedding outside its sleeping house, but I know lots of people who put it in their bedding in the house anyway.

    The reason they reccomend to leave the bedding outside is because it means your hamster can build its nest just how they want, as well as it giving them something to do and giving them a choice of where to put their nest.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



    Although the fuzzy, soft 'safe-bedding' is avaliable in many pet shops, it is not advisable to buy it (read comments to see more).

    I used to give Lolly a small amount, but as it can be dangerous I have now stopped.

    Sunday 5 February 2012

    February Photoshoot

    I decided it was about time I did another photo-shoot, so I took some photos last night, and here are my favorite 3 photos!

    If you like to take photos of your hamster or pet, always make sure the settings are on
    no flash, otherwise the flash could badly damage their eyes.


    Friday 3 February 2012

    World Spay Day Photography Contest (2)

    In the end I chose photo D, and entered the competition!

    To visit my page, or to donate please click this text, or the image.

    Please vote for me, or anyone else in this competition, as I think it is important to raise money for such a good charity. They aim to help pets everywhere, so the money could really make a difference.



    Thursday 2 February 2012

    World Spay Day Photography Contest

    I am going to enter this competition Inky pointed out in her post, but I can't decide which photo!
    Here are the choices:


    A

    B

    C

    D

    Please comment A, B, C, or D, or if you think a different pic from this blog, so that I can choose which to upload as my entry!
    I really just can't choose. :/
    Thanks so much to everyone who comments!

    Wednesday 1 February 2012

    Hamster Magnets 20% Discount for Readers!


    Hi everyone!

    Just to say that I got my photo of Lolly turned into a magnet professionally, and they are now up for sale!

    If you are thinking of buying one, you get a discount for reading this blog!
    Click 'make Offer', and type in this code:
    ZNF124
    You will then be able to buy this magnet for £2.50, instead of £3! Thats a 20% discount!

    THIS OFFER IS LASTING UNTIL Feb. 10th!

    There are only 5 avaliable, so order soon! (Orders only available to go to the UK)

    Visit this link or click the image to get to where you can buy them. :)