Species: Dwarf
Gender: Male
Estimated age: 6 - 9 months
Gandalf with his bushy white eyebrows and multicoloured brown and grey fur is an inquisitive little chap who is still getting used to the joys of bigger cage life and the hooman touch.
This sweet soul had a rocky start in life, and as a result finds comfort in a nice dark fluffy bed. He’s thought to be 6 -9 months old.
Gandalf is on the skinny side and needs fattening up. He will do well with an owner who will introduce him to different fruit, vegetables and snacks that until now, he’s not had the opportunity to taste. So far, he loves mealworms, cucumber, Rodipet millet and egg white.
Taking him out to play: Free roaming is a new experience for Gandalf, something he’s still getting used to. He poodles along flat as a pancake with his little bum wiggling, sniffing the air and looking for that dark comforting place to chill (this often results in him settling down between your legs or the crack of an arm). He can also be quite zoomie when he wants to be, waddling along one minute, dashing for a gold medal, the next. He has a daredevil side, no ledge is to high, keep a close eye on him when roaming.
Tip: When out on free roam introduce him to new food and special treats so he can associate positive things with handling.
Handling: Lifting Gandalf out of his cage can sometimes be a challenge as he’s still making friends with human hands. Introducing a little pot or toy into his cage that he feels comfy with and that you can scoop him up with would be best.
Once he’s aboard your hands don’t be surprised if he takes to giving you a few friendly licks.
Tip: Be careful not to dive your hand into his bed when he’s just woken up, this can give him a fright and he may nip.
Gandalf LOVES his sand, and needs a big enough sandpit to roleypoley in and dig. In the morning you’ll usually find little paw prints scattered over the sand, if you’re lucky he may even give you a live sand bath show.
Requirements
Cage: Minimum 80cm such as an Alaska cage.
Wheel: Minimum size 21cm (he has never properly used a wheel before and still getting used to it for running. At the moment he uses the wheel as a safe spot to chill so he doesn’t overheat).
Diet: Bunny Nature Dream Hamster Expert or Rodipet Organic Hamster food. So far he’s seems to like picking out the dried fruits inside these foods. Snacks: fruit, veg, especially mealworms, cucumber and egg white.
Bedding: Uncented Oxbow paper bedding. Gandalf likes a good pee in his bed so his bedding needs to be changed each week. On the plus side it does mean that the rest of his cage remains smelling tip-top for longer. As he is warming up to his new surroundings he is starting to use the corner of his cage to poo. Recommend for his new adopter to introduce a corner toilet (without a lid) for him to use.
Sand: Witte Molen/Versele Laga Chinchilla Sand as they are less dusty as compared to other brands
Enrichment: At least 2 hideouts, with one larger one so he has a dark safe space to sleep and to chill and clean himself. A cooling plate or marble surface would also be ideal as he flips between this and his snuggly bed on the warmer days.
Expect a little shyness at first as he settles into his new home and watch day by day as Gandalf becomes more inquisitive and his personality develops.
Gandalf is excited to find that special someone who has a lot of love to give and patience as he is introduced to the good life that he deserves.
If you’re that special someone, Gandalf would like to meet you.
