Papaya (Adopted)

Species: Syrian 

Gender: Female

Age/DOB: 2 months (DOB: 14 Sept)

Likes: Zooming through tunnels, fresh crunchy veggies and staying hydrated.

Dislikes: Being caught unaware, bribery and tomfoolery. 

Fosterer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep.space.ham9/

Introducing: Daughter of Nellie, First of Her Name, Queen of the realm, Her Royal Fruitiness, Papaya the Fuzz-Butt. Miss Papita came into her fosterers care at the tender age of 5 weeks and already she proved to be a curious little creature sniffing her way around. Being a mama’s girl, she started off very skittish and untrusting without her safety anchor around. But like all young adults, she eventually gained some self confidence to come out of her shell!

As she is still quite young, she is still figuring herself out and trying to decide what her favourite activities are - digging, running, chewing, hoarding - only time will tell. But one thing is for certain! She is VERY curious. With her nose in the air, and a cautious slow step, she will venture outside of her nest to see what goodies you’ve left her or even what lies on your palm and in your fingers…


Papaya is THE softest hamster her fosterer has ever had the pleasure of petting and thankfully she is not averse to being touched, because her fuzzy fur is SO lovely. With a little patience and a lot of good snacks (she adores the FatPouches egg crisps and pine nuts) her fosterer believes that she will be eating out of your hand in no time - literally! Just… don’t let her roam around unattended… Her curiosity is dangerous………

Requirements:

Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm

  • Acrylic tank preferred


Wheel: Min. 27cm

Bedding: 

  • Oxbow Pure Comfort 

    • Currently using the natural brown colour as I have found in the past that the white and coloured varieties are very dusty.

  • Timothy hay to provide texture and structure for tunnelling mixed into the paper bedding.

    • Currently using Niteangel, but Oxbow and Kaytee are also ok.

    • ALTERNATIVE: Can also use the Marukan brand of Aspen shavings.

      • Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! 

        • Currently using IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.

Food: 

  • Currently using Bunny Nature Hamster Dream Expert mixed with FatPouches Originals' Premium Hamster Seed Mix

    • I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days. 

    • Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of Syrian seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.

Enrichment:

  • At least 3 hideouts 

    • Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.

      • Trustie brand from PLC for the smaller ones is a good option.

      • A main nesting area can be made by connecting 2 hideouts with one tunnel (EG: plain tunnel with middle hole, or T shaped tunnel)

  • Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding

    • Bedding should be at least half his height in order for him to do this. 

  • Like most hamsters, she ADORES Flax sprays

  • OPTIONAL: She currently is enjoying her “dig jar” which is a FÖRVAR jar from IKEA partially filled with coco peat and mixed with non-perishable (as in not too oily to attract ants) and dry treats and seeds, as well as some short stalks of sprays. 

    • RAJTAN from IKEA is another alternative. As long as the jar or container is slightly tilted or easy for her to get in and out of it should be fine.