The children all got it in their heads that they needed more pets. A little over two weeks ago, I had an evening meeting, and New Daddy took the troops down to Pet Smart. They came home with three creatures, their respective habitats, and almost-empty bank accounts: 1) a betta fish for Bubby, 2) a gerbil for Precious, and 3) a Russian hamster for Cutie.
The betta fish and the hamster have easily assimilated into the household. The hamster likes to eat, run on its wheel a little, and crawls around calmly on Cutie's hand with its nose wiggling. It is everything she could want in a little pet. We wasted no time in introducing them to Rosie, our affectionate guardian dog. She sniffed them all around and gave them sufficient nose moisture to welcome them to her fold. The motive behind this introduction, of course, was to let her know how they smelled, in case they ever got loose in the house. Rosie will, of course, dutifully guide us to the lost rodent. At least, that is our great hope.
Rosie was sweet to the gerbil, but its habits were another story. Within a day, it had chewed around the border of its plastic feeding bowl. We went to a different pet store, where Precious bought wooden, fruit-flavored chews and a stainless bowl (and finished cleaning out her bank account). But within a week, the front porch of the gerbil's plastic house was demolished by her ever-needy teeth. We were getting close to the two-week return period, and a decision had to be made. Precious sat on my bed before retiring for the night, and we discussed the gerbil. And when she had made her decision, she went to her room, looked at her gerbil, and started bawling. After about twenty minutes of this, I gave her some magnesium, and she soon after fell asleep.
On its two-week deadline, the gerbil went back to the store, and Precious came back home with a slightly smaller hamster than Cutie's. It seemed a little shy, but very fast on her hands, and eager to run on its wheel. At ten o'clock at night, from the living room, we heard this unearthly, rattling cacophony from down the hall. I looked at New Daddy and thought our new air handler must be malfunctioning. We raced down the hall and discovered... the hamster... having an exercise wheel party. I went to bed a little after 1:00, and the party was still going strong, with a few breaks.
I awoke at 6:30 this morning to finish preparing for my CC class. And after bopping around the kitchen and living room for about half an hour, I suddenly discovered Precious on the couch. The hamster had forced her out of her room. I suggested that she climb in my bed to finish out her sleep, and she gladly accepted. As soon as daylight hit, the hamster decided it was quiet time. And then again, tonight at ten o'clock, the crazy rattling started.
I do not know what will be the fate of this rodent. It has cute, beady eyes and adorable, sticky-out-y ears. But that noise. I just don't know. We googled "hamster sound reduction." How did Cutie luck out with the perfect hamster, and yet Precious seems doomed to acquire the losers? We're still giving this gal a chance to settle in, lower her stress levels, and get used to life at our house (and vice-versa). When Precious has more money, she might buy that silent wheel. But if we continue to lose sleep over this rodent's nighttime habits, I'm afraid we might be subject to more bawling.
P.S. While checking the spelling of "Rodentia" to prepare to publish this post, I found that "Rodentia" is from Latin rodere "to gnaw". Bahahahaha! HOW did we not know this?
Update 1: The "Robo hamster" - another revelation was its name. After she told me what it was called at the pet store, my eyes widened, and I explained to Precious that that probably means it's fast and very active (given its habits observed so far). After Precious ending up on the couch for its third night, I insisted that the hamster sleep in the living room tonight. She begrudgingly took it out of her room and returned sniffling. I guess that was better than bawling?
Update 2 (3/12/16): A week ago, Precious made a third trip to the pet store to return the Robo hamster. She got a Russian hamster that was very similar to Cutie's. And she's finally struck a good balance! It's playful, loving, and doesn't party on the wheel at crazy (loud) speeds. She had to endure a lecture from the cashier at the pet store, but she's happy. Yay!
The betta fish and the hamster have easily assimilated into the household. The hamster likes to eat, run on its wheel a little, and crawls around calmly on Cutie's hand with its nose wiggling. It is everything she could want in a little pet. We wasted no time in introducing them to Rosie, our affectionate guardian dog. She sniffed them all around and gave them sufficient nose moisture to welcome them to her fold. The motive behind this introduction, of course, was to let her know how they smelled, in case they ever got loose in the house. Rosie will, of course, dutifully guide us to the lost rodent. At least, that is our great hope.
Rosie was sweet to the gerbil, but its habits were another story. Within a day, it had chewed around the border of its plastic feeding bowl. We went to a different pet store, where Precious bought wooden, fruit-flavored chews and a stainless bowl (and finished cleaning out her bank account). But within a week, the front porch of the gerbil's plastic house was demolished by her ever-needy teeth. We were getting close to the two-week return period, and a decision had to be made. Precious sat on my bed before retiring for the night, and we discussed the gerbil. And when she had made her decision, she went to her room, looked at her gerbil, and started bawling. After about twenty minutes of this, I gave her some magnesium, and she soon after fell asleep.
On its two-week deadline, the gerbil went back to the store, and Precious came back home with a slightly smaller hamster than Cutie's. It seemed a little shy, but very fast on her hands, and eager to run on its wheel. At ten o'clock at night, from the living room, we heard this unearthly, rattling cacophony from down the hall. I looked at New Daddy and thought our new air handler must be malfunctioning. We raced down the hall and discovered... the hamster... having an exercise wheel party. I went to bed a little after 1:00, and the party was still going strong, with a few breaks.
I awoke at 6:30 this morning to finish preparing for my CC class. And after bopping around the kitchen and living room for about half an hour, I suddenly discovered Precious on the couch. The hamster had forced her out of her room. I suggested that she climb in my bed to finish out her sleep, and she gladly accepted. As soon as daylight hit, the hamster decided it was quiet time. And then again, tonight at ten o'clock, the crazy rattling started.
I do not know what will be the fate of this rodent. It has cute, beady eyes and adorable, sticky-out-y ears. But that noise. I just don't know. We googled "hamster sound reduction." How did Cutie luck out with the perfect hamster, and yet Precious seems doomed to acquire the losers? We're still giving this gal a chance to settle in, lower her stress levels, and get used to life at our house (and vice-versa). When Precious has more money, she might buy that silent wheel. But if we continue to lose sleep over this rodent's nighttime habits, I'm afraid we might be subject to more bawling.
P.S. While checking the spelling of "Rodentia" to prepare to publish this post, I found that "Rodentia" is from Latin rodere "to gnaw". Bahahahaha! HOW did we not know this?
Update 1: The "Robo hamster" - another revelation was its name. After she told me what it was called at the pet store, my eyes widened, and I explained to Precious that that probably means it's fast and very active (given its habits observed so far). After Precious ending up on the couch for its third night, I insisted that the hamster sleep in the living room tonight. She begrudgingly took it out of her room and returned sniffling. I guess that was better than bawling?
Update 2 (3/12/16): A week ago, Precious made a third trip to the pet store to return the Robo hamster. She got a Russian hamster that was very similar to Cutie's. And she's finally struck a good balance! It's playful, loving, and doesn't party on the wheel at crazy (loud) speeds. She had to endure a lecture from the cashier at the pet store, but she's happy. Yay!
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