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<<< Sugar Gliders V11 >>>>

crazymouse_yyh — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:26:44 +0800

Previous threads
Sugar Glider V7
Sugar Glider V8
Sugar Glider V9
Sugar Glider V10

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. The gliders that we get as pets in Malaysia are mostly from Indonesia as the other countries limit or does not allow native animals to be exported in the pet trade. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 100g to 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.
Never get a joey that looks like this:

Original photo by Hun

Photos as reference from www.glideruniversity.org

Underaged sugar gliders..... never get joeys that look like the ones in these pictures. They still need their mother's milk and warmth, they need more attention and more work than properly weaned joeys. Those pics, the joeys are only 3 weeks old Out Of Pouch.... joeys should be separated when they are more than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch... and that is the minimum age. The best age is actually 3 months....

Some people have experience their joeys dying... WHY? Coz the joey is too young, it is depressed and stressed.... a joey that young that is depress will not have any appetite for food, will catch cold and die coz it gives up living.

QUOTE

According to Lisa from Suncoast...

"If you get gliders too young, the risk of them dying on you early is greatly increased. So here are some general guidelines that should apply in most cases.

If you have an average sized hand, the body length (not including the tail) should be about the width of your hand, or slightly longer. If the body is smaller than the width of your hand, that baby may be too young. Also, the hair on the tail should be fluffy and full. If the fur is laying somewhat flat on the tail, that baby is definitely too young. Tails start getting pretty fluffy around 6 weeks out of pouch age, so flat tail hair is a sure sign the joey is too young to be leaving home."

Pix sample:

Unless you have a bloody huge hand then thats a different story!

Until then, use this simple guide to measure a joey before purchasing them.

(And bear in mind, most of the joeys sold I see are smaller than the width of my hand there... )

KP

The above is a general guide. Some joeys may appear smaller due to slower growth or insufficient nutrients when it was younger or was rejected by the parent gliders at a very young age. Look at the overall appearance. The ears should be fully developed, big bright eyes, able to climb about and have a fluffy tail.

You should be getting joeys that look like these:

Orginal Photos by Reanne

Original Photo by Hun

Do get joeys that are older than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch. Do more research, look for guidance and information in this thread.

There are many sellers and suppliers here in LYN, so please beware of them. Some may tempt you into getting an underage joey by giving you false information. Some may sell you a pair package in order for a quick sales. Do your research first before buying.

There are a few good homebreeders here but they only have a few joeys available once or twice a year, so this is why it is hard to come about homebreeders.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Tame Sugar Gliders just make the perfect pocket pet for they can travel anywhere with us in a little bonding pouch. They got happy little personalities that love to play and have physical contact with us. These creatures need attention. They are 100% social animals that live in small colonies in the wild. When we keep them in captivity, we must be able to give them a lot of attention and time. Play, bond, touching and feeding are all little things that we must do each day in order for our gliders to be perfect little healthy pets.

Gliders can live 10 to 15 years in captivity so they are considered a long term commitment. Make sure you can actually care for the glider for about 10 years before you get one.

Gliders are not like dogs, where you can train it with a leash and harness or collar and they can do tricks and come when called. Sugar gliders got minds of toddlers or young children. They need to be socialized and trained as soon as you get them but do not train them as if you would train a puppy. No, they would not react to "Good Boy/Girl, shake hand and beg" kind of training and tricks. Gliders require a soft human touch when training. They can be trained to know their names, just be patient and repeat their names when you cuddle them, handle them, feed them and during play. Gliders will never know where to defecate and relieve themselves like cats and dogs. Litter boxes would not work. These creatures would do it anywhere they please.

Also, gliders are not really domesticated so they do have a few wild habits like scent marking, chewing and gnawing on items or us and also climbing all sorts of high places.

A fact to remember, sugar gliders glide, they do not fly so don't be a genius and try to make your glider fly like a bird. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane that connects their front paws to their back feet. They will spread open when there is a need to glide. This is why harnesses and leashes should never be on them for it could tear the membrane and hurt them.

Important items to have before purchasing a glider!

- A bounding Pouch and sleeping pouch
- A large cage suitable for the glider in the long run
- Fruits
- A good mix for gliders (eg: BML, Leadbeaters... research on it in Google)
- A container of mealworms or crickets
- Knowledge on sugar gliders and joey care
- Get in touch with someone that has experience with gliders.

Males or Females?

It is best not to get a male and female pair. Why is that so? Well, a glider can live for 8 to 12 years on average. A glider can readily breed once mature, some would start breeding at 8 months old while some start only at 2 years. Yes, it may sound tempting to have little joeys but can you be that dedicated? To sell one off can also be heartbreaking for you. So to avoid such pain and also overbreeding for gliders, you should either have a single sex pair or get the male castrated if with a female.

Is there any difference with males and females? Physically yes, females have a pouch on their tummy, it is like a belly button-kind of opening. Males would have their testicles looking like hanging cherries. The males when they mature, would develop a bald patch on its head. This is normal. The bald patch is the scent gland. Males have another scent gland on their chest and also at the anal area. Females do have scent glands to but only at the anal area.

Males musk, means covering their scent all over their territory. Females will mark but very little.

2 males can get along well if there are no females around. But 2 males can fight if a female is about coz they would fight over breeding rights. 2 females get along well too.

If you want to keep a male without all the musking and territorial attitude, get it neutered at a qualified and experience vet. Remember, your pet can live up to 10 years so make the right decision.

If you are thinking about breeding, please please please do read the caresheets and also research more on glider breeding. This is not simple and in the long run, over breeding can stress a glider and can cause it to have a short life span. Not healthy for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Breeding Information

In this forum, we do not encourage breeding if you do not have the time and knowledge but here are a few websites to guide you if you are curious to know. Also it has pictures and about joey growth:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/sggrowth.php

About milk for gliders:
http://www.pygmypets.com/sg8.html

Blog about Sugar Gliders in Malaysia:
Suggies At Home

Good Care Sheets:
http://www.sugarglidercentral.com/wiki/ind...ider_Care_Sheet
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/sugarglider.htm
http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-care.htm
http://ksks.essortment.com/sugarglidercar_rdxi.htm
http://www.sugargliderbabies.com/info.htm
http://www.thesugarshack.com/
http://thepetglider.com/index/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/19/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/25/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/36/64/

Sugar Glider V8

crazymouse_yyh — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:21:11 +0800

Our V7 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/723439

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. The gliders that we get as pets in Malaysia are mostly from Indonesia as the other countries limit or does not allow native animals to be exported in the pet trade. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.

QUOTE

Never get a joey that looks like this:

Original photo by Hun

Photos as reference from www.glideruniversity.org

Underaged sugar gliders..... never get joeys that look like the ones in these pictures. They still need their mother's milk and warmth, they need more attention and more work than properly weaned joeys. Those pics, the joeys are only 3 weeks old Out Of Pouch.... joeys should be separated when they are more than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch... and that is the minimum age. The best age is actually 3 months....

Some people have experience their joeys dying... WHY? Coz the joey is too young, it is depressed and stressed.... a joey that young that is depress will not have any appetite for food, will catch cold and die coz it gives up living.

You should be getting joeys that look like these:

Orginal Photos by Reanne

Original Photo by Hun

Do get joeys that are older than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch. Never trust what petshops says. If you would like to get from a supplier but have no idea how to see the age or if the seller is responsible, do PM Reanne, krynzpeaches or crazymouse_yyh for guidance and information.

There are many sellers and suppliers here in LYN, so please beware of them. Some may tempt you into getting an underage joey by giving you false information. Some may sell you a pair package in order for a quick sales. Do your research first before buying.

There are a few good homebreeders here but they only have a few joeys available once or twice a year, so this is why it is hard to come about homebreeders.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Tame Sugar Gliders just make the perfect pocket pet for they can travel anywhere with us in a little bonding pouch. They got happy little personalities that love to play and have physical contact with us. These creatures need attention. They are 100% social animals that live in small colonies in the wild. When we keep them in captivity, we must be able to give them a lot of attention and time. Play, bond, touching and feeding are all little things that we must do each day in order for our gliders to be perfect little healthy pets.

Gliders can live 10 to 15 years in captivity so they are considered a long term commitment. Make sure you can actually care for the glider for about 10 years before you get one.

Gliders are not like dogs, where you can train it with a leash and harness or collar and they can do tricks and come when called. Sugar gliders got minds of toddlers or young children. They need to be socialized and trained as soon as you get them but do not train them as if you would train a puppy. No, they would not react to "Good Boy/Girl, shake hand and beg" kind of training and tricks. Gliders require a soft human touch when training. They can be trained to know their names, just be patient and repeat their names when you cuddle them, handle them, feed them and during play. Gliders will never know where to defecate and relieve themselves like cats and dogs. Litter boxes would not work. These creatures would do it anywhere they please.

Also, gliders are not really domesticated so they do have a few wild habits like scent marking, chewing and gnawing on items or us and also climbing all sorts of high places.

A fact to remember, sugar gliders glide, they do not fly so don't be a genius and try to make your glider fly like a bird. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane that connects their front paws to their back feet. They will spread open when there is a need to glide. This is why harnesses and leashes should never be on them for it could tear the membrane and hurt them.

Important items to have before purchasing a glider!

- A bounding Pouch and sleeping pouch
- A large cage suitable for the glider in the long run
- Fruits and glider mix (eg: GliderSLURP!™) with supplements
- A container of mealworms or crickets
- Knowledge on sugar gliders and joey care
- Get in touch with someone that has experience with gliders.

Males or Females?

It is best not to get a male and female pair. Why is that so? Well, a glider can live for 8 to 12 years on average. A glider can readily breed once mature, some would start breeding at 8 months old while some start only at 2 years. Yes, it may sound tempting to have little joeys but can you be that dedicated? To sell one off can also be heartbreaking for you. So to avoid such pain and also overbreeding for gliders, you should either have a single sex pair or get the male castrated if with a female.

Is there any difference with males and females? Physically yes, females have a pouch on their tummy, it is like a belly button-kind of opening. Males would have their testicles looking like hanging cherries. The males when they mature, would develop a bald patch on its head. This is normal. The bald patch is the scent gland. Males have another scent gland on their chest and also at the anal area. Females do have scent glands to but only at the anal area.

Males musk, means covering their scent all over their territory. Females will mark but very little.

2 males can get along well if there are no females around. But 2 males can fight if a female is about coz they would fight over breeding rights. 2 females get along well too.

If you want to keep a male without all the musking and territorial attitude, get it neutered at a qualified and experience vet. Remember, your pet can live up to 10 years so make the right decision.

If you are thinking about breeding, please please please do read the caresheets and also research more on glider breeding. This is not simple and in the long run, over breeding can stress a glider and can cause it to have a short life span. Not healthy for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Breeding Information

In this forum, we do not encourage breeding if you do not have the time and knowledge but here are a few websites to guide you if you are curious to know. Also it has pictures and about joey growth:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/sggrowth.php

About milk for gliders:
http://www.pygmypets.com/sg8.html

Good Care Sheets:
http://www.sugarglidercentral.com/wiki/ind...ider_Care_Sheet
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/sugarglider.htm
http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-care.htm
http://ksks.essortment.com/sugarglidercar_rdxi.htm
http://www.sugargliderbabies.com/info.htm
http://www.thesugarshack.com/
http://thepetglider.com/index/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/19/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/25/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/36/64/

Chubby Hamsters V9

crazymouse_yyh — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:26:39 +0800

Old Thread Chubby Hamsters V8

WELCOME to the new thread, Chubby Hamsters V9!

A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.

SPECIES:

Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters because the first domestic hamster was a wild agouti colour, which is called Golden. They have also been called Teddy Bears because does have the fuzziness and roundness of a teddy bear. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there are fur types like Rex and Satin.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They make suitable hamsters for the beginner keeper. Syrians that are handled properly would rarely or never bite, and can be tame to respond well to touch and voice.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you they are mini hamsters and giving you a weird price and denying that they are Campbells. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Campbells are good in a pair or a small colony but always make sure your cage or tank has the space and enough hides and wheels to house a colony. These social hamsters are territorial and would fight off intruders that do not belong to their colony. Campbells are ok when they are introduced at a young age but letting an older hamster be kept with a younger one, most likely a fight would start.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

WW are almost similar with Campbells when it comes to pairs and colonies. Always remember, it doesn't necessary mean we should keep them in breeding pairs or male and female colonies. A single sex group is good enough for dwarf hamsters.

WW are known to fight among themselves out of the blue. Many do not understand that WW are territorial dwarfs, they can tolerate siblings or with other WW when introduced at a young age but there would always be a day where they would start fighting. Have spare cages at hand to separate fighting hamsters if you have a pair or a small colony. The best is keeping one. Do not worry, hamsters do not die from loneliness.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Robos do very well in little groups. They are the most sociable of all dwarf species and it is very entertaining to watch a small group of robos playing and eating in a tank.

Robos are not a hamster that is suitable for the beginner keeper as it could either be frustrating to have hamsters that run very fast or just unable to handle properly.

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

This species of hamster in Malaysia is very rare. The last known shop to have sold them were Pets Wonderland at Mid Valley years ago.

========================================================================

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods as it can give diarrhea to some hamsters, especially pet shop hamsters that have never eaten any veggie before.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter. Wodent Wheels, Sanko Wheels or Silent Spinners have 8 inch wheels.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed or keep them in a male and female pair unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.

- Hamsters should have a small portion of fresh food everyday. Limit to a teaspoon a day for a Syrian, half a teaspoon of fresh food to dwarfs. Give more leafy veggies.

=========================================================================

Diet

Hamsters should have a good quality staple diet that is available for them throughout the day. Grains are important for hamsters to gain protein, minerals and vitamins as well as the good fat that the body needs to stay healthy. The carbohydrates and natural sugars from grains helps in maintaining your hamster's energy and alertness throughout the day. Wrong or unhealthy diets could cause hamsters to gain weight, show no interest in using it's running wheel and does little throughout the day. Here is a guide on how to feed your hamster healthily.

Try not to go for cheap foods that you see available in the market. Habitrail, Delikate, LM Farms.... all these have little nutritional value because they are loaded with sunflower seeds and dried corn. High in fat and phosphorus. Delikate and Habitrail staple food includes alot of alfalfa pellets (the greenish brown pieces) which hamsters do not like to eat at all and you may end up throwing it away. Choose high quality brands like:

Harry Hamster - it has quite alot of coloured pellets but quite nutritious and my hamsters eat everything.

Prestige Hamster Nature - Loaded with top quality grains, pellets and dried fruits and herbs. Superb and nutritious for every hamster.

Vitakraft Hamster Menu - Well rounded hamster diet, it has some dried veggies like carrots and peas. Better than Habitrail Staple diet.

Kaytee Forti Diet Hamster - the ingredient list on grains and protein level is ok but one thing worrying is the preservative called Ethoxyquin, which is not good. Do not use this food in long term.

I will update with more brands later.

Fresh food

Hamsters need a small amount of fresh fruits and veggies daily. Never give more than a teaspoon of fresh food to a hamster in a day as sometimes it can cause diarrhea. Dwarf hamsters, expecially Campbells should not be given too much fruits as Campbells are prone to get diabetes from sugary fruits.

Fruits: (Make sure all the seeds that are not edible are removed, grape seeds too)
Apple, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Dragon Fruit, Grapes, Honey Dew, Kiwi, Mango, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Plum, Rambutan, Star Fruit, Sun Melon, Strawberries, Watermelon.

Try not to offer too much sourish fruits like kiwi or strawberries, the high acid content can cause diarrhea if taken too much.

Veggies:
Alfalfa Sprouts, Asparagus, Broccoli, Bak Choy, Bean Sprouts, Capsicum(Bell Pepper), Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Corn, Coriander, Frozen peas, French Bean, Kangkong, Long Bean, Lady Fingers, Mustard Green(Sawi/Choy sum), Parsley, Peas, Pumpkin, Spinach, Water Chestnut, Water Cress.

Cabbage and cucumber can be offered but in very very small amounts.

Always remember, everything in moderation is good.

Supplement food:

Both products can be found at Pet Shack or just PM Nezumitaro.

Sugar Gliders V7

crazymouse_yyh — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:33:22 +0800

Our V6 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/680010

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. The gliders that we get as pets in Malaysia are mostly from Indonesia as the other countries limit or does not allow native animals to be exported in the pet trade. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.

QUOTE

Chubby Hamsters V8

crazymouse_yyh — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:40:20 +0800

>< HAMSTERS ><

Old Thread Chubby Hamsters V7

^^ HAMSTERS ^^

A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.

SPECIES:

Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there is a fur type known as Rex.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They do make suitable pets for children but under adult supervision.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you mini hamsters and giving you a weird price. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed them unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.

- Hamsters can get sick easily if given too much fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

Anything to add in the 1st page, just PM me.

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 1:56 am[/addedon]Pictures of the different hamster species with some example of a few colour varieties.

Thank you to Reanne and |sorcerer| for their chinese hamsters and roborovski pictures.

One way to hold a hamster if it bites or to look at it's genital area clearly. Never do this for long since it is a bit uncomfortable for the hamster. Only for a short period.

______________________________________________________________________________

Useful links (credit to Acey)

Hamsterific: http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.html
My Free Hamster: http://www.myfreehamster.com
Future Pets: http://futurepet.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1&RCAT=600.
Hamster Hideout: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/
Wodent Wheels: http://www.transoniq.com/
Kare's Hamster Info: http://www.karelma.com/english/animals/hamsters.html
Pet Education: www.peteducation.com

The Hamster Name Generator (thanks to Gazard7)

(credit to suicidalxbliss)

Lowyat.net Siggy (free to use, a big thank you to Hao ):

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 9:25 pm[/addedon]A Basic Guide

* Hamsters are very active creatures so they do need their excercise. Naturally energetic, hamster love to run so it is best to provide a good solid wheel for them. Makre sure it is a solid wheel and not those mesh wheels since those gaps can cause injuries. Syrians should have 8 inch diameter wheels while dwarfs can have smaller ones.

* Hamsters are nocturnal, meaning they are mostly active at night. During the day, they would need some peace and quiet to sleep so it is highly recommended to place the cage or tank away from direct sunlight and provide them with a hide such as a clay flower pot or aroma burner or any solid looking hamster houses available at petshops.

* Hamsters need a layer of quality bedding in their tanks. You can always get the wood shaving variety but you would need to change the bedding often. Recommended brands would be Chipsi Classic, Chipsi Super, Delikate and Kaytee. Avoid using other brands for pine and cedar wood can cause breathing problems later in life due to the phenol oils produced by the wood. One can also use corncob bedding, wood pellets like Woody Pet or Careline wood cat litter or recycled paper bedding/litter like CareFresh or Breeder's Select/Celect.

* Hamsters love to nibble on hay and also build nest in their hide box for comfort. So providing a bit of hay is good. Any hay is suitable, as long it is fresh looking(greenish). Avoid stale hay(brownish).

* Hamsters should have a good amount of food in their food bowls. You do not need to worry about hamsters not finishing their food for they will hoard away old food to eat later. Make sure fresh foods are cleaned out of the cage or tank after 24 hours.
- Good source of fiber would be broccoli, spinach, sawi(choy sum), kangkung and water cress. Do feed fresh foods in moderation since too much can cause wet tail sickness and indigestion. A small piece of vegie or fruit is enough for 1 day.
- Sweet potato and normal potato can be given but only give cooked potatos.
- Sweet fruits and carrots can be given in small quantities every few days.
- Hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, cooked chicken and cooked fish can be fed.

* Have a good quality bottle for water at hand. Cheap bottles tend to leak.

* Wash the hamster cage or tank once in a week. Just wash with some mild soapy water. Clean cages and tanks prevents the risk of getting infections.

* Hamsters do not need to bath with water and soap like humans. Hamsters can clean themselves very well and they enjoy having sand baths (Chincilla or hamster sandbath) more than getting wet. A wet hamster can fall sick easily.

* Handle your hamster daily. Build a relationship with your hamster. You can hold them, talk to them and pat them. These little gestures will keep your hamster tame and friendly and of course, happy.

* Never wake up sleeping hamsters since they can startle easily and give a nasty bite to protect themselves. This is an instinct reaction so do not blame a hamster for being aggressive... they bite when there is a reason to bite.

* Always wash your hands after handling hamsters for they are still from the rodent family. Keep your self healthy for your hamster

QUOTE(bizen @ May 30 2007, 05:26 PM)

I found some articles and 1 of it is about hamsters... I bought it a few years back when I am still in high school ... and I would like to share it with everyone here

Here is the link:

Hamster Guide 01

Hamster Guide 02

Hamster Guide 03

Hamster Guide 04

Have fun reading
[right][snapback]11849152[/snapback][/right]

Petster Magazine Event, 2nd Bite!

crazymouse_yyh — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:19:20 +0800

Come and join the fun. This is going to be a 3 week event. During the weekdays, there will be a pet bazaar for you to browse and get stuff. During the weekends, loads of activities for everyone. Reptile show, Pet Talks, some small contest and so on. More info will be added later.

Date:
23 May 2008 to 15 June 2008

Time:
11am to 7pm

Venue: IKANO

Personally, I would be going on the weekends as there will be more stuff to experience. If you are planning to adopt a puppy/dog, cat/kitten or would like to donate to WWF, SPCA, PAWS and so on, please come for the event.

Pet talks:
31 May and 1 June - Sugar Glider talk and it is also the Small Animal Gathering Weekend

I will update this page later with more info on the pet talks when I get the details from Petster Magazine.

Sugar Glider V6

crazymouse_yyh — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:58:56 +0800

Our V5 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/639684

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. The gliders that we get as pets in Malaysia are mostly from Indonesia as the other countries limit or does not allow native animals to be exported in the pet trade. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.

QUOTE

Never get a joey that looks like this:

Original photo by Hun

Photos as reference from www.glideruniversity.org

Underaged sugar gliders..... never get joeys that look like the ones in these pictures. They still need their mother's milk and warmth, they need more attention and more work than properly weaned joeys. Those pics, the joeys are only 3 weeks old Out Of Pouch.... joeys should be separated when they are more than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch... and that is the minimum age. The best age is actually 3 months....

Some people have experience their joeys dying... WHY? Coz the joey is too young, it is depressed and stressed.... a joey that young that is depress will not have any appetite for food, will catch cold and die coz it gives up living.

You should be getting joeys that look like these:

Orginal Photos by Reanne

Original Photo by Hun

Do get joeys that are older than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch. Never trust what petshops says. If you would like to get from a supplier but have no idea how to see the age or if the seller is responsible, do PM Reanne, krynzpeaches or crazymouse_yyh for guidance and information.

There are many sellers and suppliers here in LYN, so please beware of them. Some may tempt you into getting an underage joey by giving you false information. Some may sell you a pair package in order for a quick sales. Do your research first before buying.

There are a few good homebreeders here but they only have a few joeys available once or twice a year, so this is why it is hard to come about homebreeders.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Tame Sugar Gliders just make the perfect pocket pet for they can travel anywhere with us in a little bonding pouch. They got happy little personalities that love to play and have physical contact with us. These creatures need attention. They are 100% social animals that live in small colonies in the wild. When we keep them in captivity, we must be able to give them a lot of attention and time. Play, bond, touching and feeding are all little things that we must do each day in order for our gliders to be perfect little healthy pets.

Gliders can live 10 to 15 years in captivity so they are considered a long term commitment. Make sure you can actually care for the glider for about 10 years before you get one.

Gliders are not like dogs, where you can train it with a leash and harness or collar and they can do tricks and come when called. Sugar gliders got minds of toddlers or young children. They need to be socialized and trained as soon as you get them but do not train them as if you would train a puppy. No, they would not react to "Good Boy/Girl, shake hand and beg" kind of training and tricks. Gliders require a soft human touch when training. They can be trained to know their names, just be patient and repeat their names when you cuddle them, handle them, feed them and during play. Gliders will never know where to defecate and relieve themselves like cats and dogs. Litter boxes would not work. These creatures would do it anywhere they please.

Also, gliders are not really domesticated so they do have a few wild habits like scent marking, chewing and gnawing on items or us and also climbing all sorts of high places.

A fact to remember, sugar gliders glide, they do not fly so don't be a genius and try to make your glider fly like a bird. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane that connects their front paws to their back feet. They will spread open when there is a need to glide. This is why harnesses and leashes should never be on them for it could tear the membrane and hurt them.

Important items to have before purchasing a glider!

- A bounding Pouch and sleeping pouch
- A large cage suitable for the glider in the long run
- Fruits and glider mix (eg: GliderSLURP!(tm)) with supplements
- A container of mealworms or crickets
- Knowledge on sugar gliders and joey care
- Get in touch with someone that has experience with gliders.

Males or Females?

It is best not to get a male and female pair. Why is that so? Well, a glider can live for 8 to 12 years on average. A glider can readily breed once mature, some would start breeding at 8 months old while some start only at 2 years. Yes, it may sound tempting to have little joeys but can you be that dedicated? To sell one off can also be heartbreaking for you. So to avoid such pain and also overbreeding for gliders, you should either have a single sex pair or get the male castrated if with a female.

Is there any difference with males and females? Physically yes, females have a pouch on their tummy, it is like a belly button-kind of opening. Males would have their testicles looking like hanging cherries. The males when they mature, would develop a bald patch on its head. This is normal. The bald patch is the scent gland. Males have another scent gland on their chest and also at the anal area. Females do have scent glands to but only at the anal area.

Males musk, means covering their scent all over their territory. Females will mark but very little.

2 males can get along well if there are no females around. But 2 males can fight if a female is about coz they would fight over breeding rights. 2 females get along well too.

If you want to keep a male without all the musking and territorial attitude, get it neutered at a qualified and experience vet. Remember, your pet can live up to 10 years so make the right decision.

If you are thinking about breeding, please please please do read the caresheets and also research more on glider breeding. This is not simple and in the long run, over breeding can stress a glider and can cause it to have a short life span. Not healthy for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Breeding Information

In this forum, we do not encourage breeding if you do not have the time and knowledge but here are a few websites to guide you if you are curious to know. Also it has pictures and about joey growth:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/sggrowth.php

About milk for gliders:
http://www.pygmypets.com/sg8.html

Good Care Sheets:
http://www.sugarglidercentral.com/wiki/ind...ider_Care_Sheet
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/sugarglider.htm
http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-care.htm
http://ksks.essortment.com/sugarglidercar_rdxi.htm
http://www.sugargliderbabies.com/info.htm
http://www.thesugarshack.com/
http://thepetglider.com/index/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/19/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/25/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/36/64/

Chubby Hamsters V7

crazymouse_yyh — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:10:39 +0800

>< HAMSTERS ><

Old Thread Chubby Hamsters V6

^^ HAMSTERS ^^

A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.

SPECIES:

Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there is a fur type known as Rex.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They do make suitable pets for children but under adult supervision.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you mini hamsters and giving you a weird price. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed them unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.

- Hamsters can get sick easily if given too much fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

Anything to add in the 1st page, just PM me.

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 1:56 am[/addedon]Pictures of the different hamster species with some example of a few colour varieties.

Thank you to Reanne and |sorcerer| for their chinese hamsters and roborovski pictures.

One way to hold a hamster if it bites or to look at it's genital area clearly. Never do this for long since it is a bit uncomfortable for the hamster. Only for a short period.

______________________________________________________________________________

Useful links (credit to Acey)

Hamsterific: http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.html
My Free Hamster: http://www.myfreehamster.com
Future Pets: http://futurepet.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1&RCAT=600.
Hamster Hideout: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/
Wodent Wheels: http://www.transoniq.com/
Kare's Hamster Info: http://www.karelma.com/english/animals/hamsters.html
Pet Education: www.peteducation.com

QUOTE(bizen @ May 30 2007, 05:26 PM)

Sugar Glider V5

crazymouse_yyh — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:44:13 +0800

Our V4 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/518158

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. The gliders that we get as pets in Malaysia are mostly from Indonesia as the other countries limit or does not allow native animals to be exported in the pet trade. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.

QUOTE

Never get a joey that looks like this:

Original photo by Hun

Photos as reference from www.glideruniversity.org

Underaged sugar gliders..... never get joeys that look like the ones in these pictures. They still need their mother's milk and warmth, they need more attention and more work than properly weaned joeys. Those pics, the joeys are only 3 weeks old Out Of Pouch.... joeys should be separated when they are more than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch... and that is the minimum age. The best age is actually 3 months....

Some people have experience their joeys dying... WHY? Coz the joey is too young, it is depressed and stressed.... a joey that young that is depress will not have any appetite for food, will catch cold and die coz it gives up living.

You should be getting joeys that look like these:

Orginal Photos by Reanne

Original Photo by Hun

Do get joeys that are older than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch. Never trust what petshops says. If you would like to get from a supplier but have no idea how to see the age or if the seller is responsible, do PM Reanne, krynzpeaches or crazymouse_yyh for guidance and information.

There are many sellers and suppliers here in LYN, so please beware of them. Some may tempt you into getting an underage joey by giving you false information. Some may sell you a pair package in order for a quick sales. Do your research first before buying.

There are a few good homebreeders here but they only have a few joeys available once or twice a year, so this is why it is hard to come about homebreeders.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Tame Sugar Gliders just make the perfect pocket pet for they can travel anywhere with us in a little bonding pouch. They got happy little personalities that love to play and have physical contact with us. These creatures need attention. They are 100% social animals that live in small colonies in the wild. When we keep them in captivity, we must be able to give them a lot of attention and time. Play, bond, touching and feeding are all little things that we must do each day in order for our gliders to be perfect little healthy pets.

Gliders can live 10 to 15 years in captivity so they are considered a long term commitment. Make sure you can actually care for the glider for about 10 years before you get one.

Gliders are not like dogs, where you can train it with a leash and harness or collar and they can do tricks and come when called. Sugar gliders got minds of toddlers or young children. They need to be socialized and trained as soon as you get them but do not train them as if you would train a puppy. No, they would not react to "Good Boy/Girl, shake hand and beg" kind of training and tricks. Gliders require a soft human touch when training. They can be trained to know their names, just be patient and repeat their names when you cuddle them, handle them, feed them and during play. Gliders will never know where to defecate and relieve themselves like cats and dogs. Litter boxes would not work. These creatures would do it anywhere they please.

Also, gliders are not really domesticated so they do have a few wild habits like scent marking, chewing and gnawing on items or us and also climbing all sorts of high places.

A fact to remember, sugar gliders glide, they do not fly so don't be a genius and try to make your glider fly like a bird. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane that connects their front paws to their back feet. They will spread open when there is a need to glide. This is why harnesses and leashes should never be on them for it could tear the membrane and hurt them.

Important items to have before purchasing a glider!

- A bounding Pouch and sleeping pouch
- A large cage suitable for the glider in the long run
- Fruits and glider mix (eg: GliderSLURP!(tm)) with supplements
- A container of mealworms or crickets
- Knowledge on sugar gliders and joey care
- Get in touch with someone that has experience with gliders.

Males or Females?

It is best not to get a male and female pair. Why is that so? Well, a glider can live for 8 to 12 years on average. A glider can readily breed once mature, some would start breeding at 8 months old while some start only at 2 years. Yes, it may sound tempting to have little joeys but can you be that dedicated? To sell one off can also be heartbreaking for you. So to avoid such pain and also overbreeding for gliders, you should either have a single sex pair or get the male castrated if with a female.

Is there any difference with males and females? Physically yes, females have a pouch on their tummy, it is like a belly button-kind of opening. Males would have their testicles looking like hanging cherries. The males when they mature, would develop a bald patch on its head. This is normal. The bald patch is the scent gland. Males have another scent gland on their chest and also at the anal area. Females do have scent glands to but only at the anal area.

Males musk, means covering their scent all over their territory. Females will mark but very little.

2 males can get along well if there are no females around. But 2 males can fight if a female is about coz they would fight over breeding rights. 2 females get along well too.

If you want to keep a male without all the musking and territorial attitude, get it neutered at a qualified and experience vet. Remember, your pet can live up to 10 years so make the right decision.

If you are thinking about breeding, please please please do read the caresheets and also research more on glider breeding. This is not simple and in the long run, over breeding can stress a glider and can cause it to have a short life span. Not healthy for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Breeding Information

In this forum, we do not encourage breeding if you do not have the time and knowledge but here are a few websites to guide you if you are curious to know. Also it has pictures and about joey growth:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/sggrowth.php

About milk for gliders:
http://www.pygmypets.com/sg8.html

Good Care Sheets:
http://www.sugarglidercentral.com/wiki/ind...ider_Care_Sheet
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/sugarglider.htm
http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-care.htm
http://ksks.essortment.com/sugarglidercar_rdxi.htm
http://www.sugargliderbabies.com/info.htm
http://www.thesugarshack.com/
http://thepetglider.com/index/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/19/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/25/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/36/64/

Chubby Hamsters V6

crazymouse_yyh — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:14:13 +0800

Gerbils Hut V6

crazymouse_yyh — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:38:15 +0800

- Thanks to Hao

The old thread is here
Gerbils Hut V5, I wont bite you, I wont stink either!

General Information of Mongolian Gerbils:

The Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is widely kept as pets. They come in a variety of colours, which makes them stand out from their close cousin, the common brown rat. Gerbils are very friendly, sociable, intelligent, entertaining, lively, and curious animals. They rarely bite and are almost odourless. Mongolian gerbils make excellent pets for they are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, taking short naps and snoozes in between play.

One important fact to know,
You CANNOT pull their tails or it will come off. No, gerbils are not lizards, they come off coz their tails have very sensitive nerves and skin, pulling hard can detached the bone and tear the skin, resulting in the lost of a tail.

Origin

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Gerbils in captivity make great beginner pets. They rarely bite at all, have little to no odour and are economical to keep in the long run. Once a while, gerbils can get curious so they do tend to nip and test their surroundings. Nipping is normally not painful, only bites are painful and sometimes bloody but there is no need to be scared of gerbils for they rarely bite.

Single or a Pair?
By nature, gerbils are social creatures, meaning the should never be kept as single animals. Gerbils that live alone have nothing to do, no aim in life and they will just go on eating and sleeping, becoming overweight and depressed, and will be destructive by chewing on everything they find, dig at the tank's corners the whole day without stop, show nervousness and other unhealthy activities. This is why WE RECOMMEND to get gerbils in pairs. Gerbils are colony animals. They need to feel safe and secure in a family. It is delightful to see gerbils in a pair or a small clan. They will groom each other, play wrestling, sleep together and eat together. When in a bigger group say more than 2 gerbils, they will set their own Hierarchy, having a dominant gerbil doing most of the activities first, then followed by the rest. The dominant gerbil will then put everyone in place and make sure that every gerbil knows his or her place in the clan.

Gerbil Behaviour:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

How to keep gerbils?
There are many caresheets available on the Internet for research, so do read up as this is just a basic guide.

Gerbils do not do well in cages; therefore the best housing for gerbils is an aquarium or tank. The housing needs are quite different from hamsters and other rodent pets.

Important stuff to have before getting a gerbil:

1.5ft Aquarium with lid- you can get plastic or glass, plastic is easier to clean. The bigger, the better. (rm30 to rm40 for plastic) DO NOT CAGE THEM! Examples:

Hamster staple food- A good basic staple would be Habitrail Staple, but the best in the market that gives very good results would be Prestige and Harry Hamster. Only these 2 brands will give the best nutrition and variety to a gerbil's diet.

Treats- Wooden chews, peanuts, dog biscuits and dried stale bread are great treats.

Water bottle- They need a bottle but if you don't want them to tear the bottle up, searh the internet for tips on making a bottle guard or cage. Gerbils do not need much water if you feed them fruits and vege often but it is still very important to attach a bottle with fresh water for the gerbils.

Vege and fruits- Important to have in their diet. Give mustard greens(Sawi/Choy Sum), apple, carrots, pear, french beans, lettuce. PUMPKIN makes an excellent treat!!! It deworms the intestines as well.

Toys- Gerbils love wooden stuff to chew, cardboard box to chew and glass cups and small clay flower pots to play in. Do not buy plastic toys coz they will chew them and you will waste your money. Plastic can also be dangerous when eaten.

Hide Box- Gerbils like to sleep in hide boxes. You can DIY one from an old coconut shell, buy a wooden one or plainly make one out from wooden ice cream sticks and PVA glue. Clay or glass Aroma burners work very well but make sure you buy 1 that can fit a gerbil inside.

Wood Shavings and Wood Chips- No pine or cedar, please use aspen shavings or chipsi wood shavings. Pine and Cedar will cause breathing problems and watery eyes. Wood Chips are a good substitute if you can't find proper wood shavings.

Timothy Hay- Gerbils love hay. They chew it, build nest with it and sleep in it.

Alfalfa Hay- High in protein and is still good for gerbils to nibble and chew and make their nest.

Sand Bath- When your gerbil's fur looks ruffled and dull, give them a sand bath. You can get this cleaning sand that is for hamsters, works well and will make a gerbil look all velvety and clean looking. Recommended brands are Sluis, Delikate Snowy bathing sand, Charlie Chinchilla bathing sand.

Bedding Hay/Straw- You can try Russel Hay or Sluis Comfort Hay. These hay are used to build nest... cheaper than Timothy and Alfalfa hay.... and smells nice too.

How about breeding?
Please see the link below... breeding is not easy as it will cost money and time and space. So think carefully before breeding. Also, it takes a lot of studying of the genetics to get the best colour quality from a pair. Some gerbils can only produce black and agouti pups.... so that is why the genetics have to be studied. Breeding needs a goal, to be a breeder one must never think of money but the goal of getting new colours or promoting the pet. If any information needed on breeding, PM Nezumitaro, jaswwp or me(crazymouse_yyh)

Important TIPS

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Useful Websites:

http://www.sensi-media.com/gerbil/domestic.htm - thanks to Jaswwp

http://www.gerbils.co.uk/

http://www.abcgerbils.com/

http://www.agsgerbils.org/

http://www.petermaas.nl/gerbils/english.htm

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/e...bils/colors.htm

http://www.gerbilbreeding.com/gene.htm - thanks to Nezumitaro

http://home.wtal.de/ehr/gerbils/colors.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/6961/index.html

Sugar Glider V4

crazymouse_yyh — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:36:21 +0800

Our V3 http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/433550

Introduction

Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, Sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require alot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids.... they act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time needs our total attention and bond.

Sugar gliders are tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. Wild sugar gliders live in colonies of 6 to 15 animals in tree hollows or other nests made of vegetation. They are nocturnal so will mainly spend most of their day time asleep, only waking up at early mornings and late at night to forage for food.

An adult sugar glider is about the size of a flying squirrel, approximately 5 to 7 inches long from tip of nose to base of tail. Adults in proper body condition weigh about 120g. The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal greys and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts coz it stains the fur. You should not worry about the colour for eac sugar glider is unique in its own little way.

Where to get a joey? What age and size?

Petshops and suppliers do sell Sugar Gliders but please be aware if the age and size. Some shops may tell you that the younger the joey, the better but do remember, these animals when young needs milk to stay healthy. Also, our local pet milk or cows milk is not suitable since marsupials cannot tolerate lactose that is higher than 3.5%.

A guide to know which is the right age and which is not.

Never get a joey that looks like this:

Original photo by Hun

Photos as reference from www.glideruniversity.org

Underaged sugar gliders..... never get joeys that look like the ones in these pictures. They still need their mother's milk and warmth, they need more attention and more work than properly weaned joeys. Those pics, the joeys are only 3 weeks old Out Of Pouch.... joeys should be separated when they are more than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch... and that is the minimum age. The best age is actually 3 months....

Some people have experience their joeys dying... WHY? Coz the joey is too young, it is depressed and stressed.... a joey that young that is depress will not have any appetite for food, will catch cold and die coz it gives up living.

You should be getting joeys that look like these:

Orginal Photos by Reanne

Original Photo by Hun

Do get joeys that are older than 8 weeks Out Of Pouch. Never trust what petshops says. If you would like to get from a supplier but have no idea how to see the age or if the seller is responsible, do PM Reanne, krynzpeaches or crazymouse_yyh for guidance and information.

There are many sellers and suppliers here in LYN, so please beware of them. Some may tempt you into getting an underage joey by giving you false information. Some may sell you a pair package in order for a quick sales. Do your research first before buying.

There are a few good homebreeders here but they only have a few joeys available once or twice a year, so this is why it is hard to come about homebreeders.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Tame Sugar Gliders just make the perfect pocket pet for they can travel anywhere with us in a little bonding pouch. They got happy little personalities that love to play and have physical contact with us. These creatures need attention. They are 100% social animals that live in small colonies in the wild. When we keep them in captivity, we must be able to give them a lot of attention and time. Play, bond, touching and feeding are all little things that we must do each day in order for our gliders to be perfect little healthy pets.

Gliders can live 10 to 15 years in captivity so they are considered a long term commitment. Make sure you can actually care for the glider for about 10 years before you get one.

Gliders are not like dogs, where you can train it with a leash and harness or collar and they can do tricks and come when called. Sugar gliders got minds of toddlers. They need to be socialized and trained as soon as you get them but do not train them as if you would train a puppy. No, they would not react to "Good Boy/Girl, shake hand and beg" kind of training and tricks. Gliders require a soft human touch when training. They can be trained to know their names, just be patient and repeat their names when you cuddle them, handle them, feed them and during play. Gliders will never know where to defecate and relieve themselves like cats and dogs. Litter boxes would not work. These creatures would do it anywhere they please.

Also, gliders are not really domesticated so they do have a few wild habits like scent marking, chewing and gnawing on items or us and also climbing all sorts of high places.

A fact to remember, sugar gliders glide, they do not fly so don't be a genius and try to make your glider fly like a bird. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane that connects their front paws to their back feet. They will spread open when there is a need to glide. This is why harnesses and leashes should never be on them for it could tear the membrane and hurt them.

Important items to have before purchasing a glider!

- A bounding Pouch and sleeping pouch
- A large cage suitable for the glider in the long run
- Fruits and glider mix with supplements
- Knowledge on sugar gliders and joey care
- Get in touch with someone that has experience with gliders.

Males or Females?

It is best not to get a male and female pair. Why is that so? Well, a glider can live for 8 to 12 years on average. A glider can readily breed once mature, some would start breeding at 8 months old while some start only at 2 years. Yes, it may sound tempting to have little joeys but can you be that dedicated? To sell one off can also be heartbreaking for you. So to avoid such pain and also overbreeding for gliders, you should either have a single sex pair or get the male castrated if with a female.

Is there any difference with males and females? Physically yes, females have a pouch on their tummy, it is like a belly button-kind of opening. Males would have their testicles looking like hanging cherries. The males when they mature, would develop a bald patch on its head. This is normal. The bald patch is the scent gland. Males have another scent gland on their chest and also at the anal area. Females do have scent glands to but only at the anal area.

Males musk, means covering their scent all over their territory. Females will mark but very little.

2 males can get along well if there are no females around. But 2 males can fight if a female is about coz they would fight over breeding rights. 2 females get along well too.

If you are thinking about breeding, please please please do read the caresheets and also research more on glider breeding. This is not simple and in the long run, over breeding can stress a glider and can cause it to have a short life span. Not healthy for them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Breeding Information

In this forum, we do not encourage breeding if you do not have the time and knowledge but here are a few websites to guide you if you are curious to know. Also it has pictures and about joey growth:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/sggrowth.php

About milk for gliders:
http://www.pygmypets.com/sg8.html

Good Care Sheets:
http://www.sugarglidercentral.com/wiki/ind...ider_Care_Sheet
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/sugarglider.htm
http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-care.htm
http://ksks.essortment.com/sugarglidercar_rdxi.htm
http://www.sugargliderbabies.com/info.htm
http://www.thesugarshack.com/
http://thepetglider.com/index/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/19/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/cont...tegory/5/25/64/
http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/36/64/

Pet's Corner at Carrefour

crazymouse_yyh — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:18:38 +0800

Very concerned here..... It seems Carrefour now have "Pet Corners" in most of their branches....

I was at the Wangsa Maju Branch on Monday, not Tuesday as mentioned in another thread and I felt disgusted, sad and angry at the same time.

What I saw:

There was a cage with 2 bunnies, they looked like 1 month old or 6 weeks old rabbits. 1 was dead while another still alive. I alerted the staff that was responsible for the pets corner, she just smiled.... then I overheard her say to another that she is afraid to touch it.

There were 2 tanks of snakes but what shocked me was that the bronze back snakes were in a filthy tank that was so black and disgusting. There were 2 snakes but did not move. I tap the tank and looked closely, to realize that both snakes were dead! Dehydrated, with dead dried up frogs inside. The snakes died from poor tank set up. A rainbow water snake in another tank had only 3mm of water in the tank, the snake was belly up already, means dead.... yet the staff still displayed the tanks as if nothing was wrong....

Hedgehog, it was a tiny albino.... looks like it is either malnourished or not even weaned since so tiny. The water bowl and food bowl were empty. Hedgehogs are nocturnal but this one was walking up and down in search of food and water.

The hamsters were in dirty bedding.... it looked very unhealthy and some of them were injured from fighting.... I think there was no food either, I am not sure if I saw any water source for them or not.

What was the staff doing? She was just rearranging some of the food stuff on display. Then later just sat on her chair, waiting for customers.... I can't believe so many animals died and she still didn't do anything.

I left and went back about 15 minutes later, saw that the dead bunny was taken away but the one that was alive was also taken away. Where did it go? Why.... it was placed into a tiny white plastic basket with the dead body!!! How sick is that?

Anyway, my point is that I think Carrefour should not sell pets as most of the pets end up dying from lack of care. Also, who knows, maybe one of the animals may carry an airborne disease or bacteria... it can affect people who are sensitive or allergic.....

Have you guys seen a similar thing in other Carrefours? I now feel guilty for supporting them earlier coz I got my guinea pig from there.... anyway, do share and give your opinions if you have any.

Chubby Hamsters V5

crazymouse_yyh — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 02:44:45 +0800

^^ HAMSTERS ^^

Old thread Chubby Hamsters V4

A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.

SPECIES:

Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there is a fur type known as Rex.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They do make suitable pets for children but under adult supervision.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you mini hamsters and giving you a weird price. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed them unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.

- Hamsters can get sick easily if given too much fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

Anything to add in the 1st page, just PM me.

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 1:56 am[/addedon]Pictures of the different hamster species with some example of a few colour varieties.

Thank you to Reanne and |sorcerer| for their chinese hamsters and roborovski pictures.

One way to hold a hamster if it bites or to look at it's genital area clearly. Never do this for long since it is a bit uncomfortable for the hamster. Only for a short period.

______________________________________________________________________________

Useful links (credit to Acey)

Hamsterific: http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.html
My Free Hamster: http://www.myfreehamster.com
Future Pets: http://futurepet.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1&RCAT=600.
Hamster Hideout: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/
Wodent Wheels: http://www.transoniq.com/
Kare's Hamster Info: http://www.karelma.com/english/animals/hamsters.html
Pet Education: www.peteducation.com

QUOTE(bizen @ May 30 2007, 05:26 PM)

Gerbils Hut V5

crazymouse_yyh — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:51:05 +0800

- Thanks to Hao

The old thread is here
Gerbils Hut V4, I wont bite you, I wont stink either!

General Information of Mongolian Gerbils:

The Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is widely kept as pets. They come in a variety of colours, which makes them stand out from their close cousin, the common brown rat. Gerbils are very friendly, sociable, intelligent, entertaining, lively, and curious animals. They rarely bite and are almost odourless. Mongolian gerbils make excellent pets for they are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, taking short naps and snoozes in between play.

One important fact to know,
You CANNOT pull their tails or it will come off. No, gerbils are not lizards, they come off coz their tails have very sensitive nerves and skin, pulling hard can detached the bone and tear the skin, resulting in the lost of a tail.

Origin

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

(ADOPTION THREAD) Pets in need for a home

crazymouse_yyh — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:52:24 +0800

This will be a new way of posting adoptions since there is a new posting system which has not been very effective at bumping the adoption thread.

Anyway, this thread will be ONLY for adoptions. Only people who are putting up their pets for adoption are allowed to post. No one should answer replies here. All replies will be deleted without notice! Do it through the contact numbers or PM the owner directly.

A token of appreciation might be required by pet owner for adoption. If the owner would like to claim a vet bill, then please attach a picture of the receipt. Any selling of dogs or wanting to buy or adopt a dog would be deleted.

All should follow this template:

Type of Pet:

Name of Pet: (If it has one)

Age:

Breed:

Sex:

Location:

Contact number:

Special needs: (If any)

Reason for adoption/ Message for interested parties:

Please FOLLOW the guidelines to make this thread clean and easy to read.

If your pet has been adopted, PM me or nairud about it and we will delete the post of the animals that have been adopted.

If you need help at posting, we can help you too.

~* Sugar Gliders *~ V3

crazymouse_yyh — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:51:03 +0800

Chubby Hamsters V4

crazymouse_yyh — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:35:52 +0800

^^ HAMSTERS ^^

Old thread http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/348425

A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.

SPECIES:

Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there is a fur type known as Rex.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They do make suitable pets for children but under adult supervision.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you mini hamsters and giving you a weird price. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed them unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.

- Hamsters can get sick easily if given too much fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

Anything to add in the 1st page, just PM me.

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 1:56 am[/addedon]Pictures of the different hamster species with some example of a few colour varieties.

Thank you to Reanne and |sorcerer| for their chinese hamsters and roborovski pictures.

One way to hold a hamster if it bites or to look at it's genital area clearly. Never do this for long since it is a bit uncomfortable for the hamster. Only for a short period.

______________________________________________________________________________

Useful links (credit to Acey)

Hamsterific: http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.html
My Free Hamster: http://www.myfreehamster.com
Future Pets: http://futurepet.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1&RCAT=600.
Hamster Hideout: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/
Wodent Wheels: http://www.transoniq.com/
Kare's Hamster Info: http://www.karelma.com/english/animals/hamsters.html
Pet Education: www.peteducation.com

QUOTE(bizen @ May 30 2007, 05:26 PM)

Charity doggie picnic

crazymouse_yyh — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:48:56 +0800

Dear Friends,

The Animal Friends group (AF) is having a charity tea picnic on the 18th
of November 2006 (Sat), 3pm to 6pm at Rahsia Bistro & Wine Bar, Ampang
http://www.rahsia-kl.com/. It's our first fundraising event and all
proceeds of the ticket sales will go towards the funding of AF's cause.

AF is a group made up by individuals committed to the welfare of abused,
abandoned and stray animals. The group comprises solely of volunteers
and operates on a shoestring budget to help homeless dogs and cats off
the streets and find each a good home. AF's expenses are mainly on dog
food, boarding and medical/sterialisation bills. All other kind of
sponsorships are also welcomed. If you are unable to take home a dog but
would like to sponsor for the welfare of one, please let us know. If
each one of us is able to do that, the result would be great indeed.

Anyway, back to the Charity Picnic, attached is a write up on the event
by the NST last Friday and a location map of Rahsia Bistro, the venue.
We'll have door gifts, fun games, contests and lucky draws! Buffet tea
and free flow drinks will be served. As this event will be picnic style,
remember to bring along your picnic mats for your best friend (doggie)
and yourself.

Tickets sales is opened this week. Please please show your support and buy a ticket,
its all for charity.
Ticket price: RM50 per adult, RM35 per kid (12 below) and RM15 per dog.

If you couldn't make it that day, please help to spread the word around
for a good cause. Maybe a friend is interested?! Thanks for your
support!

Warm Regards,
Animal Friends

II small animal gathering

crazymouse_yyh — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:05:37 +0800

Hello, another small animal gathering for you guys. Hope to get people from out station to come hahaha... anyway, choose a date please and give your choice of time and venue.

Anyone with or without pet welcome. Exotics are welcome too.

Will try and make this gathering more informative also.

This time the gathering would be held in the evening to avoid the heat.

Edited:

TIME: 5pm to 9pm. Up to you guys.

Date: 25 November 2006 (SATURDAY)

Venue:

IKANO POWER CENTER--> Meet at Pet Safari, later venture somewhere to have dinner