Originally Posted by binxycat

Hi all
Long story but we have two new hamsters to add to the zoo in our house!
Youngest daughter went to town and instead of buying school shoes came back with a darling little girl hamster, cage, food etc etc! Well elder daughter then took it upon herself to go to PAH with her BF and came back with the biggest "baby" hamster I have ever seen and a rotastack pink palace thingy for it's home. (Must add that we have had hamsters before, the last one lived 4 years and was fab!)
I felt really sorry for the big baby because he was just squealing all the time, probably with stress? so we didn't try handling him for a few days after which he was particuarly savage with my husband!! I bought a "normal" type cage and we transferred him to this hoping that he would be able to interract a little bit more with us and get used to us moving around etc.
Well "Jim Bob" is getting really interested in what's going on, we are letting him have a sniff of us, giving him food through the bars etc but haven't tried picking him up yet (he's been in the new home 4 days). What I have noticed is that he seems to be scratching himself A LOT and rolling around in the sawdust - Could he have some sort of mites or something that is upsetting him and not adding to his general demeanor?? i can't pick him up to have a look at him!!
Sorry this is a long story but wanted to give a bit of background info - Oh yes he's a tri colour syrian - any help appreciated
Thanks