A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SKITTLES:
This is Skittles, an adorably cute Roborovski hamster, aged somewhere between 6 and 9 months.
Bought originally for young children, they soon lost interest in her, and the seller refused to take her back. This is sadly all too common for small animals…people believe them to be good “starter pets” for children but they really aren’t! They are complex little creatures, who need people who are happy to meet their needs (particularly when it comes to their accommodation and enrichment). They also don’t make great pets for children as they don’t typically enjoy being handled, they’re very, very fast so can easily make a break for it from young hands and they are also nocturnal creatures by nature, so active when most children would be tucked up in bed!
We don’t think Skittles was treated as nicely as she could or should have been unfortunately, and she remains very nervous of people and will either hide away or freeze, watching from a distance. Her fosterer is working on this though, and trying to get her used to hands being near her…it is essential that this is continued in her new home, taking it all at Skittles’ pace!
Her most active times are between 10pm and 7.30am, so investing in a night camera will be a great idea (see our photos!), so that you don’t miss out on the fun of her darting between her sand bath, wheel, digging pits and burrows. She absolutely loves burrowing, her current favourite spot being underneath her beech digging pit (which is on stilts). She’s a real little foodie, and mealworms are always her go-to, along with flax sprays which she will always devour very quickly.
She will need a home very similar to the one she is currently enjoying-minimum size 100 x 50 x 50 cm. It may be possible to purchase her current enclosure, with sand bath, multi-chamber and tunnels, please email emily@rspcaworcester.org.uk for further information on hamster enrichment and accommodation.
If you would like to apply to adopt, you can complete our application form online by clicking the button below.
Upon completion, just hit "Submit" and your form will be sent straight over to our team.
