Author Topic: A photo to make sure all works OK  (Read 970 times)

Nate

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A photo to make sure all works OK
« on: April 03, 2008, 12:17:54 PM »
I just wanted to make sure that members could upload their photos in this new board.

jcoombes2002

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Re: A photo to make sure all works OK
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2008, 12:36:55 PM »
I wish mine got on that well - they still dont get on nightmare!

Nate

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Re: A photo to make sure all works OK
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2008, 07:07:40 AM »
Hi,really sorry to read that your two are fighting, I guess from that the male is coming out of his nest box now.

The photos of mine in pairs are the rare ones, very few of mine will happily sit side by side. But I like the photos of when they're together, so I tend to upload more of those. I make a distinction between just squabbling and fighting. Most of mine squabble all the time, even siblings that have lived together since birth. Fighting is a different matter, and can be so bad it can be fatal. Luckily it's never happened to me, but I have had to step in on some serious fights. So some of mine have a few nicks in their ears where they have got in to a scrap. Your problem might blow over, as I've noticed that the females can be a bit tetchy this time of year. The males do get more placid as they grow up, but the females throw their weight around more. My female Toto lives with his brother Acorn, and lately she has been chasing him away. But because they still choose to sleep in the same box, and she is out of the aviary most of the day, I'll keep them together for now.

One last thing that I find helps if you only have one aviary, is to put in flexible tunnels and/or tubes. If the one being chased has plenty of places to hide the chase can stop quickly. They seem not to bother chasing each other if they can't see one another. I also found that putting two lots of food in different parts of the aviary helps relive tension. They are just like kids, if one thinks the other has a better more juicy slice of grape, trouble can ensue.

Dani

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Re: This is Hammy
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2008, 10:13:20 PM »
Thought i would share the photo of my kid.  This is Hammy, he is almost a year old.  I saw him in a pet shop & couldn't believe they bred & sold chipmunks in Germany.  I have never seen chipmunks for sale in the USA, hopefully we can take him home with us.  I haven't been able to find any information about taking them back to the US.  I have a room just for my pets so Hammy gets to come out and 'play.'  He was always jumping in my tortoises cages to eat their food, dig in their dirt, & he even sat on top of Speedy & just looked at me.  He has gotten so much better & knows that if he bothers them then he will get sent back home.  The pet store claimed they were lovable & liked being cuddled, but I knew better.  I can pet him & hand feed him, but he does not like being held so much.  He is adorable, spunky, naughty, funny, and lovable.

The funniest thing he does, I think, is when he wants something from me.  He will walk on his hind legs and grab at the air with his little front paws.  I liked the photo you put up of your aviary, it helped me get a better idea for the one we will build.  Right now we just have a ferret cage because we're moving soon & because it's way too expensive to buy anything here, the US is MUCH cheaper.  I let him run around everyday & he goes back in when he's done, unless he's naughty - which he hasn't been in months.

Nate

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Re: A photo to make sure all works OK
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2008, 08:53:25 AM »
Hi Dani

I think Hammy's personalty comes through in the photos you've uploaded, he looks great fun. Glad to read you already knew about their dislike of being cuddled, they look like they should like it but most don't like it. As Hammy is your only chipmunk he should thrive on the sole attention you can give him, I find they can become really close to the human owners. Some of mine have become so tame the will go to sleep inside my top, and love running around on me and going for rides. It's taken years to get them this tame, but it shows chipmunks become even more appealing as they grow up.

I don't know too much about taking chipmunks to the USA, I have read that some states don't allow them as pets, but then Hammy won't be one of the North American species of chipmunk. I recently added this US site to my links page http://www.gotchippies.com/home.html they manufacture aviaries, not on a mass production scale, so it might be a starting point for you. I really hope you're able to keep him in the states.

Dani

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Re: Thanks Nate
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2008, 06:26:35 PM »
Thank you for the link.  I like their cages.  I couldn't find the info. on their site stating which state they are in.  My husband & I are thinking that we would build a cage for Ham-a-lot & save some $ also we could make it just how he would like it.  Right now he is in a ferret cage, poor guy, but I let him run around everyday because I am not working right now.  I like being able to bring him out to spend time with me too.  He is only about 11 months old so we still have a lot of time to spend together.

I am still looking into information about taking him back.  The website that FWS gave me didn't say we couldn't.  The good thing is that I don't need any import permits so they won't even know.  I have to get CITES permits for my tortoises, easier going to the US than from the US.