Bashful

Name: Bashful
Species: Dwarf Hybrid 
Gender: Male
Est. DOB: September 2025
Likes: Snacks, being kaypoh & his wheel
Dislikes: Fast hands, being woken up & being grabbed

Fosterer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep.space.ham9/ 

Requirements:

Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm - As per HSS guidelines

  • Although at the moment he is in a 100x50x50cm acrylic cage. Please keep this in mind if you go with a 90cm long cage as he may have gotten used to a larger size. 

Wheel: Min. 21cm - As per HSS guidelines. 

  • PLEASE NOTE: He is a boy ham so he will pee on his wheel! Make sure to clean it at least once a week. 

Bedding: 

I use a mixture of a few of the following bedding brands, however you only need one (1) kind of any of the stated paper based beddings. I personally enjoy mixing textures as I have access to various types via donations. 

  • Oxbow Pure Comfort 

    • NOTE: it is important to manually crumble the compressed bedding when it is taken from the packaging while the hamster is NOT in the enclosure as this can create dust. Once this is done though, it will be fine for the hamster.

  • Boxo Comfort Small Animal Bedding

    • White variety

  • Dust free paper bedding from FatPouches

  • Jonsanty Hamster Bedding

OPTIONAL: 

  • Timothy hay or Aspen shavings to provide texture and structure for tunnelling mixed into the paper bedding, or to place inside hideouts as extra texture.

    • Currently using Niteangel and Kaytee, but Oxbow is also ok.

      • ALTERNATIVE: Can also use the Marukan brand of Aspen shavings.

        • Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! Currently using IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.

    • I also have placed some Niteangel brand dry moss layered with other hamster safe wood substrates in a few hideouts for texture. Shout out to all the kind donors out there!

Food: 

Currently using a mixture of FatPouches Standard Hamster Seed Mix and Bunny Dream Expert Dwarf Hamster. 

  • I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days. 

  • Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of HSS approved seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.

I've also provided him with sprays like millet and flax. Millet sprays that are marketed towards pet birds are just as tasty for hamsters. 

Enrichment:

  • At least 3 hideouts 

    • Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.

      • A main nesting area can be made by connecting 2 hideouts with one tunnel (EG: plain tunnel with middle hole, or T shaped tunnel - DIY them with cardboard toilet tubes!)

  • It is recommended he has enough bedding to properly dig around in. Please refer to the HSS website for further advice.

    • OPTIONAL: Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding.

  • OPTIONAL: A dig jar or box partially filled with coco peat and mixed with non-perishable (as in not too oily to attract ants) and dry treats and seeds, as well as some short stalks of sprays. 

    • The FÖRVAR jar from IKEA is a good choice for this kind of enrichment activity!

    • RAJTAN from IKEA is another alternative. 

    • As long as the jar or container is slightly tilted or easy for him to get in and out of it should be fine. 

Profile:

Part of a rescue of 7 dwarves, Bashful is definitely the “scaredy-ham”  of the bunch. But don’t let that fool you! He is ALWAYS going to be nosey about the world outside his enclosure. 

Being a scaredy-ham means having to gain his trust at being held, being touched and even accepting treats, and while it is a slow process, it’s an incredibly rewarding one. He’s gone from being terrified of being touched, to allowing gentle back pets while peering over the edge of the door to his enclosure.


Besides enjoying snacks from trusted fingers, he LOVES to run on his wheel, so you need to make sure your wheel is as silent as possible if he is going to live in your bedroom! But beware: he is a determined nibbler and will make a meal of your fingers if you’re not careful!!! 

Bashful may be a shy boy, but he’s a shy boy that will be the perfect challenge to befriend. Will you be his Snow White?