Review - Large Supreme Hamster Play Fort

As some of you may know, for Christmas I got given a present for Willow, which is this lovely play fort, with lots of different rooms with tunnels leading into each of them, for Willow to explore in.

Today I am going to write my opinions of it, with both the positive and negative sides of it, before finally reaching my conclusion. I hope you like this review!

Name: Supreme Hamster Fort Large Play Maze Small Pets Hamster Dwarf (Rabbit?) Gerbil Mice

Brand: Supreme

Price: From £6 to £11, depending on where you buy it

Shop I bought it from: It was a present so I don't know where my parents bought it from.

First Impression:

I thought this looked really fun and perfect for Willow, though I was slightly worried that she would escape! It compacted easily which is great for storing, and was easy to put together.

I liked how simple yet fun it looked, and it was big enough to keep a Syrian hamster entertained and let her wonder around and explore.

Pros:

• It kept Willow entertained and she enjoyed exploring the different rooms
• It was easy to keep an eye on Willow while she ran around in it, and she didn't get bored easily
• It is made completely of cardboard, so if your hamster tries to eat it it won't harm your hamster (and knowing Willow, it's always important - seeing as she always tries to escape)
• You can use it for many different small pets: hamsters, mice, gerbils, rats etc.

Cons:

• It states that you can use it for a rabbit. Really? That is just ridiculous! A rabbit would definately never fit inside that. It is ridiculous. 
• After a few times of using it, Willow finally managed to work out how to escape... out of the sides of the fort. And once she learns something, she won't forget it and stop doing it... Never mind!
• She chewed some of the corner off, though it didn't go completely through to the other side so it doesn't really matter (pic above)
• £10 is quite expensive for some cardboard, though I have to admit it is quite cool..

I think this is a great toy, which is perfect for hamsters. I think this would be better/ more suited to smaller animals than Syrian hamsters, like dwarf hamsters or mice, as they wouldn't be able to climb up over the sides of the fort.
Still, I love the whole thing. It is such a cute idea, and you can put treats and toys in different rooms to keep your hamster or small pet entertained.

Overall, I give this hamster play fort 4 stars out of 5. :D

New sponsor - The Dew Hop Inn!

Animal Tails has got an official sponsor! - The Dew Hop Inn! (On Etsy)

The Dew Hop Inn statement: "We offer natural dried fruits, chew "toys", and other treats for your pet bunnies or other small animals. All of our products come from our 60 acres or other local farmers in Downeast Maine. We take great care in hand picking it all and sun drying most of it. While we cater to pet bunnies and small animals you need not worry as the fruit is safe for humans too!" 

The Dew Hop Inn have kindly sent me a packet of small animal treats for Willow, and Willow loved them! The packet included lots of yummy treats including some chew sticks and various dried veggies. (and fruits?)

There are many treats, which will make the perfect gift for your pets Christmas presents!

This is what was in the bag. ^

Willow absolutely loved her tasty treats. I haven't given them all to her yet, as too much fruit/vegetables at the same time can be bad for your hamster.

So far I have given her a chew stick, some dried banana, and some other dried things. She was curious about the banana at first, but she soon realized it was edible and gobbled it up!

She instantly loved the stick and was kept entertained by chewing it for ages!

I really recommend that you go and check out The Dew Hop Inn, because your pets will truly love the treats sold there - and there are treats available for pretty much all small animals: rabbits, hamsters, mice, gerbils - you get the picture.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE DEW HOP INN ON ETSY

Interview with Ann from Pawsitively Pets

Today, I bring you an interview with Ann from Pawsitively Pets blog. Pawsitively Pets is a great blog for animal lovers, and if you don't read it I really recommend you go and check it out! It has lots of information on lots of animals, including care, funny posts and caption contests, interviews, giveaways and much more!

Ann was a pleasure to do an interview with, and she has had some really interesting jobs in her time... She says: 'I have worked with a lot of weird animals... a swan, a baby goose, a mongoose, vulture... some things I'd have to Google the names of because I can't even remember their names...' - How cool is that? She was also a  veterinary technician for five years, so the information she gives about animal care can be relied upon. She knows what she's talking about, put it that way!

So, onto the interview:

What made you start a blog?

I stopped working as a Vet Tech in February of 2012 five days before I had my second daughter, Violet. I became extremely bored with no hobbies, or money for hobbies for that matter. I've always enjoyed writing since I was a child and started to do some research. That's how I learned about blogging. I think now I might be addicted. 

How did you decide on the name ‘Pawsitively Pets’ for your blog?

I wanted something catchy and cute. At first, I thought of Pawesome Pets, but didn't really like the way that one spelled out for some reason. So I decided on Pawsitively instead. 

What would you like to achieve through blogging?

I can say that I've already achieved my first goal - finding a free hobby that keeps me occupied. I would love to be able to expand my reach to large numbers of readers. 

If someone were to ask you one thing you wanted your blog to do (e.g. inform people), what would it be?

I think I would want for my blog to entertain people the most. Informing readers is also a high priority on my list. I love informing people about ways to help their pets. It was one of my favorite things to as a vet tech. Many people were unsure of how to take care of their exotic pets especially and I feel like I was able to give them essential information about their pet's health. Through blogging, I am able to continue doing this. 

Favourite blogs?

I've come across so many wonderful blogs since I began blogging. There are some that I absolutely love and have found great inspiration from. Glogirly - Tails of a Cat & Her Girls (http://glogirly.com/), Cat Chat (http://opcatchat.blogspot.com/), and Stunning Keisha (http://www.stunningkeisha.com) are a few of my favorites right now. It's so hard to choose though! I follow so many great blogs... including this one. Animal Tails is one of the first blogs I started to follow. 

 Visit Here                        Visit Here                          Visit Here

What are the animal related jobs you have done? Favourites?

I worked as a veterinary technician for five years. I graduated from a veterinary assisting college program prior to starting my career. I quickly found my passion for working with birds, reptiles, and small mammals when I became the main technician for a board certified avian veterinarian and exotic pet specialist. Of course, I do love working with cats and dogs too. I will return to this field of work again one day. 

What are your main interests?

Of course, animals. Particularly exotic pets. Aside from that though, I have always enjoyed playing video games. I love the Final Fantasy series of RPG video games. They are my favorite. I'm also pretty good at DJ Hero! I also enjoy music. I absolutely love EDM music. EDM stands for "electronic dance music" and has many genres most of which I like. I enjoy going to music events to see performers, although I don't get to do this much anymore. 

What are your favourite parts of blogging? Community/Photography/interview etc.

So far, I've really enjoyed getting to meet some awesome people and anipals on the internet. I don't really have the right equipment for photography, but I like to edit photos. I don't have photoshop, but it's on my wishlist! 

What is your favourite animal?

I'm not sure I know the answer to this question! I have a lot of favorite animals so it's hard to pick just one. How about I tell you the kinds of animals that scare me the most... No offense to these animals, but they have a reputation for being naughty at the vet's office. The animals that scare me the most are sugar gliders, prarie dogs, and squirrels. 

Pets?

I have a 9 year old pit bull named "Shiner". She's named Shiner because she has one black eye. I've had her since she was a puppy. I also have a girl rat named "Nibblet" who I got back in September for my birthday. She is my first rat and she's awesome! 

Do your pets get on well together?

Actually they do! I know it's a strange pair but Shiner likes to sniff and lick Nibblet. Nibblet doesn't really seem to mind and she just sits still for her. Nibblet usually is the one who goes over to Shiner first to play.

I must say a big thank you to Ann for letting me interview her and being so willing and helpful. I really enjoyed this interview and putting this post together! Be sure to visit Ann at Pawsitively Pets so you can learn more about animals and have fun. Her blog is really great, so you should definitely at least have a look!

Photos of the Pawsitively Pets banner, Shiner, and Nibblet are all taken by Ann, so thanks for letting me share them!

'Silent Spinner' review

Name: Silent Spinner

Brand: Superpet

Price: £12.99

Shop I bought it from: Pet's Corner

First impression: 

When I first saw it I thought it looked smaller than Willow's old wheel, but seeing as I didn't have them to compare I didn't really know if I was right or not. I needed the silent wheel anyway so I didn't have much choice- I had to buy it.

Reasons I chose to buy it:

- I didn't have much choice, Willow needed a silent wheel so my family could sleep
- It looked well designed and sturdy

Story behind getting the new wheel:

My hamster had been keeping my whole family awake at night, and I had to face it: they were getting pretty cranky. I knew I had to buy another quieter wheel, so that my family could get a decent night's sleep.

When I got it home I realized I was right, it was smaller. It was still an acceptable size for a hamster wheel, but I wasn't happy about it anyway. Willow loved her bigger pink wheel, and I didn't want to replace it with a smaller wheel- even if it was only slightly smaller.

I looked online to see if I could get the next size up. Turns out they only have the size I got and the next size up is HUGE. I mean, big enough for a large chinchilla. It's something like 12", and that definitely wouldn't fit in my cage... Why don't they make a size between them>?? It's so stupid.

Willow seems to like the wheel, and it definitely is a lot quieter, but I still feel really mean because of the size... What do you think- is it too small?

Pros:

- Nice colours

- Completely silent, as promised

- Good for your hamster's feet- the plastic is smooth.

- Your hamster can't nibble and break the centre of the wheel like they can with most wheels.

- Is very sturdy and well designed

Cons:

- Quite expensive

- Doesn't come in sensible sizes. This is a little too small for my likings.

- Had to swap the stand, as the stand it came with was too tall to fit in my cage.

- When the hamster stops running the wheel rocks around quite a lot, and Willow has to wait a while
   before stepping out. I think this must be quite dizzying for her!

Overall, I would give this wheel about 4 stars. It is 5 stars for quietness, but the size of it really does annoy me!

'Stik 'n' Nut' Review

Name: Stik 'n' Nut

Brand: SMALL 'N' FURRY

Price: £3.99

Shop I bought it from: Pet's Corner

First impression: 

I thought this looked fun and might be good for Willow's teeth, but I wasn't sure if Willow might just ignore it or not... Sometimes I put something new in her cage and she just completely ignores it, and I didn't want to spend nearly £4 on some pieces of wood for her to just go and ignore.

Reasons I chose to buy it:

- It looked good for Willow's teeth
- It had a hook at the top so I could hook it to
  Willow's cage
- It looked like it might keep Willow entertained for
  a while

In the end, I am pleased to say that this toy was a huge success. Willow absolutely loved this toy, and was kept entertained for a good half hour in the middle of the day before returning back to bed.

She played with it all through the night too. Unfortunately by the time I went downstairs in the morning Willow had completely eaten the bottom part of the string, and taken a few of the bits of wood back to her nest... never mind... 

Overall, I still think this is a great toy, as it kept Willow entertained for so long and wasn't too expensive (though it could have been cheaper). It isn't too big and bulky, so will fit in most cages, and it isn't over-complicated.

If I got to say a few improvements, that would only be to make the rope holding it all together a bit stronger so that hamsters can't break it quite so easily! Apart from that - a good buy.

Below are some pictures of Willow enjoying her new toy.

BlogSHOUT: Hamster Diaries

So, I have decided to do a BlogSHOUT, which is basically where I will recommend a blog which I think you should read, then I'll write a bit about the blog and what I think about it- then if you want you can visit it!

So, I have decided to do a BlogSHOUT on ChaoticScribbles' 'Hamster Diaries'.

There aren't very many hamster blogs out there, as it is quite a specific topic, and not all people are as passionate about hamsters as I am, but this blog is a truly AMAZING blog about hamsters- with all sorts of information, polls, giveaways and adorable hamster pictures on it. It really is a blog worth reading. ;)

This blog is on WordPress not on blogger, but even if you don't have a WordPress account I would still thoroughly recommend having a read of this blog.

I don't know how I found this blog, as I don't usually go on WordPress, but I am so glad I did!

ChaoticScribbles has also kindly done a BlogSHOUT for Animal tails :)
Click here or the picture to read it.

She has three absolutely beautiful Syrian hamsters- Casper, Eve and Dexter. I have always thought that Lolly and Willow were the cutest hamsters ever, but I can see that Casper, Dexter and Eve are all super-adorable too! They're all so photogenic too!

ChaoticScribbles writes her blog with such a good sense of humor  and her posts just make you want to read more! ChaoticScribbles' pictures of her hamsters are truly amazing too - she could be a photographer!

ChaoticScribble even designs her own adorable bags, which you can buy for £5 on her esty store (free shipping to the UK)! If you read her blog you can get a discount... (hope that lured you in even more!)

Overall, this blog has everything... - Informative posts, polls, jokes, photos, specially designed bags... and even a riddle every Sunday! Really, what more could you ask for?

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HAMSTER DIARIES

Pet forums review

Some of you may have heard of 'Pet Forums' and some may not, but it is a great way of talking about pets and animals with others. 

Good points:

You can ask any pet/animal/nature related question and it is usually answered quite quickly.

It is quick and easy to sign up to.
Completely safe to use.

It is very easy to use and upload photos etc.

You can upload photos into albums, either public, private or profile.

It has a customisable profile.

It hosts its own pet photo of the month competition with great prizes.

It has many different categories of chat to choose from, including pet general, forum support and dog health and nutrition.

Allows you to send private messages to other members.

You can add other members as friends.

Suitable for all ages.

Bad points:

You have to have written at least 10 posts to vote for the pet photo of the month.

This site only really has one purpose: to talk about nature, animals and pets.

You have to be a member to comment on any thread.

Screenshots:

Main forum

Profile

Album

Overall I think this is a great site which I recommend to people of all ages interested in animals, wildlife, nature and animal related photos.

Overall star rating out of 5 is:

To visit pet forums click here!

This is the first review I have done on this website. Like it? Please feel free to comment below.

By the way, if anyone joins and wants to add me as a friend my user name is Hannah xxx :)

Orbiciser - The new hamster fitness ball!

When I was browsing the web for hamster-related products, I found this: an orbiciser.

At first I thought it was just a normal exercise ball with a fancy name, but after watching the video, (below), I understood that it was designed to keep out the wee/poo when your hamster is going around the house in the exercise ball.

This is perfect for carpets, as hamster wee can sometimes be hard to remove.

I would get one, but they are quite expensive, $14.95, and as I live in England I would have to get it shipped too.

"The Leak-Proof Pet Ball is a unique pet product that hygienically allows a small animal to walk inside a ball and exercise on the floors of your home. It locks in the animal's waste and droppings between two layers thus keeping both the floor and the animal clean.

It allows the animal to exercise safely while simultaneously keeping it and your home environment dry and clean.

Air circulates freely letting your pet breathe and stay cool."

For more information please visit their website below:

http://www.orbiciser.com/index.php

Hope you enjoyed this post!