A bunch of questions

[Birdsarenotreal]

I’m getting everything ready for my ham to come home

I found one that I like. He’s an itty bitty (like no joke- the size of a hybrid dwarf) male syrian. Banded cream and white. How can I check that he’s healthy before he comes home? This is what he looks like.
https://ibb.co/Gnww0s1
https://ibb.co/qBPr4sj

I haven’t put the bedding in the enclosure yet but this is what it looks like. 9” wheel because he is seriously TINY but I’ll give him my 12” if he ever needs it/grows into it. The transparent dish is for sand. The small green hide is for eco earth, although I’ll switch to a jar once I can buy one- but again, he’s super tiny and the hide should work just fine for now.
https://ibb.co/FxPxDtH
https://ibb.co/QbPhqbt

He’s seriously like 1/4 the size of my last Syrian (who WAS ethically bred retiree breeder I will say- but still on the smaller size for that breeder at 175g)
I guess I haven’t had a young Syrian in over 5 years so I may have forgotten the size.. but man oh man he is itty bitty.

Also any science related names relating to him being tiny (or any names for that matter) are very welcome to be suggested.
Thanks!

[CallaTheHam]

ack he’s adorable!! how old is he?

i’m sure there are other ways to check if he’s healthy but i’d say the only way i know would be to ask whoever you’re getting him from- is it a breeder or an accidental litter or what? because depending on which it would probably determine the general health / risk of unhealthiness

good luck with him, he’s adorable :0 !!

[Birdsarenotreal]

ack he’s adorable!! how old is he?

i’m sure there are other ways to check if he’s healthy but i’d say the only way i know would be to ask whoever you’re getting him from- is it a breeder or an accidental litter or what? because depending on which it would probably determine the general health / risk of unhealthiness

good luck with him, he’s adorable :0 !!

I have no idea how old he is. Maybe 6-8 weeks?
I decided to not get from a breeder this time because the hamsters are SO BIG (like too big for a 12” wheel) and I don’t want a massive hamster.
He’s from a pet store because none of the rescues near me have hamsters on a regular basis (like maybe once ever 6 months one comes up and it’s like a 2 year old aggressive hamster or something) there used to be more available but most shelters stopped taking them for whatever reason.
He LOOKS healthy outwardly (clear eyes, nose, ears, full coat, etc) but I know health checks are not everything.

[CallaTheHam]

i see! i think then yeah, the external health check would be your best bet at knowing. so long as he’s acting and looking healthy, there’s not much more you can do.