Bramble the female syrian in bucatstate 2.0

[Sukie]

Hi all,

We have Bramble, who is a female syrian. We got her a couple of months ago. Bramble is mostly settling well into her bucatstate cage but is quite an escape artist and chews around the door . I just wondered if anyone had come across this or has any ideas? I realised the door has to be lined up exactly or it leaves an edge that can be chewed. Her bedding is up to just under the front door so a fairly good depth and I try and give her something new each day. Any ideas would be great! Thanks

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome @Daisy has Bucatstate's so might know which bit you mean. Do you have the 1st version or the second one? I remember something about hamsters chewing the plastic catches for the door, but think that was the first version and they improved it after that. She sounds very active and cheeky. Does she have any out of cage time at all? Maybe it's her way of saying she wants to come out? I'm wondering if you could block that area off with something.

 

[Sukie]

Thanks. She hasn't done it so much the last couple of days as I've been trying to line it up carefully when I close it. She comes out for about fifteen mins a day but I don't know if it should be longer than that? Thanks!

 

[Maz]

That sounds positive! I hope that continues and she settles down Their habits vary with personality. I have one who wants to be out every night and another who hardly ever wants to come out. How long for out of cage time you maybe need to gauge. If you use a kind of "taxi" - something to transport her from the cage to the play area - then leaving that in the play area can be good as they often go back in it when they've had enough and want to go home.

 

[Sukie]

Great thank you!

 

[Zara]

Hi Sukie, welcome to the forum! Bramble sounds fun. I’ve only ever had caged enclosures and not tanks, I guess it’s more difficult as not so many places to tie or hang treats and chews. I was thinking if you could hang a chew toy nearby, it may give her something to focus on and play with over chewing the door? There are lots of great cardboard creations to hide treats in on one of the threads that may help keep her busy.

 

[Maz]

It's here

Cardboard creations

I like the egg box idea Maz. I think my Ares might like that. My rats loved the Christmas crackers, I don't know why I never tried it with the hamsters.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Sukie]

 

[Sukie]

Hoping some new sprays will keep her happy!

 

[Maz]

Good idea . I’ll be interested to see what happens to those

 

[Daisy]

Hello,

Bramble sounds like a typical female Syrian (i.e an escape artist)!

I have a Bucatstate (actually three of them, one first version and two second version) and I know what you mean about the doors. The first version had fiddly little plastic screws for the hinges, which were replaced in the second version which you have. However, as you say, the door still doesn't line up perfectly and can leave a gap. I'm not really sure what to suggest for that, unless you can find something to glue around the inside of the door to protect the plastic somehow.

Is she actually chewing a hole in the plastic, as it is quite tough acrylic?

 

[Sukie]

Thanks daisy, that's helpful to know. She's not made any holes or anything too worrying yet. Yes she definitely loves to chew and look for escape routes! Amazingly the sprays are still fairly intact so will see how she gets on. Thanks everyone!

 

[Maz]

Do you have any photos of her, or is it too early days for that? Would love to see one. Also there's a monthly photo competition if you want to have a go This month's closes tomorrow night.

Photo Competition May/June

This month's competition is for a favourite photo of your hamster, or one of your hamsters :) Looking forward to seeing lots of lovely hammy photos :) Competition rules: Only one entry per member It needs to be your own photograph All members can enter The competition runs until 14th June

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Sukie]

Oh lovely thanks. All my photos are pretty rubbish so far. She is actually in the picture above but it's really dark! I'll try and get some better ones soon...

 

[Maz]

I can see her Looks like she's nibbling those sprays,