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Cosmo's cage

Sudiiiz

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Please give me tips on how to improve, but also note that he just got here 2-3 days ago, so maybe not many big changes for now :)

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Hi there. What species is Cosmo please? A Syrian or a dwarf hamster? :-) Either way, his tank could do to be a bit larger. It''s hard to tell from the photo what size it is. In the US, a 40 gallon breeder tank is usually one of the smallest sizes recommended, which is about 90cm x 45cm (or 3 ft by 18" deep). Although he has the topper as well, that isn't quite the same as floor space for digging and roaming, and the height can introduce some fall risks. However I can see he has quite a large level in there and the main improvement for now would be to add some more bedding and enrichment. If you've only had him 2 to 3 days, maybe wait a few more days before changing anything in the current tank. But adding bedding and other items is usually accepted well as long as you don't move things around or take things away. Adding a bit more bedding would help reduce any fall risks - less far to fall and give him more opportunity for digging etc. Also it would be better to have the coconut hanging over the shelf rather than next to it, in case he jumps out and lands on the ladder, which would be hard. If it's over the shelf he wouldn't have a fall if jumping out of it.

He looks to have lots to do in there :-)

However maybe it isn't that tall and the ladder is well placed so he can't fall onto that. Possibly the only fall risk is the ladder which would be better under or on the shelf. (ie anything hard under the shelf so it can't be landed on). At night they can actually monkey bar across the roof and drop!
 
EDIT! Sorry I just realised Cosmo is a Chinese Dwarf hamster, so ignore what I said about height. Chinese hamsters do like to climb and have a bit more height and use their slightly longer tails to help with this.
 
Hi there. What species is Cosmo please? A Syrian or a dwarf hamster? :-) Either way, his tank could do to be a bit larger. It''s hard to tell from the photo what size it is. In the US, a 40 gallon breeder tank is usually one of the smallest sizes recommended, which is about 90cm x 45cm (or 3 ft by 18" deep). Although he has the topper as well, that isn't quite the same as floor space for digging and roaming, and the height can introduce some fall risks. However I can see he has quite a large level in there and the main improvement for now would be to add some more bedding and enrichment. If you've only had him 2 to 3 days, maybe wait a few more days before changing anything in the current tank. But adding bedding and other items is usually accepted well as long as you don't move things around or take things away. Adding a bit more bedding would help reduce any fall risks - less far to fall and give him more opportunity for digging etc. Also it would be better to have the coconut hanging over the shelf rather than next to it, in case he jumps out and lands on the ladder, which would be hard. If it's over the shelf he wouldn't have a fall if jumping out of it.

He looks to have lots to do in there :-)

However maybe it isn't that tall and the ladder is well placed so he can't fall onto that. Possibly the only fall risk is the ladder which would be better under the shelf. (ie anything hard under the shelf so it can't be landed on). At night they can actually monkey bar across the roof and drop!
He's a Chinese dwarf hamster. His cage is 80x40x30 cm. His bedding is 17-18 cm. Thanks for the tips I will change what I can :)

Also do you actually think he has lots to do because I feel like he has nothing to do in his cage except run in his wheel (which he's currently sleeping under, also dk why he's sleeping there)
 
EDIT! Sorry I just realised Cosmo is a Chinese Dwarf hamster, so ignore what I said about height. Chinese hamsters do like to climb and have a bit more height and use their slightly longer tails to help with this.
No problem 😁
 
That's not a bad size. And as Chinese are quite shy he would probably be fine in that for a while until he's more used to you. Changing their cage can be a stressful thing, so would need to be done carefully and at the right time. Are you in the Uk?

Yes although he has a few things to do in there, adding some more enrichment would help. Personally I would replace the ladder with some kind of tunnel - eg a cork log. It makes a nice big tunnel, something to climb over and interesting texture. I've added a link to a place that sells good cork logs. Adding sprays would also help - it not only adds enrichment and somehting to nibble on, but helps give them some "cover" and shelter at ground level so they don't feel too exposed. Various places sell sprays but I've linked Hamsters we Love for that, as I've used some of theirs and they seem good quality ones.

With the cork shed, they show individual cork logs and you can choose the size and shape you want from the picture.


Flax is usually very popular and also sorghum


Additional substrates also add variety. Softwood shavings aren't usually recommended these days - especially if they are pine. You'd need to check the packet to see if it says pine, and also if it says dust extracted. If you're in the Uk they'll be kiln dried. In the US they usually aren't and those are the most unsafe. If the packet just says "softwood" rather than pine then they could be anything. If they are kiln dried, dust extracted pine, then rather than change them all (which would be stressful for the hamster) you could just add paper bedding on top for now, and then as you gradually spot clean you'll be adding more paper and removing more shavings over time :-) Popular paper based beddings are Kaytee Clean n Cozy and Fitch.

Which hamster mix does he have?
 
That's not a bad size. And as Chinese are quite shy he would probably be fine in that for a while until he's more used to you. Changing their cage can be a stressful thing, so would need to be done carefully and at the right time. Are you in the Uk?

Yes although he has a few things to do in there, adding some more enrichment would help. Personally I would replace the ladder with some kind of tunnel - eg a cork log. It makes a nice big tunnel, something to climb over and interesting texture. I've added a link to a place that sells good cork logs. Adding sprays would also help - it not only adds enrichment and somehting to nibble on, but helps give them some "cover" and shelter at ground level so they don't feel too exposed. Various places sell sprays but I've linked Hamsters we Love for that, as I've used some of theirs and they seem good quality ones.

With the cork shed, they show individual cork logs and you can choose the size and shape you want from the picture.


Flax is usually very popular and also sorghum


Additional substrates also add variety. Softwood shavings aren't usually recommended these days - especially if they are pine. You'd need to check the packet to see if it says pine, and also if it says dust extracted. If you're in the Uk they'll be kiln dried. In the US they usually aren't and those are the most unsafe. If the packet just says "softwood" rather than pine then they could be anything. If they are kiln dried, dust extracted pine, then rather than change them all (which would be stressful for the hamster) you could just add paper bedding on top for now, and then as you gradually spot clean you'll be adding more paper and removing more shavings over time :-) Popular paper based beddings are Kaytee Clean n Cozy and Fitch.

Which hamster mix does he have?
We're actually from the Netherlands and his bedding says it's wood shavings or wood fiber?

His hamster mix is from Versele-Laga nature mini hamster, it contains mealworms - vitamins - veggies and fruit - seeds and it has weird gray brownish bits which he does not seem to like
 
Hmm. Does it have a brand on the packet? Chipsi classic wood shavings are one of the better ones as they are part spruce and all german shavings are very well kiln dried. But if it only says "wood shavings" I'd be a bit cautious - if it doesn't say what type of wood.

I can understand why you have a Chinese hamster now - I think russian dwarf hamsters have been banned in the Netherlands now. We have another member from the Netherlands on here :-)
 
Hmm. Does it have a brand on the packet? Chipsi classic wood shavings are one of the better ones as they are part spruce and all german shavings are very well kiln dried. But if it only says "wood shavings" I'd be a bit cautious - if it doesn't say what type of wood.

I can understand why you have a Chinese hamster now - I think russian dwarf hamsters have been banned in the Netherlands now. We have another member from the Netherlands on here :)
This is his bedding and his food, and yes sadly Russians are banned here :(

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I think it would be better to get the Bunny Dream dwarf expert (linked below) as the Versele Laga contains fruit which is best avoided in a mix for a potentially diabetic species. The Bunny Dream mix is very nice - my hamsters have liked it and it's suitable. You would need to supplement the protein a little bit in the first year of life as it only has 15.6% protein(the Versele Laga is also a little bit low on protein), so giving a few protein supplements would be best. That could either be fresh food - eg chopped hard boiled egg a couple of times a week and a walnut half once a week. Or instead, if it's easier, give two or three science selective pellets daily in addition to the bunny dream mix (they contain everything needed).

The bag of wood shavings. Is there any other information on the packet? I can't see what the four symbols down the right hand side say - two have a cross on them.

Vetsend (who sell Bunny Dream) are in the Netherlands :-)
Link below
Bunny Dream dwarf hamster expert
 
Thanks for the suggestion I'll look into it ☺️. And I couldn't find any more details on the bedding. The four symbols basically explain the benefits, soft - smell free - absorbent - dust free.

Also Cosmo is not drinking much water I also added a small bowl off water Incase he didn't like the bottle but he still isn't drinking much, he is eating tho.

Also compared to when we first got him he's gotten distant which is weird because he was quite curious but I think after adding some more bedding and changing small items he became more introvert or maybe I'm overreacting and he's just adjusting.
 
It sounds like it's dust-extracted then. Yes he may react to even minor change. Could be best to wait a couple of weeks while he settles in
:)
 
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