Dusty the Robo dwarf hamster.

[Dusty's Mom]

That's great you got the dowel legs on the house Platforms for sale often aren't taller than 15cm - there are some about 21cm on Amazon I think. So it needs a bit of careful working out. If you were to have, say, a Bucatstate, where there's more height, you wouldn't need a shallow end and could have 25cm/10" or more bedding in the whole cage. Which means you'd need platforms with 30cm legs. That's what I went for. 25cm bedding and 30cm tall platforms. For the wheel though you would probably need a 25cm tall platform - so you have enough height for an 8" or 9" wheel. Or even a 10" so you have that bit of height leeway in case you ever decide to change the wheel. A 9" wheel is about right for a robo, although an 8" could be ok. Some people do use a 10" but I found 8" or 9" is about right. So that means the wheel platform would actually be the same level as the substrate and would be there just to support the wheel. That's ok though as they can still burrow under the wheel platform.

I'm not sure if you can get platforms with different leg height choices in the US but there might be some on Etsy. So the easiest thing would be to make them and just get the length of dowels you want and screw into them from the top of the platform. It would probably be quite a bit cheaper as well.

Got it! Thanks, The dowel rods I put on the house are only 6 inches. I thought that was the correct height. But I figure that house could end up being buried a bit by bedding if it had to and I could get other platforms or boards and put longer dowels on them. I got some Elmers wood glue that is safe to use and I have a hot glue gun I can use as well. It is funny the different between gerbils and hamsters. You bury everything for gerbils and they will dig down and find it. They have such strong large back legs for digging. I tried setting stuff on top of their bedding once and they were digging under it until it ended up being buried where they wanted it...down under the bedding. LOL! Putting things on platforms for hamsters is so different for me.


The wheel I have on its stand is 10 inches tall. It is a 21cm wheel on a wire stand. I liked it because it can be taken off the stand and put on a wire cage very easily. I will have to check Etsy to see if there are platforms there with more height to them.
I noticed some cage set ups have fabric items in the cage or rope....is that ok for hamsters? For gerbils that is something you should not do because they chew on it and that is bad. I wonder if gerbils are more aggressive chewers than hamsters.
For me hamster set ups are what I call very 'busy' looking. So much stuff in the cage how do the hamsters get around. But it's what they like I guess. I will need to turn on my creative brain for this cage set up. LOL!

 

[Maz]

That is a lovely house You can actually have some things under the substrate for hamsters but they could bump their nose when digging possibly . It’s kind of better that under the substrate gives them a clear run for digging tunnels - apart from the odd platform leg.

So platforms are more for supporting things that you can’t glue legs onto. But a house can be partly under the substrate as well. If that’s the case I channel out a route to the door so they can find the entrance easily.

Fabric and rope is definitely a no no in a cage for Syrians, Robos and dwarf hamsters and possibly for some Chinese but not all - fabric modes can be used out of the cage with observation.

The main thing with the floorspace is not to have any large areas of open space. Or they find it scary. But it doesn’t have to be too chock a block either. A platform is something they can dive under. They basically need overhead cover to feel secure so large floor tunnels like cork logs work well to dive into or sit under - plus they are something to climb over and an interesting texture for them. They are also light so don’t need supporting underneath..

It’s actually surprising how quickly a large cage fills up once you have a house, a platform or two and a cork log. Cardboard is fine for other hides and tunnels.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

I hear you! I am so torn about the cage to buy. I read reviews on the Bucastate and the acrylic is thin and bows like you mentioned. The Night Angel cage similar is not as large but more sturdy, but reviews say it is hard to put together and the front panel is thin acrylic too. And it is about the same size as a 40 gallon breeder tank which is much less money. Being a senior of a fixed income budget is a top priority. But if the other larger cages were really sturdy like a glass tank, then I wouldn't have an issue spending more on a really good cage. I just don't know if the Bucastate or the NightAngel cages are worth the high price. One reviewer had a NightAngel and it fell apart after 2 years of use. A glass tank will last much longer than that!

So now I am leaning toward the $59 40 gallon breeder tank with a screen lid. I can get a hinged screen lid that is hinged down the middle North to South. Which means you can get into the cage to do things without taking the whole lid off. That lid is $38 so I can get a much larger tank for Dusty for around $100 vs double that for either of the other cages.
I don't know what a cork log is. I do have the cardboard tunnels NiteAngel sells. I have seen what looks like drift wood and Cholla wood (type of cactus) in hamster cages. I have seen the sprays of different flowers and millet to place around the cage.
As far as substrate, I have the white paper bedding, Aspen bedding, Hemp bedding and meadow hay. I think all of that is ok for hamsters. I also ordered some NiteAngel coconut fiber peat to put in a 'dig box'.

Thank you so much for walking me through everything our Dusty will need. After I get a table that will work for the new cage I will send pics!

We have put out more carrot for Dusty today. He also has his food scattered and a millet spray in there and of course his water.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I have heard really good things about the Bucastate and the Niteangel. Sometimes people only leave bad reviews and do not leave a review when they are happy with a product. A glass tank would be more study though but it means you have to make a lid so I guess that is something to add to the cost.
A cork log is this: https://hopeshealthytreats.com/products/cork-log-tunnel Hamsters really love them. Cardboard tunnels are great too. The wood you see in hamster cages are often grapevine wood and maybe you have seen bamboo root too. https://hopeshealthytreats.com/products/bamboo-root?_pos=1&_sid=3a9e72643&_ss=r

 

[Maz]

Agree that a glass tank would be more sturdy I think in the US you can actually buy proper meshed lids to fit tanks, so they don't need to make a lid One that opens both ends sounds good.

There is a later version of the Bucatstate - version 2 - and I think that is now the one that is sold and improved on some of the minor issues with the early model, so some of the negative reviews are likely to be from the early model. The later model has an improved door catch and the panels don't pop out. Although I believe they might still bow if they were absolutely packed with more than 30cm of bedding.

Daisy uses the Bucatstate 100 so she can probably comment better.

The Niteangels are popular but they are very expensive and I think yes they may not be as long lasting as a glass tank. There wouldn't be the chew issue with a robo, that you'd get with, say, a female Syrian, but ideally you want something that would suit any species of hamster in the future in case you get another one of a different species.

It's quite a recent thing, that dwarf hamsters have been found to need just as much space as Syrians as they are very active. Previously people thought of dwarf hamsters as small so thought a small cage was fine and they had smaller things so they would fit easily in a smaller cage. But it's very clear now that smaller hamsters appreciate larger things and more space as well

It is very hard choosing the right hamster cage and it's good you're researching carefully. These things aren't cheap and you want something that's best value for money and will work for you and the hamster.

Many of us made mistakes with our first cage, due to lack of information, and ended up having to upgrade

 

[Maz]

Cork logs/tunnels are one of my favourite items for hamsters You can find them in reptile shops. It can be a bit hit and miss buying them from Amazon or online as you never know how big it will be and some are quite mucky and need a good clean out!

One tip you may not already know. Freezing and baking certain hamster items. Most of us freeze hamster food for a week before using it. This is to kill any moth eggs. Sadly most pet foods contain moth eggs. They are dormant and not visible to the human eye, but under certain conditions they can hatch out - usually if it's particularly warm. Which can lead to an outbreak of pantry moths. Freezing the food for a week kills the eggs and any other bugs! Likewise it's a good idea to freeze hay for a week before using to kill any mites or mite eggs.

For items like branches, bark wood items, cork logs etc, they can be sanitised by baking them in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes at 100 degrees centigrade. Just in case they are harbouring any bugs or eggs!

Smooth wood items aren't an issue.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Wow, thanks again for this great information. I really liked the Bucastate cage. Glad to know it has improved. I am so thankful for this info about the things to put into the cage. As I do further research, I see the Robo hamster isn't that friendly or easy to hand tame. I feel so bad about that and I should have done more research before buying Dusty. I did see him out last night for about 5 minutes on the camera I set up. My grandchild slowly went into the room where Dusty was in the dark and when they were about 5 feet from the cage Dusty ran away and under the bedding. Noah my grandchild, was very disappointed. I think I bought the wrong species of hamster. They want to interact with their pet. I feel so badly. I feel badly that we don't have Dusty in a good cage yet. I feel bad that he isn't the right breed of hamster for what my grandchild needs. He is autistic and has anxiety. He needs a pet to interact with. I am thinking a Syrian hamster should have been what I got for him instead of a Robo. I don't know what we are going to do. But there is a hamster rescue near us. I may inquire there what to do. I feel so badly about all this. But either way we are going to end up with a good fit for my grandchild. That is the goal. Any advice of which breed is the best for a person like my grandchild would be welcome. Thanks Maz, I appreciate all you do.
I will look into all the items you have mentioned above and I have had birds before and know about freezing the food and the moth issue. Didn't know it was in hamster food too though. Thanks!

 

[RainbowBrite]

Hamsters often do not like to interact no matter which species but they are great for watching. Once you gain a robos trust you can have lovely chats with them and they will sometimes take a treat from you. With Syrian hamsters they often come out very late and it is likely your grandchild would be fast asleep.
I do not think hamsters are the kind of pet to get for interacting with them because many do not like interacting. You can interact with some hamsters in a playpen once they are settled but they are not the kind of animal to get to hold as they like to do their own thing.

Would your grandchild enjoy watching Dusty on the camera and getting to know Dusty very slowly? Once Dusty has settled in your grandchild could sit next to the tank in a dim light and just talk to Dusty. If your grandchil talks to Dusty then they will get to know his voice. Maybe your grandchild would enjoy that. It could even be some kind of routine, sitting next to Dusty's tank and talking.

 

[Doodleham]

Dusty sounds so cute. I absolutely love roborovski hamsters. Could you maybe involve your Grandchild in making different enrichment activities for Dusty. That might help them bond.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Dusty sounds so cute. I absolutely love roborovski hamsters. Could you maybe involve your Grandchild in making different enrichment activities for Dusty. That might help them bond.hanks, but I won't know what that would be.

Thanks but I wouldn't know how to do that but that is a good idea. Dusty doesn't come out when we are up at all. I know he is settling in right now. I just know my grandchild is very disappointed at this point. I know we need patience now as we haven't really given Dusty a chance yet. Thanks for your ideas.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Hamsters often do not like to interact no matter which species but they are great for watching. Once you gain a robos trust you can have lovely chats with them and they will sometimes take a treat from you. With Syrian hamsters they often come out very late and it is likely Noah would be fast asleep.
I do not think hamsters are the kind of pet to get for interacting with them because many do not like interacting. You can interact with some hamsters in a playpen once they are settled but they are not the kind of animal to get to hold as they like to do their own thing.

Would Noah enjoy watching Dusty on the camera and getting to know Dusty very slowly? Once Dusty has settled in Noah could sit next to the tank in a dim light and just talk to Dusty. If Noah talks to Dusty then they will get to know Noah's voice. Maybe Noah would enjoy that. It could even be some kind of routine, sitting next to Dusty's tank and talking.

Thank you so much for your insight. I knowmy grandchild really likes Dusty, he just wishes he could eventually hold him. I will talk with him about expectations for Dusty. We do have a camera set up and I saw Dusty last night for about 5 minutes, then I had to go to bed. That was around 12:30am. Noah was still up and tried to approach the cage but Dusty ran for cover. And sitting next to the tank and talking is what we do with our gerbils. But they come up to the cage and sniff your finger and take seeds from us through the bars. I will talk to my grandchild about it. He is a very caring person and is concerned for Dusty's stress levels if we would be re home him. I will let you know what we decide. Thanks so much for ideas for keeping Dusty. Ideally that is what we want to do.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Please feel free to ask anything you want to. This is a thread with some ideas on making things out of cardboard for hamsters. https://thehamsterforum.com/threads/cardboard-creations.32/

 

[Maz]

Just to say I've edited names on the above posts We tend to ask people not to use real names - especially children. Even if you're ok with it.

Ok so it is difficult I know. It's not just about the species either, but about the right hamster. They can all have different personalities. However Robos are very much watch pets - they can make you laugh with their funny antics. Once they are settled in (and it is still very early days) they can be quite interactive and respond to you with expressions and non verbal communication, and come out more - sometimes during the day. And they can make you laugh with their antics. However they are not really easy to handle, especially as a child's pet and yes can be difficult to tame - neither of mine were ever fully hand time as it does take a lot of effort.

Children often are disappointed at first when they just want to pick them up and cuddle them and play with them. My stepson felt very much like that with our first hamster.

It's true that Syrian hamsters do tend to come out late, but they can get used to coming out early evening, if you get them into a routine with feeding time at that time.

Russian dwarf hamsters can be quite friendly and interactive, but are still quite small. I'll let the Russian dwarf hamster owners comment on that one.

Generally though, Syrians do seem to be the preferred choice for older children and do tend to be more handleable, if tame.

I think many of us, when getting a new hamster, don't know enough. I know I made mistakes. Sadly pet shops don't help give all the right information, so don't feel bad.

It sounds like you maybe need to either give it time for the hamster to adjust and settle in and start coming out more - and your grandson understand it's more of a watch pet (which I know might not be easy). Or the option you mentioned if there is a rescue nearby who could rehome Dusty - and choose the right home for him.

Children generally though, often expect more from a hamster than is possible. My intention originally was that my stepson would learn to look after a pet and be involved in cleaning out etc but he wasn't interested that. I think it's nice for them to have a pet that is "theirs" even though we supervise and take care of the hamster. But hamsters of any species can take time to feel confident around humans and trust them.

Syrian hamsters from rescues are sometimes already hand tamed and the rescue can tell you their personality. So will be friendly and outgoing. Some will hide away a lot and have a shy personality.

 

[Maz]

@Emx93 on here has children and a Syrian hamster - maybe she can let you know how it works for them

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Thank you all for your insight....and Noah is not my grandchild's real name...so that was safe. The thread with tube ideas was terrific. Thanks for that.
Maz as usual your information is priceless for us as new hamster owners and I so appreciate that you are understanding about the mistakes made here. Personally I would get the bigger cage and wait for Dusty to become Dusty. I will talk to Noah about it. We might go look at the rescue and see if there is anything that is a better fit for us.....or maybe we be patient with Dusty. I don't think Dusty is going to be confident and be himself until we get the bigger cage with a good layout for him. He needs to feel comfortable in his surroundings. Thanks to all!

 

[Maz]

Ah ok I won't edit it out again then. I think the rescue could be very helpful and have some suggestions as well

 

[Dusty's Mom]

I agree. It could be worth a visit.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think it would be good, if you can afford it, to keep Dusty as a different sort of pet, with needs that must be met. The shelters should provide good advice about small pets that are hand tame. The problem with having a few small pets is the potential for large vet bills of course and that needs to be planned for. You could, if you can afford it and with plenty of research, consider a gecko or small snake. Feeding him or her needs getting used to feeding her gecko live crickets and grubs, which not everyone would like to do, understandably, so that is a consideration. There is also giant land snails, which are vegetarian and quite intriguing creatures. Creating a nice enclosure for them and watching them eat could be fun as well, depending on your grandson's interests and whether he likes this sort of animal.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think the important thing is to do lots of planning and research to see if the interest remains. If you both become quite knowledgeable on the subject I think that is an indication that it does. And in the meantime you have caring for Dusty and getting to know her. The housing is important, but the broad research and financial planning are as important.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think it would be good, if you can afford it, to keep Dusty as a different sort of pet, with needs that must be met. The shelters should provide good advice about small pets that are hand tame. The problem with having a few small pets is the potential for large vet bills of course and that needs to be planned for. You could, if you can afford it and with plenty of research, consider a gecko or small snake. Feeding him or her needs getting used to feeding her gecko live crickets and grubs, which not everyone would like to do, understandably, so that is a consideration. There is also giant land snails, which are vegetarian and quite intriguing creatures. Creating a nice enclosure for them and watching them eat could be fun as well, depending on your grandson's interests and whether he likes this sort of animal.

Snake, of course, need frozen baby mice, which understandably, might not be acceptable to everyone, especially if you keep rodents as pets.