Hi, sorry for the long post, I’m new to this page so I’m not sure how this works but I could really use some help with my Syrian hamster. I got it nearly a year ago now and I realised it wasn’t happy in its current setup because it would climb and chew the bars all night long. Almost two months ago now I bought the bucastate 2.0 to improve my setup and solve the bar biting issue. I’ve added lots of clutter and a 30cm wheel, different substrates and lots of enrichment but no matter what I do my Syrian hamster will not stop chewing all night long on the ventilation holes of the bucastate. It’s really an issue as It’s keeping me up all night. I know this means my hamster is stressed but I can’t figure out why if I’m providing all the right enrichment and cage environment. Any help or advice would be appreciated as I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to deal with it before I have to re home the hamster.
Hamster cage chewing
- Thread starter Elesha21
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Hello there. I'm really sorry you're having these issues. Is your hamster female by any chance? Female Syrians are notorious for being extremely active and maverick and chewing things! The Bucatstate 2 is a lovely big cage. I think it only comes in 100cm size so that should be big enough. Although for some female syrians, no cage is big enough!
Do you have a photograph of your set up? Maybe we can suggest the odd change or tweak that might help. Also, how often do you do clean outs? That can stress them.
Do you have a photograph of your set up? Maybe we can suggest the odd change or tweak that might help. Also, how often do you do clean outs? That can stress them.
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Welcome to the forum 
I hope we can help you with your restless hammy 
I hope we can help you with your restless hammy
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I just wanted to add that she is probably picking up on your frustration and that could also affect her behaviour and stress (ie a vicious circle). I am sure there is a way we can sort this I'm not surprised you feel frustrated though, if you can't sleep. Does she have any out of cage time at all regularly? It does sound like she wants to come out - although maybe you do have her out and she starts chewing when she goes back? Assume her cage is in your bedroom also? Is there another room you could have her cage possibly? So you can get some sleep? What is her name? (Assuming your hamster is female!).
I'm not surprised you feel frustrated though, if you can't sleep. Does she have any out of cage time at all regularly? It does sound like she wants to come out - although maybe you do have her out and she starts chewing when she goes back? Assume her cage is in your bedroom also? Is there another room you could have her cage possibly? So you can get some sleep? What is her name? (Assuming your hamster is female!).
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I sleep beside my hamster cage and as I am a light sleeper, Socks and I have different sleep schedules. During the day he naps peacefully. He's up at night and I sleep intermittently 
But I adore him and he is an affectionate although skittish pet. He runs on his wheel and when I wake up, he comes over to the door and meerkats plaintively, nice wheel forgotten, until I carry him in his taxi tube to the playpen where he will run on his wheel while I watch him and nod off 
for a while. When he was a young hamster, he would bar climb and bar bite vigorously on and off all night 
Female hamsters may have other priorities. @Lovelyness hammy Blossom adores shredding cardboard toys, perhaps a nest-making instinct.
Could you put the wheel in front of the vent? It is tricky to meet their needs. Syrians are so adorable though
But I adore him and he is an affectionate although skittish pet. He runs on his wheel and when I wake up, he comes over to the door and meerkats plaintively, nice wheel forgotten, until I carry him in his taxi tube to the playpen where he will run on his wheel while I watch him and nod off for a while. When he was a young hamster, he would bar climb and bar bite vigorously on and off all night Female hamsters may have other priorities. @Lovelyness hammy Blossom adores shredding cardboard toys, perhaps a nest-making instinct. Could you put the wheel in front of the vent? It is tricky to meet their needs. Syrians are so adorable though
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Yes, Blossom was an avid chewer in her younger days 
She does still like a chew, although she goes for softer items now such as hyacinth. I provided her with a LOT of natural chews in different materials. The provision of a dig box was really key for her and helped to really calm her down. It’s her favourite thing in her enclosure still.
She does still like a chew, although she goes for softer items now such as hyacinth. I provided her with a LOT of natural chews in different materials. The provision of a dig box was really key for her and helped to really calm her down. It’s her favourite thing in her enclosure still.
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Lovely! What does she like to forage for? Socks doesn't use a dig box, but I have forage in his cage just to create some texture, but some hamsters really like scenting for their food and it's very good for them.
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I scatter some of her daily food allowance in there. She loves to forage through shredded cardboard to find it
Hi, I’m sure she is a female Syrian based on the behaviour. I do a spot clean once a week where I take out any soiled bedding . I do make sure to put back any food hoard and chews from her nest so I don’t upset her. I do usually change the setup once a week as I thought the cage chewing was boredom behaviour. I have only ever done a full cage clean out once every few months but put back half of the bedding and half new bedding.
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She will take food from my hands and come to me if I put my hand in the enclosure but if I put my hand out for her to climb on to come out she isn’t interested however every time i open the lid to the enclosure she tries to escape. With all the bedding in the bucastate it’s extremely heavy so I wouldn’t want to move it incase the base collapses. I haven’t named her yet but am happy to take name suggestions, thanks for your help.I just wanted to add that she is probably picking up on your frustration and that could also affect her behaviour and stress (ie a vicious circle). I am sure there is a way we can sort this
I have also tried redirecting the behaviour by putting all her chews beside the area that she’s chewing on but she just pushes them away and chews on the cage still.
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She has a lovely set up I would suggest not changing things around though. Some hamsters find that as stressful as a full cage clean. It sounds like it's a bit of a habit now, chewing at those vents. But you could also try not spot cleaning for two weeks to give some settling time maybe. Where does she pee? If she's in good peeing habits, and it's not near her hoard, then I'd leave the hoard for a much longer time - I tend to only prune that when doing a substrate change. And then take out most of the food from the bottom and leave the top newer bit.
Having their hoard messed with can really stress them as well! If she pees on it, then of course you have to remove it. But then it would be a case of trying to encourage her to pee in a particular place.
I suspect the spot cleaning might be annoying her, if it ends up destroying her tunnels or burrow etc. Which is tricky, because we do need to spot clean the pee! Although to be honest, with that much bedding, it can be left a bit longer.
I think as well, because you have such nice deep bedding, it makes the vents quite accessible and tempting!
Also maybe give her some daily out of cage time in a playpen, at around the same time of day each day. Then they get to expect it and know they are coming out of the cage. This may help it settle down. On the other hand, if she knows you're there she may chew at the vents again to get your attention.
I would suggest not changing things around though. Some hamsters find that as stressful as a full cage clean. It sounds like it's a bit of a habit now, chewing at those vents. But you could also try not spot cleaning for two weeks to give some settling time maybe. Where does she pee? If she's in good peeing habits, and it's not near her hoard, then I'd leave the hoard for a much longer time - I tend to only prune that when doing a substrate change. And then take out most of the food from the bottom and leave the top newer bit.Having their hoard messed with can really stress them as well! If she pees on it, then of course you have to remove it. But then it would be a case of trying to encourage her to pee in a particular place.
I suspect the spot cleaning might be annoying her, if it ends up destroying her tunnels or burrow etc. Which is tricky, because we do need to spot clean the pee! Although to be honest, with that much bedding, it can be left a bit longer.
I think as well, because you have such nice deep bedding, it makes the vents quite accessible and tempting!
Also maybe give her some daily out of cage time in a playpen, at around the same time of day each day. Then they get to expect it and know they are coming out of the cage. This may help it settle down. On the other hand, if she knows you're there she may chew at the vents again to get your attention.
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A Trixie corner loo has worked well for Socks who used it every day, as long as it smells enough like a boys' toilet 
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Blossom used her rodipet ceramic toilet once, but since then either tries to eat it, or keeps some stash in itA Trixie corner loo has worked well for Socks who used it every day, as long as it smells enough like a boys' toilet
She originally had a plastic corner toilet, but chewed through it when I went on holiday 
Curiously, she currently seems to be weeing on the ceramic tile (for keeping cool) upon which her ceramic toilet sits, but doesn't use the toilet lol 
Haha bless her, hearing about Blossom always makes me smileBlossom used her rodipet ceramic toilet once, but since then either tries to eat it, or keeps some stash in it
, such a maverick. You keep doing whatever works for you Blossom!
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Ha ha, she IS a maverick...one of a kind...bit like her mum reallyHaha bless her, hearing about Blossom always makes me smile
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Which side is it - the house side or the other side where the dig boxes are?
The house side where her nest are she climbs on top and chews the holes above it it’s not really fixable to make the bedding shorter because that would be unfair for her to not have any digging space. I’ve tried interacting with her to see if that’s what she wants and gave some more chews but she just brings them to her nest and goes back to chewing on the cage. I’m going to skip clean out this week and leave it for two weeks to see if that helps.