Hamster Update and Questions

[Em_]

Hello my hamster Cleo has settled in, but is still chewing the bars a little bit and climbing. We have bought her more bedding so she can burrow and things to keep her busy. She is always chewing climbing at the door trying to come out and whenever I open it she always runs out. I think we are going to buy a playpen to put her in.
On the picture below is my cage, if there is anything you think I should add/remove please let me know.
Thank you

 

[elusive]

Female Syrians do tend to need a lot to occupy them so a playpen with lots of things to explore & do would help keep her occupied.
Does she have a sand bath in the cage, not sure from the photos.
You could add in some things like millet sprays & flax sprays if you can get some & maybe try hiding food in cardboard tubes or other things she has to work to find it.
There’s still quite a lot of open space, it takes time to get everything I know but I would look for more hides & things she can climb on safely, cork tunnels are good.
I’m sure the others who keep Syrians will have more ideas.

 

[Em_]

Female Syrians do tend to need a lot to occupy them so a playpen with lots of things to explore & do would help keep her occupied.
Does she have a sand bath in the cage, not sure from the photos.
You could add in some things like millet sprays & flax sprays if you can get some & maybe try hiding food in cardboard tubes or other things she has to work to find it.
There’s still quite a lot of open space, it takes time to get everything I know but I would look for more hides & things she can climb on safely, cork tunnels are good.
I’m sure the others who keep Syrians will have more ideas.

ok thank you yes she does have a sand bath i use the komodo reptile sand as it is safe for hamsters

 

[Maz]

It looks great. I think with the height, you could add to the enrichment and places to go by adding a shelf at one end and possibly a rat sputnik (which is what I do ). these are items that could be used again in a different cage in future if necessary (although not a tank). I do think they like some overhead cover and it's somewhere else to go. They seem to like climbing up to a shelf and also sitting under it. What did you decide on for a house eventually?

 

[Em_]

It looks great. I think with the height, you could add to the enrichment and places to go by adding a shelf at one end and possibly a rat sputnik (which is what I do ). these are items that could be used again in a different cage in future if necessary (although not a tank). I do think they like some overhead cover and it's somewhere else to go.

yep okay thank you

 

[Member ID2]

I don't think the cage is the issue here. Cleo maybe just wants out. Many female Syrians and males (ours) need at least an hour of out of cage time daily or as often as possible.
I find that keeping a Syrian hamster becomes a way of life that requires a good part of our time to dedicate to them.
I'm currently sitting on the floor while one of our Syrians runs around the room which i have hamster proofed.
There are a lot of floor toys like big tubes, a 30cm flying saucer, dig boxes, cardboard boxes etc for him to explore.

 

[Maz]

Good point. I still think they like another level and things to do up there

 

[Em_]

I don't think the cage is the issue here. Cleo maybe just wants out. Many female Syrians and males (ours) need at least an hour of out of cage time daily or as often as possible.
I find that keeping a Syrian hamster becomes a way of life that requires a good part of our time to dedicate to them.
I'm currently sitting on the floor while one of our Syrians runs around the room which i have hamster proofed.
There are a lot of floor toys like big tubes, a 30cm flying saucer, dig boxes, cardboard boxes etc for him to explore.

okay thank you, do you think that a hamster playpen is good because I haven’t really got a hamster safe room?

 

[Member ID2]

Some hamsters love a playpen and some don't or need more space. Cleo will let you know.
I'd get a playpen as big as you have space for and then put lots of toys in it.
The fact that a playpen has no bars to chew or climb will help as well.

 

[Member ID2]

You could add shelves. I agree that hamsters like levels and places to go. A one level bungalow type set up is something i do later, when they get old.
That's the beauty about barred cages. There's so much scope for enrichment by attaching shelves, sputniks, steps and tubes to walk through.

 

[Em_]

Good point. I still think they like another level and things to do up there

Yes I will make sure to buy that soon

Some hamsters love a playpen and some don't or need more space. Cleo will let you know.
I'd get a playpen as big as you have space for and then put lots of toys in it.
The fact that a playpen has no bars to chew or climb will help as well.

ok thanks for the info

 

[Maz]

Looking at the photos again, I think possibly the house at the back left corner could be higher so no shelf needed at that end. Eg if the substrate came almost to the top of the base in that corner, with the house on top, the bottom of the house would be level with the top of the cage base and the house be higher up. That would be one bit of level and reduce the amount of space above. And maybe two of those trixie corner shelves on the right hand side (overlapping each other - I've seen that done - so it's like one shelf really).

 

[Em_]

Looking at the photos again, I think possibly the house at the back left corner could be higher so no shelf needed at that end. Eg if the substrate came almost to the top of the base in that corner, with the house on top, the bottom of the house would be level with the top of the cage base and the house be higher up. That would be one bit of level and reduce the amount of space above. And maybe two of those trixie corner shelves on the right hand side (overlapping each other - I've seen that done - so it's like one shelf really).

oh okay thank you yes that is a good idea with the box