Here is my hamster cage set up.

[rattfan69]

I have one hide out, a few tp roles, chew toys, ramp with steps, food bowl, water bottle, and sprays. What else can I add?
Here is a photo of my new cage, should i add more bedding, or is it fine? Seems a liitle bare, not sure what to add in the cage, maybe another hide out? or maybe I do not know. The cage was suggested by someone on this forum, so it is a good size, just not sure how much bedding i should add. And what else to put in the cage.
Also there is a big cap in the door. I cant use zip tie on in because if i do i will not be able to open the door? I somehow can foresee hamster escapes but I will give it sometime see how the cage works out. I had to use zip ties on most of the cage because hammy could fit though it, took a lot of work to get set up.

 

[rattfan69]

I also have a sand bath way back in the corner, prob can see it but it is there.

 

[Maz]

You've done an amazing job for little hammy robo (is that his name, hammy?). And in putting it all together. I see what you mean about the gap above the door. It looks like that part might be a big bent and you can usually bend things back again. I've had to do that before. However it is bent and you can't bend it back, then you should be able to get the cage replaced due to the damage as it shouldn't be bent there. Although I know that's hassle when you've just set it all up. When I had a bent part of a cage, I ended up just keeping it and putting up with it - but then it didn't create a gap like that.

I think it's very unlikely a robo will get up there. They often don't even attempt to climb bars and if they do it's not very far usually as they're not that good at it - their feet are furry underneath

So I think you could do to lower the platform/shelf quite a bit as at the moment, the ladder is quite a steep angle for him. And yes adding more bedding will help. Adding more things will make it seem less bare. Robos like things to dive under - you can make some extra hides at substrate level - eg cardboard egg boxes can be made into a hide (just cut a hole for an entrance), square tissue boxes can make good hides.

As it is at the moment he might disappear under the bedding a lot if he feels exposed, but maybe he's quite tame now?

Also just checking the front barred section - is it sitting right on the base, behind the clips? It looks like there might be a gap there at the bottom.

And I think I spy the cute little robo there too

Once you have the shelf lower and the ladder at less of a steep angle, he will love running up there. I love seeing robos zooming! When you lower it, it could do to only be about 2" above the bedding height. You might need to fiddle about a bit with the bedding height and the shelf height

If you add quite a few more sprays it will help feel more natural and cosy for him. They end up looking like little trees emerging from the substrate.

 

[rattfan69]

here is my cage again

 

[rattfan69]

You've done an amazing job for little hammy robo (is that his name, hammy?). And in putting it all together. I see what you mean about the gap above the door. It looks like that part might be a big bent and you can usually bend things back again. I've had to do that before. However it is bent and you can't bend it back, then you should be able to get the cage replaced due to the damage as it shouldn't be bent there. Although I know that's hassle when you've just set it all up. When I had a bent part of a cage, I ended up just keeping it and putting up with it - but then it didn't create a gap like that.

I think it's very unlikely a robo will get up there. They often don't even attempt to climb bars and if they do it's not very far usually as they're not that good at it - their feet are furry underneath

So I think you could do to lower the platform/shelf quite a bit as at the moment, the ladder is quite a steep angle for him. And yes adding more bedding will help. Adding more things will make it seem less bare. Robos like things to dive under - you can make some extra hides at substrate level - eg cardboard egg boxes can be made into a hide (just cut a hole for an entrance), square tissue boxes can make good hides.

As it is at the moment he might disappear under the bedding a lot if he feels exposed, but maybe he's quite tame now?

Also just checking the front barred section - is it sitting right on the base, behind the clips? It looks like there might be a gap there at the bottom.

And I think I spy the cute little robo there too

Once you have the shelf lower and the ladder at less of a steep angle, he will love running up there. I love seeing robos zooming! When you lower it, it could do to only be about 2" above the bedding height. You might need to fiddle about a bit with the bedding height and the shelf height

If you add quite a few more sprays it will help feel more natural and cosy for him. They end up looking like little trees emerging from the substrate.

Thanks for your help. I will lower the shelf and add more sprays and tissue boxes. I can find card board boxes and make stuff from it. I will just leave the cage as is and hope that hammy cant get up that far to try and get out. I did see him trying to go through the bar but he is too big, I will keep an eye on him as much as poss, make sure he does not try to escape. At night i am in bed, but during the day I can watch him, I will lower the shelf to make it easy for hammy to get to. I kind of thought it maybe too high and I was right, so I will lower it, I did add more bedding a lot more so hammy should be good now. Yes Robo is what you seen way in the back,

 

[rattfan69]

Here is the shelf lower now, what do you think?

 

[Socks' Mum]

The cage is looking good. A few more tunnels might be fun

 

[Maz]

That's a much better height and he'll be running up and down the ladder at some point - when he's worked everything out If he has just moved in you'll need to give him a week or two to adjust and make it his own and he might be a bit skitty for a week or two. So best not to clean anything or move things around for the next two weeks now. However adding new things is fine - as long as it doesn't mean moving everything else around as he's just getting his bearings

Having the water bottle on the shelf looks better too. I'm sure you already know, but water bottles need checking daily to make sure water is actually coming out. I tap my finger over the spout each day to check that. They can be very unreliable (and can drip or leak as well). Hopefully yours is working ok! At some point you could maybe think about giving him a little water bowl as well, then he has two options and it's a fallback if the bottle fails or empties itself. With a water bowl it needs to be very small and in a place where the hamster can't fall in it - eg at the back of the shelf or in a corner of the shelf. I use the little Ikea glasig tea light holders. They are heavy and can't be tipped over and just the right size Also inexpensive. Not essential though if the bottle works fine and you've had no problems

I also think a shelf is a good place to put their piece of daily veg so it's separate from the rest of their food and it means they get up and use the shelf to get the veg. As it's the one thing they look forward to and get up for each day!

Most robos don't climb bars. He might try a bit the first day or two as it's normal for them to explore the entire cage when they first move in and work it all out and then once they've done that they don't bother any more usually.

If he has lots of lovely things to do in there (hidey places and sprays he won't even bother to try and escape Does he use his wheel a lot?

It might be an idea to move the bedding off the bottom of the ramp to make sure he can find the ramp ok and get a grip on it - so he can get to the water bottle ok.

 

[Maz]

Just as an update, @rattfan69 just has the one robo now and the other one was rehomed It's so hard for people when petshops sell pairs of hamsters and unsuitable cages. Glad you've managed to get sorted.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about him and seeing photos! Robos are great fun to watch. Do you think he likes the new cage? I'm sure he will - any signs of approval so far?

 

[rattfan69]

That's a much better height and he'll be running up and down the ladder at some point - when he's worked everything out If he has just moved in you'll need to give him a week or two to adjust and make it his own and he might be a bit skitty for a week or two. So best not to clean anything or move things around for the next two weeks now. However adding new things is fine - as long as it doesn't mean moving everything else around as he's just getting his bearings

Having the water bottle on the shelf looks better too. I'm sure you already know, but water bottles need checking daily to make sure water is actually coming out. I tap my finger over the spout each day to check that. They can be very unreliable (and can drip or leak as well). Hopefully yours is working ok! At some point you could maybe think about giving him a little water bowl as well, then he has two options and it's a fallback if the bottle fails or empties itself. With a water bowl it needs to be very small and in a place where the hamster can't fall in it - eg at the back of the shelf or in a corner of the shelf. I use the little Ikea glasig tea light holders. They are heavy and can't be tipped over and just the right size Also inexpensive. Not essential though if the bottle works fine and you've had no problems

I also think a shelf is a good place to put their piece of daily veg so it's separate from the rest of their food and it means they get up and use the shelf to get the veg. As it's the one thing they look forward to and get up for each day!

Most robos don't climb bars. He might try a bit the first day or two as it's normal for them to explore the entire cage when they first move in and work it all out and then once they've done that they don't bother any more usually.

If he has lots of lovely things to do in there (hidey places and sprays he won't even bother to try and escape Does he use his wheel a lot?

It might be an idea to move the bedding off the bottom of the ramp to make sure he can find the ramp ok and get a grip on it - so he can get to the water bottle ok.

Thanks for the helpful info. Yes he uses the wheel sometimes during the day and at night. I am glad i got a good cage for him, My mom says it looks big enough, I did add all of his old bedding to the new cage, He is hiding right now. I did add more bedding to the cage, his old bedding from the old cage. It is good to know he wont climb bars. I will take the bedding off the ramp, thanks for letting me know, I will add a Kleenex box and a few more hideaways.

 

[rattfan69]

oh yea. I always check the end of the water bottle to make sure water comes out, but I also can put some water in a small bowl for him as well, thanks for letting me know,

 

[Maz]

What is his name?

 

[rattfan69]

Just as an update, @rattfan69 just has the one robo now and the other one was rehomed It's so hard for people when petshops sell pairs of hamsters and unsuitable cages. Glad you've managed to get sorted.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about him and seeing photos! Robos are great fun to watch. Do you think he likes the new cage? I'm sure he will - any signs of approval so far?

yes the other hamster is rehomed. I only have one hammy.

 

[rattfan69]

What is his name?

Stephen but I also call him Tiny, cause he is very small. I sometimes call him hammy, he has many names as you can tell, he is so cute.

 

[Maz]

I think quite a few of us have nicknames and pet names for our hammies as well as real names

 

[rattfan69]

I am just going to use the cup method to pick up little hammy. I tried picking him up and he let out a squeak, he is hard to hold onto, The cup is better that way I do not hurt him. Is easy to catch that way as well. He is fine I checked he is up and playing. I tried to be careful when picking him up. Next time I am going to use a cup, that way he also will not escape.

 

[Maz]

Yes they don't like being picked up in the cage or chased by a hand! The key is to get him to walk into something if you can. Maybe he'll walk into the cup but then they are fast and he might run out again as soon as he sees your hand move to cover the cup

 

[rattfan69]

Yes they don't like being picked up in the cage or chased by a hand! The key is to get him to walk into something if you can. Maybe he'll walk into the cup but then they are fast and he might run out again as soon as he sees your hand move to cover the cup

He usually walks into the cup, he is very smart. Is better than trying to hold him. I had to pick him up. He was in a box. I had him with me while they spray for bugs in my apt. I had my cat with me as well. I had to put him back in his cage, after I came back upstairs. I should of just used a cup, instead I used my hand to pick him up, but yea he still runs when he sees my hand. the cup is safer and easier to use, to get hammy. My hammy is very smart he knows what is up. Well lesson learned.