How to stop hamster from sleeping in tubes

[VyCanis]

My Hammy has been nesting in the cage for weeks now, I've tried to make it harder/impossible for them to get in, but they start trying to climb the mesh to get in repeatedly, and I'm scared they're gonna hurt themselves falling. I have blockers ordered but they might take more than a week to come, and i want to get him out sooner

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome. This is a common issue with tubes. What species of hamster do you have? It's not easy to suggest a solution without knowing what type of cage it is. Some cages come with integral tubes. Something like the Hamster heaven eg you need tube blockers before you can remove the tubes. If he is nesting in the tubes it might be better to just let things be until the tube blockers arrive or you may end up stressing him trying to prevent him doing it. Do you have a photo of your cage set up as it might be easier to suggest an alternative?

 

[elusive]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
This is very common as Maz said, if you have blockers on order then I would leave things be until you get them as it will be stressful for your hamster if you keep trying to get him to stop going in there.
What kind of house does he have to nest in? Does he have plenty of deep substrate so he can burrow under his house to make his nest?
Tubes in themselves are a problem but it may also be that he needs a good alternative place to nest.
If you can post a photo of your set up it will make it easier to suggest any changes that might help.

 

[VyCanis]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
This is very common as Maz said, if you have blockers on order then I would leave things be until you get them as it will be stressful for your hamster if you keep trying to get him to stop going in there.
What kind of house does he have to nest in? Does he have plenty of deep substrate so he can burrow under his house to make his nest?
Tubes in themselves are a problem but it may also be that he needs a good alternative place to nest.
If you can post a photo of your set up it will make it easier to suggest any changes that might help.

Had to compress, he's a syrian

 

[elusive]

That looks like the Hamster Heaven, it normally comes with blockers for the holes but at least you’ve ordered them so hopefully they won’t be too long.
He does need a nice big house to sleep in, some of the others can give much better advise on specific items for Syrians ( I only keep dwarf hams) but I would suggest just taking out the big green thing on the left & replacing that with a shoe box house for now until you can get something better, a shoe box or something similar with the base cut out & the lid used as a roof makes a good house that they can burrow under & is a reasonable size for a Syrian, that would be a first step to encouraging him to stop sleeping in the tubes. As well as bedding underneath you can shred up lots of plain white toilet tissue & leave it for him to make a nest in thare.

 

[Maz]

Aw look at him in his tubes! This happens A LOT! What most people do is remove the tubes and penthouse completely, keep one of the shelves and add a large-ish house at floor level as Elusive mentioned. If you give them a large house that is sat on the substrate and open underneath - they almost always just move in and forget about the tubes (no option if the tubes are removed!). Because they like something that's dark inside. A shoebox house is ideal and easily replaced later. You just cut the base out so it's open underneath, keep the lid as a lift off roof, and cut a hole for a door. I think it works best if the door is at one end of one of the long sides because this means the other end is dark (light doesn't go round corners) and they always choose the darkest place to nest.

The tubes confuse their natural instincts - they do like tubes and tunnels but shorter runs as cage accessories in the cage are better. The other issue is the tubes aren't really big enough and some hamsters grow large and can get stuck.

You'll also need a new wheel The one that comes with the hamster heaven isn't quite big enough for a Syrian hamster, although fine for a dwarf hamster. A 28cm trixie wheel is popular and fits in that cage (if you take the green shelf out).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-61011-Rotating-Hamsters-Assortment/dp/B00365P9NY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=OAEWEHK6I6PR&keywords=trixie+wheel&qid=1677433243&sprefix=trixie+wheel%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-2

 

[Maz]

Did the cage not come with the tube blockers?

 

[Member ID2]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

If you are in the UK and can get to a Pets Corner pet shop they sell tube blockers. The Ferplast blockers fit the Hamster Heaven and Metro.
If you bought the cage new tube blockers should be included.

 

[VyCanis]

Aw look at him in his tubes! This happens A LOT! What most people do is remove the tubes and penthouse completely, keep one of the shelves and add a large-ish house at floor level as Elusive mentioned. If you give them a large house that is sat on the substrate and open underneath - they almost always just move in and forget about the tubes (no option if the tubes are removed!). Because they like something that's dark inside. A shoebox house is ideal and easily replaced later. You just cut the base out so it's open underneath, keep the lid as a lift off roof, and cut a hole for a door. I think it works best if the door is at one end of one of the long sides because this means the other end is dark (light doesn't go round corners) and they always choose the darkest place to nest.

The tubes confuse their natural instincts - they do like tubes and tunnels but shorter runs as cage accessories in the cage are better. The other issue is the tubes aren't really big enough and some hamsters grow large and can get stuck.

You'll also need a new wheel The one that comes with the hamster heaven isn't quite big enough for a Syrian hamster, although fine for a dwarf hamster. A 28cm trixie wheel is popular and fits in that cage (if you take the green shelf out).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-61011-Rotating-Hamsters-Assortment/dp/B00365P9NY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=OAEWEHK6I6PR&keywords=trixie+wheel&qid=1677433243&sprefix=trixie+wheel%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-2

Thanks! I got the cage second-hand, so those blockers could be anywhere. I'll definitely take this into consideration when i get the time to shuffle things' round

 

[Maz]

I wondered if you'd bought it second hand Good tip from Beryl about the Ferplast ones fitting.

 

[Maz]

You might find he needs a bigger cage at some point and could think about upgrading it perhaps. We recommend 100cm cage for Syrians, with 80 x 50 as a minimum (the Hamster heaven is 80 x 50). The Hamster heaven is a good cage but the more space they have at night the better. He may be perfectly happy in the Hamster Heaven though, if he gets regular out of cage time. If he starts bar chewing it may be a sign he is feeling cramped in it and needs more space. Right now I think the priority is a bigger wheel as they often stop using a wheel that's too small if it gets uncomfortable on their backs, and if they're not using their wheel they get full of pent up energy.

How long have you had him? It sounds like early days.

 

[VyCanis]

You might find he needs a bigger cage at some point and could think about upgrading it perhaps. We recommend 100cm cage for Syrians, with 80 x 50 as a minimum (the Hamster heaven is 80 x 50). The Hamster heaven is a good cage but the more space they have at night the better. He may be perfectly happy in the Hamster Heaven though, if he gets regular out of cage time. If he starts bar chewing it may be a sign he is feeling cramped in it and needs more space. Right now I think the priority is a bigger wheel as they often stop using a wheel that's too small if it gets uncomfortable on their backs, and if they're not using their wheel they get full of pent up energy.

How long have you had him? It sounds like early days.

About 7 weeks we've had him. I've used two of those 360 turn tubes to block off the tubes for now while the blockers are coming, he's made a little byrrow in the corner

I can hear him still using the wheel right now, but a new one is definitely priority

 

[RainbowBrite]

What is your hamsters name? We have diaries on here for our hamsters were we post pictures, videos and anything they get up to. It would be lovely if you started a diary for your hamster in the Syrian section.

 

[VyCanis]

What is your hamsters name? We have diaries on here for our hamsters were we post pictures, videos and anything they get up to. It would be lovely if you started a diary for your hamster in the Syrian section.

Rattigan, i'll think about it

 

[Maz]

Love the name So are you going to remove the tubes and penthouse when the tube blockers come? It’s probably the best option. So frustrating for people buying a cage and finding part of the design doesn’t work for hamsters! The external tubes can actually be an escape route as well. Sometimes they manage to push them apart or the break open when stuffed!

He’s still a bit of a baby after 7 weeks of he was a baby when you got him . Have you had much handling or taming out of the cage with him yet?

If he’s built a nest under a shelf that sounds good for now. Where is he peeing? They usually choose a corner of the cage as a toilet, which makes it easier to spot clean the pee area or put a litter tray there (Syrians will use a litter tray if you put it in their chosen place!)

If he ends up peeing in the burrow it could get messy. And then they get bothered by their nest being messed with for spot cleaning the pee. I think the HH comes with a potty tray doesn’t it?

 

[Maz]

I just thought of something else. The little pod houses on the shelves are a pain as well. I had the solid shelf from the HH in another cage, and our hamster decided to nest on the little pod house. That was an absolute nightmare as it has a solid plastic bottom via the shelf and got condensation, especially when he peed in it as well. Plus he stuffed it so full of bedding the top kept popping off which really upset him! What also really upset him was I had to keep cleaning it out regularly as it got so damp inside. So much better if he’s built a nest under a shelf. But if he dies try and best in those pod houses it could be an idea to remove those too. I still have mine and use it as a house in the pet carrier! It’s just sat on substrate in there so they can burrow under it.

Then because he was in that house he used the corner opposite as a toilet - which is where the inset food bowl is! I ended up removing the shelf and using a large flat roofed house instead . Which doubled up as a shelf and put a corner litter tray inside the house. Then he was happy - he had an en-suite toilet. The advantage of a litter tray is you can just empty it out once or twice a week, their nest doesn’t get disturbed and the rest of the cage stays clean and dry so less cows ours needed. Big clean outs always stress them as it removes all their familiar scent.

 

[Member ID2]

I find the Hamster Heaven far easier to set up without the shelves and tubes. I think it's the Metro so doesn't have the penthouse.

I use them for dwarfs but have used it for a Syrian until i was able to get a second hand Alaska or Plaza and used it for an elderly Syrian.

Without all the plastic there's room for a 28cm wheel, a big house, a shoe box house works well, a corner toilet with sand in the pee corner, coconut hide or/and other hides, tubes and plenty of substrate. I like to add the inexpensive Trixie corner shelves for somewhere else to go and sit under.

I find that the plastic shelves only take up valuable space and don't offer a lot of enrichment because the little round pod things are too small for a Syrian.

I use plastic tubes inside for the dwarfs as runs to connect shelves but for a Syrian something like a wicker or Pringles tube is better i think.

 

[Maz]

Good point Beryl - looking again, it is the Hamster Sky (I think they are both called metro - meaning the tubes). I looked at the shelves and assumed it was a Hamster Heaven because the HH has both shelves. The Sky usually only comes with one shelf. Maybe someone added extras before it was sold.

I also meant to say - if you have a look at the Show us your cages thread - you can see lots of ideas for cage set ups which can give a bit of inspiration sometimes Although I can see you've already got some nice toys etc for him - the carrot topped house and dangly treats and other hidey places/tubes.

I had a cage that was virtually identical - same size and design etc by Savic except it had narrow bar spacing and no tubes. After having all sorts of issues with one of the shelves, I ended up just starting with an empty cage and putting my own stuff in it! Hence the large flat roofed house instead of a shelf. But some hamsters are happy just building a nest under a shelf. What finally tipped it was when the ladder/slide broke! I was quite glad to get rid of that shelf.

Show us your cages 2022

Hamster Heaven without external tubes and shelves set up for a Roborovski hamster.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Member ID2]

Yes, you are right, Maz. The Metro comes with one shelf. The cages are identical otherwise. I don't even know which mine are. All i know is that they are very well made and a good design because the tubes and shelves are optional.

 

[VyCanis]

I find the Hamster Heaven far easier to set up without the shelves and tubes. I think it's the Metro so doesn't have the penthouse.

I use them for dwarfs but have used it for a Syrian until i was able to get a second hand Alaska or Plaza and used it for an elderly Syrian.

Without all the plastic there's room for a 28cm wheel, a big house, a shoe box house works well, a corner toilet with sand in the pee corner, coconut hide or/and other hides, tubes and plenty of substrate. I like to add the inexpensive Trixie corner shelves for somewhere else to go and sit under.

I find that the plastic shelves only take up valuable space and don't offer a lot of enrichment because the little round pod things are too small for a Syrian.

I use plastic tubes inside for the dwarfs as runs to connect shelves but for a Syrian something like a wicker or Pringles tube is better i think.

No, it is hamster heaven, I had to remove the penthouse because he was practically living in the tube connecting to it 24/7, really started to smell