Jas, the hamster formally known as Jasper

[RainbowBrite]

Aw it is so lovely to see she enjoys her time in the playpen. I wonder if she may prefer the blanket if it was smooth so it is easier for her to walk over? If not then your other idea sounds good too.

 

[Maz]

Aw she looks adorable! It isn't necessary to have a blanket - it's mainly just to have some time out of the cage and taming time. I find having a wheel in there can help. But you maybe don't have a spare wheel. I get a flying saucer for the playpen - they usually enjoy that. The 12" flying saucer is only about £12.

By the way you don't need to resize the photos any more! You can just upload them directly and the forum resizes them automatically now - made a few changes.

 

[elusive]

She does look sweet out exploring there, sounds like you might need to experiment a bit, they always find gaps interesting!

 

[Hank]

I think it might have been a little big, so she kept trying to burrow under it, so we took half off and she seemed to prefer the side without the blanket, we will keep trying

 

[Hank]

She does have a flying saucer in the playpen, she is so quick though, you have to hold the bottom to stop it moving
She does seem to have a skill for finding any gaps, there must be hamster training for that!

 

[Hank]

Aw she looks adorable! It isn't necessary to have a blanket - it's mainly just to have some time out of the cage and taming time. I find having a wheel in there can help. But you maybe don't have a spare wheel. I get a flying saucer for the playpen - they usually enjoy that. The 12" flying saucer is only about £12.

By the way you don't need to resize the photos any more! You can just upload them directly and the forum resizes them automatically now - made a few changes.

Great, thanks. I'll try to upload directly next time

 

[Member ID2]

I put the large saucer on a bath mat which stops it from moving.

Yes, trying to get into gaps and corners, dig up the carpet and strip wallpaper are all hobbies the hamsters like to indulge in here.

 

[Hank]

I've made a cardboard base for the playpen, will try it out later. She seemed a bit grumpy yesterday and started to chew the bars, so she ended up coming out twice, for quite a long time. When she was back in her cage she was falling asleep at the very front of the cage. I think she was worried that she might miss us and might be able to come out again. Has anyone else had that?
She seems okay, I saw her today, which is rare, she came out for a drink when I was in the room and just looked at me, you could tell she was half asleep still

 

[Maz]

That's a good idea - putting cardboard down What does her cage look like now? Just wondering if there's the odd tweak we could suggest so she feels more settled somehow? I'm guessing she's had the two weeks in the cage by now without changes. Where is she nesting? Some female Syrians enjoy destroying cardboard! Egg boxes and so on. Also scatter feeding can help distract them.

I have a male Syrian who is similar - but not quite as demanding perhaps. He is either asleep or he is eating or he wants to be out!

 

[RainbowBrite]

Perhaps she is in season right now so feeling a little grumpy. I love your idea of putting cardboard down for the base of the playpen.

 

[Maz]

That is a good point Rainbow. They have a heat every four days, in case you weren't aware.

 

[Hank]

I can hear her now, she wakes up and eats in her burrow before she emerges, so I'll try to get a picture of the cage, when she is out. She has actually built a nest under the shelf, behind her house. I'm thinking of adding cardboard or the seagrass mats to the back and just building up the substrate, if she is happy there.
We always scatter feed now, she used to put the food she likes back in the food bowl, but doesn't do that now, that's in her nest.
I was wondering if she might be in season, can I do anything more when she is, to keep her happy. Treats or something?

 

[Maz]

I can't remember what house she has. I think if a house isn't big enough for them (in their view!) then they will ignore it and build a large nest under a shelf. But she maybe likes the house as privacy for the nest behind it.

As for other things to keep her happy - maybe trial and error. I do think the large multiroom houses are popular with Syrians - but I've never had a female. It helps their nest stay in tact as well and gives them separate areas for hoarding and toiletting etc. They're very dark inside. In the past I've just popped a larger house over the existing nest and they've settled into it.

Plenty of things to chew maybe - whimzees, chew sticks with food on, and cardboard items!

 

[RainbowBrite]

I read that when in season they may like to come out of their cage more to burn off energy.

You are doing a wonderful job with Jas and she sounds much more settled.

 

[Hank]

So, turns out cardboard not such a good idea. She managed to find a bit at the edge and proceeded to chew a lot of it and then wanted to chew the pen. I don't think she liked it

 

[RainbowBrite]

Sounds like she was using it to get out some frustration from being in season to me. I bet it kept her occupied for a bit.

 

[Hank]

Sounds like she was using it to get out some frustration from being in season to me. I bet it kept her occupied for a bit.

Not for long, might just put her back with loads of cardboard. She completely ignored her saucer, which is strange, she usually likes that

 

[Maz]

She just sounds like a chewer! She maybe enjoyed chewing the cardboard! Is there a wheel in the playpen?

 

[RainbowBrite]

Not for long, might just put her back with loads of cardboard. She completely ignored her saucer, which is strange, she usually likes that

Have you ever thought of giving her dig boxes? Perhaps she may enjoy digging in them in the playpen.

 

[Hank]

There isn't a wheel in her playpen, just the saucer, I need to try to get one.
I was looking at dig boxes, do you have any suggestions of good ones, there are so many to choose from.