Orko does not seem happy with his cage

[RainbowBrite]

Last night Orko dug up all his bedding. I have not changed anything in his cage but it seems something is making him unhappy. I have never seen his cage so messy. Here are two clips to show what I mean.

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I am wondering if he wants me to change something. He has three dig boxes, aspen, coco fibre and sand but he never digs in them and uses the coco fibre and aspen to store food.

I have been trying to get him used to a playpen but he only pops out for a few minutes and usually looks tired. He has been in the playpen a total of two times and only wanted to stay for a few minutes. Could he be bored or could he want something changed? I know how stressful it is for hamsters when there are changes so I am not sure what to do.

He is eating and drinking as usual and appears healthy.

 

[elusive]

It’s hard to guess what might be going through his little head, I’m so used to messy & lots of digging so it looks like quite normal hamster behaviour to me.
He has a fair bit of enrichment in his cage & never seems to look stressed in videos so I wouldn’t think he’s bored or unhappy with his cage.
If he doesn’t use his dig boxes you could try swapping one out for something he might enjoy more, that shouldn’t be too much of a change just to try things out & you could always put it back if he didn’t like the change.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It’s hard to guess what might be going through his little head, I’m so used to messy & lots of digging so it looks like quite normal hamster behaviour to me.
He has a fair bit of enrichment in his cage & never seems to look stressed in videos so I wouldn’t think he’s bored or unhappy with his cage.
If he doesn’t use his dig boxes you could try swapping one out for something he might enjoy more, that shouldn’t be too much of a change just to try things out & youou could always put it back if he didn’t like the change.

Thank you. very much for this. I wondered if he wants more space to play in the bedding but then I cannot remove items or he would feel too exposed.

 

[elusive]

He seems very confident when he’s out & about so I don’t think a bit more space would make him feel that exposed or if it did you could maybe get one of those wide bendy bridges or something similar to put in there so he can still dig if he wants to & has cover & something else to climb on.

 

[RainbowBrite]

He seems very confident when he’s out & about so I don’t think a bit more space would make him feel that exposed or if it did you could maybe get one of those wide bendy bridges or something similar to put in there so he can still dig if he wants to & has cover & something else to climb on.

Thank you. He was digging under his cork bridge and his Niteangel bridge in the video but seemed like they were in his way.

 

[elusive]

They shouldn’t be a problem for a tiny robo to dig under if he wants too, maybe a bit more floor space to dig would help with another bridge or cover over it.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Great idea. I will try this later so I dont wake him.

 

[Zenshii]

I don't know much about hamsters yet but I know they dig for enjoyment too? Honestly Orko looks like he's having a blast. But then again I'm not experienced enough to know. He could just be having fun digging and testing out new places to hide things or to make burrows?

 

[RainbowBrite]

I don't know much about hamsters yet but I know they dig for enjoyment too? Honestly Orko looks like he's having a blast. But then again I'm not experienced enough to know. He could just be having fun digging and testing out new places to hide things or to make burrows?

He could be. I really dont know but he spent hours doing it.

 

[Zenshii]

Yeah that's true...I wish I could offer advice. I would say you're not doing anything wrong for sure...Your enclosure and enrichment is amazing! It's hard to know what Orko is thinking...He's such a cute little mischievous one!

 

[Maz]

He certainly does seem to have a bit of a mission there. It could be his way of communicating he wants to come out again, but who knows - it's difficult for them to tell us things. Pip sometimes comes right up to the open door after he's been in the playpen or walks into the pod and looks at me and I wonder if he's telling me he wants to do that outside the cage thing again. But then he'll scamper off! I think it's quite important to observe sometimes to try and work out if they are trying to tell you something. The changes Elusive suggested are an idea too. Presumably the house and dig boxes etc are supported underneath so he could still dig under them? But it could be he's trying to tell you something. Could be worth giving him some playpen time again and leaving him out longer so he gets used to it perhaps, with plenty of toys/hidey places and a wheel in the playpen.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Yes, they are on stilts or platforms. He was doing this in the early hours when I was asleep.

Id love to try him in the playpen but in the day he is only out for a few minutes to drink. At night he only comes out when I go to bed. Im not sure how to go about it.

 

[Maz]

I thought they were on stilts and platforms - so there is nothing restricting him digging under them. Is it possible he was looking for something and can't find it! Like a special treat he buried. Yes it's tricky with robos, as to when and how to get them out if they don't appear very much. You could maybe try offering him the pouch when he comes out for a drink.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I thought they were on stilts and platforms - so there is nothing restricting him digging under them. Is it possible he was looking for something and can't find it! Like a special treat he buried. Yes it's tricky with robos, as to when and how to get them out if they don't appear very much. You could maybe try offering him the pouch when he comes out for a drink.

I just did a bit of a change in that part of the cage. Time will tell how he responds.

 

[Member ID2]

Looks like perfectly normal hamster behaviour to me.
They act like little bulldozers sometimes.

In Orko's case, my guess would be that he mislaid a treat and can't find it so he's turning the place upsidedown looking for it.

The only time i saw non burrowing Rodney digging was when he couldn't find his new biscuit.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Looks like perfectly normal hamster behaviour to me.
They act like little bulldozers sometimes.

In Orko's case, my guess would be that he mislaid a treat and can't find it so he's turning the place upsidedown looking for it.

The only time i saw non burrowing Rodney digging was when he couldn't find his new biscuit.

What a relief! I thought he was stressed because he has not done this before. Thank you for the reassurance.

 

[Hank]

He is so cute. He does look like he is having a real sort out, have you done any big cleans recently? I do find if I put some things back in the wrong place, my hamster moves them back to the right place. She likes some of her chew toys in certain places I think the others could be right and he is looking for a hidden treat?

 

[RainbowBrite]

He is so cute. He does look like he is having a real sort out, have you done any big cleans recently? I do find if I put some things back in the wrong place, my hamster moves them back to the right place. She likes some of her chew toys in certain places I think the others could be right and he is looking for a hidden treat?

Thank you Hank. I have not done anything to his cage for a while. He is so tidy so I hardly have anything to do.