Syrian hamster cage gnawing and not using wheel

[Member ID2]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I think that's the Criceti 15 cage which is more of a dwarf hamster cage.

I did the same when i got my first Syrian and bought a cage he outgrew then upgraded as i learned more about hamsters.

You got her a good wheel and plenty of bedding which is great. I think she'll love a shoe box house which could double as a platform by placing a bendy bridge next to it. I use cardboard tubes like Pringles, Bisto etc as tunnels.

I think this cage together with plenty of out of cage time, should your hamster want it, is fine until you are able to upgrade her. There's no rush and she'll probably settle down yet.

I bought a second hand Savic Plaza for £20 off a friend but they are in the small ads for around £40 sometimes. I see your cage is on the floor and so is one of mine. I put it on a dolly trolley which is ever so handy when i need to move it.

 

[Maz]

I think the cage looks fine for her now - she has some nice enrichment in there - maybe a bit too much open space - adding the shoebox house will help. She will probably continue to need a lot of out of cage time until you do decide to upgrade the cage. The main reason they need more space is at night - when they are at their most active and need to burn off a lot of energy. If they feel a bit trapped they can start bar chewing.

Glad the wheel is working ok. Height does make a difference. In a way the height of the current cage is good for safety in that they cant fall too far if they monkey bar across the roof and drop! On the other hand it's harder to fit in both a big wheel, and enough substrate. The wheel takes up the floor area in one place and the substrate has to be lower there (and the wheel tends to keep getting jammed up with substrate).

So a cage that is too tall is risky for fall risks - but there are ways round that. It doesn't want to be taller than 50cm tall though. With a bigger cage with more height you can have a little platform under the substrate, with the wheel stood on that, so it's on a firm surface - if you don't have a wheel that attaches to the bars. That also provides an extra hidey place under the wheel .

 

[Doro]

Ok folks I need your opinion. I have now added the shoebox house to the cage which Marmalade has taken well too. Am still not sure she’s using the wheel - during the day she goes in there to eat sometimes and then does a reluctant round or two before hopping out again. She keeps marking it (peeing on it) and there are traces of use all around it (but as said she does do a round or two during the day. I and the kids take her out whenever she is awake and wants to and we’re around, usually at least twice per day. She’s getting tamer, I can now carry her back and forth between cage and playpen and she’s happy to eat from my or the kids’ hands. But she’s still gnawing the cage. During the day that usually doesn’t last longer than 10min and happens maybe twice or three times (basically once in every awake phase during the day which are not long) but she’s still doing it and am not sure what’s happening during the night. I think her fur starts to rub off a bit over her nose as she rams her mouth through the bars when gnawing. There’s no injury it only looked like a little spot that is a bit fairer and maybe I’m making too much of it. So I’m now thinking whether to already upgrade her cage now. Pros: hopefully that’s the one thing that will sort it, having more space. Cons: she seems more settled and tamer now so it might unsettle her too much again right at the wrong time?? If I’m upgrading the cage I would do it like Maz suggested - having both cages up for a while and let her play in the new one before moving her over. Also to be considered: we will all be away in two weeks time for two nights. My neighbours daughter will look after her then and she has lots of experience doing it for our dwarf. But it will feel empty and she might not be able to come out a lot (there’s no clear predictable pattern at the moment when’s she’s out, it’s often in the morning or early evening or late evening, and I cannot ask my neighbours daughter to check three times a day!). So if upgrading her now, taking a week or so doing it fully, she would have another week in the new cage. Or better to wait until we’re back so she doesn’t feel unsettled and abandoned. I’m feeling totally stuck!! Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[elusive]

It can be tricky weighing up the pros & cons but I would be a bit concerned that she may do some damage to her nose or possibly teeth if she keeps on with the bar. chewing & that could lead to longer term problems.
I would be inclined to go ahead & do it now, as long as she has plenty of enrichment in the new cage & lots to occupy her she should be ok while you’re away for a couple of nights.
Also I think the longer they go on bar chewing the more of a habit it can become so a new larger cage with lots of enrichment might be a good way to break the habit.
There’s no guarantees either way but it does seem with female Syrians that they generally do better with larger cages.
As she’s pretty tame now I doubt that will change as she settles into a new cage, it may just set her back a little possibly but as she’s used to you now she would get over any set back pretty quick I would think.

 

[Maz]

I agree with Elusive. Also just to add about being careful carrying her to and from the cage. I don't do that even with a tame hamster as at any time they can suddenly wriggle free and fall - eg if they hear a noise or just feeling that way out! I tend to let them walk into a tube or a certain type of hide used as transport - put my hands over the ends and carry them that way then set the tube down. They soon get used to their transport carrier.

Having said that, it's good she is tame enough to allow that. The cage change may or may not set taming back a little bit but it will be very temporary if it does - maybe a couple of weeks. The first 2 or 3 days she may be skitty and I wouldn't attempt to take her out for the first 2 or 3 days in the new cage - unless she is showing signs of wanting to come out.

Deciding on the right cage to get can be the difficult bit! Did you have anything in mind? Females notoriously need a lot of space so I'd go with as big as you can get.

I was going to say that she is probably using the wheel at night. And also that she probably mainly bar chews when she knows someone is around - but if she is getting nose rub she might be bar chewing at night as well.

The cage choice is tricky. You could go for a larger barred cage, or a tank style. If going for a tank style then it needs to still be quite a bit larger than the current cage even if she can't chew bars, or the stress will still be there. The choice in tank style is very limited unless you do diy or spend a vast amount of money on something like the eco habitat (which is ridiculously expensive).

So they are really tricky decisions - depending on budget, space and what is likely to work.

 

[Maz]

You could look on ebay at second hand cages You can sometimes get a used eco habitat or a used four foot fish tank. Tanks are heavy which is a downside and they need a lid making. Or a used detolf can be quite cheap - if you have the space for that. A detolf is quite large in terms of length but it does just go along a wall and not stick out too far. They can make quite a focal point in a room and have storage underneath. That only needs a little bit of diy in making a couple of basic lids for it out of strips of wood and mesh - you just need a screwdriver and a stapler. Some people get the wood and mesh cut to size at the diy store and then they just need screwing/stapling together.

 

[Maz]

Or you could just get a larger cage - an easier option. The one with the largest floorspace is the bigger version of what you have now - the ferplast Criceti 100. She is unlikely to bar chew if the cage is at least 100cm. But it's still a possibility which is why it's a difficult decision. It is not a cheap cage either and costs about £135. The next biggest for floorspace is probably the 100cm Grosvenor cage - similar to the one you have now with a removable top. It's under £70 but the height is not particularly high. This has pros and cons! The wheel would fit as before but the substrate would need to be lower at the wheel end. The Criceti 100 would be better - it has a lot more scope and height with shelves and plenty of room for deeper substrate. It is quite large and bulky though.

Hamster & Rat Cage Grosvenor XL 100x54x39cm - Black

Spacious 100x54x39cm hamster & rat cage with wooden shelf, ladder & bowl. 1cm bar spacing ensures security. Collapsible for easy storage.

www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk

Ferplast Criceti 100 Hamster Cage

Ferplast Criceti 100 Hamster Cage Influenced by the stricted European standard regarding the dimension of caged, the Ferplast Criceti 100 Hamster Cage has been designed to ensure plenty of space and living comfort is provided for your little friend. Devid

www.petscorner.co.uk

Or some people get the wood pawhut cages. Space for less money. They don't look that glamorous and it's possible she could chew through the wood, but in that case you could add some reinforcement on the inside. This type - they are not perfect - You have to put it together (flatpack) and ideally paint part of the inside with plastikote waterproofing paint. It helps to put the door at the top instead of the bottom when building it (people have done this) because it's pointless having it at the bottom or all the substrate falls out! It's an easy adjustment when building it apparently - you just swap the pieces around. And unless you have about 30cm of substrate in it, the top shelf is too high - so most people only put one of the shelves in - the top one or the bottom one (depending on how much substrate they decide to use). And you might need some sanding paper as there can be splintery bits!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PawHut-Hamster-Animals-Exercise-Natural/dp/B09QK9KY51/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1TQJR34ANI2HZ&keywords=pawhut+cage&qid=1675350977&sprefix=pawhut+ca%2Caps%2C784&sr=8-6

If it was me I think I would go for a detolf - if you can fit it in. Long but not so bulky. There are still some bars inside it (support bars) but if she happened to chew those you can wrap sisal string round the bars.

If money is not an object (it usually is!) and you can fit it in - I would go for the eco habitat. But it's about £200! It will be big enough and it's a perspex tank style cage on wheels. But it still needs the lid meshing as the holes are too big on top and hamsters can escape.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-World-Moving-Habitat-Medium/dp/B00E1XWJ2O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8979QVOV1W3X&keywords=living+world+eco+habitat&qid=1675351241&sprefix=living+world+eco+habita%2Caps%2C428&sr=8-1

There is another option - the Maxi Duna Multy - which is a 100cm perspex cage. It is an upgrade from what she has but it may not work - the lower height and curved top means it can be harder to add enough enrichment and shelves etc and hamsters have been known to chew their way out of those (ie chew through the plastic base).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Maxi-Multy-Guinea-Rabbit/dp/B00F5ZZ2R6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CZLO035446M0&keywords=maxi+duna+multi&qid=1675351429&sprefix=maxi+duna+mu%2Caps%2C883&sr=8-1

 

[RainbowBrite]

The only downside to the Deltof (from what I have read) is it is not very high so would be tricky to fit a 12 inch wheel. There are other Ikea hacks such as the komplment. I personally would go with the komplment if you want to DIY. These are the measurements:

Cage internal measurements: 96cm (length) x 57cm (width) x 55.5cm (height) = 5,475 sq cms = 848 sq inches

Cage external measurements: 100cm (Length) x 61cm (width) x 57.25 (height)

I got those from a video were somebody put theirs together. The video said it cost the person under £100.

 

[Maz]

That's true. An 11" wheel fits and that should be fine. The main advantage of the detolf is there is hardly any diy!

They are difficult decisions with the money involved. I am a fan of barred cages but you don't want to waste money if she happens to bar chew. One option I forgot to mention - and you can find used ones on ebay. That is probably ideal - is the 100cm Barney cage - I have never heard of a hamster bar chewing in that - because not only is it big enough (100 x 54) but it has very narrow 7mm bar spacing so it's not easy for them to even try and bar chew! I have had that cage. It's a good option and you might be able to find a used one for £50. Trouble is although they are available, it may not be in your area.

 

[Doro]

I thought about getting the savic plaza one after having read Maz’s previous thread on cages 2022 and weighing up pros and cons. I know it’s still a barred one but in terms of costs and benefits this seems to be quite good? I cannot really spend more money on it and as I have quite a demanding, full-time job plus kids etc time and energy doing DIY is an issue as well. But despite Maz recommending it in the other thread no one mentioned it here? There’s nothing currently on eBay or gumtree in the area and I’d like to do it this now for previously mentioned reasons.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I totally understand that. I could never DIY anything myself. I do not know about cages but I am sure another member will reply soon.

 

[elusive]

I would have thought the Plaza would be fine, it is possible I guess that if she’s in the habit of chewing it could continue in a larger cage if it still has bars but provided she has enough enrichment in the cage it’s not that likely really.

 

[Maz]

I just mentioned the ones bigger than the Plaza I think the Plaza is better than the Grosvenor 100 though, even though the Grosvenor has a bit more floor space. The Plaza allows for more enrichment being a bit taller and has the big front door. It can be a bit fiddly to set up though so there isn't too much open space above it. At least if you get the plaza and there are still some issues, you can get perspex bolt on panels to prevent bar chewing.

I would go for either the Plaza or the Grosvenor 100 within that price range.

 

[Maz]

The Plaza at least comes with a shelf and you have the shoebox house and a wheel . I attached some cardboard round the inside bars at one end to have a deeper substrate end, but our hamster just chewed all the cardboard off and it ended up all over the floor!

It's a good idea to have some hanging roof things in that cage so there isn't too much open space above. The Grosvenor 100 would be easier to set up I think. Similar to your current cage but bigger. Less things needed to buy probably.

But either would be a good upgrade

 

[Maz]

I think the Savic Plaza would probably be best yes . You could maybe sell the current cage to help pay for it. You should be able to get £30 to £40 for it. It's a good cage for a dwarf hamster.

 

[Doro]

 

[Doro]

Cage arrived and assembled. Shall I get rid of the plastic ramp? Think I read somewhere (by Maz) that it would be better to use the shoebox house as ramp with a bendy bridge from roof of house to shelf? Also what should ideally go on shelf? I will get more hanging stuff as I think Maz said previously that it’s too much open space above with it. I’ll see whether she can go in later for a play but will take a few days until moving her.

 

[Doro]

Kids assembled it so that shelf is now on the side where the wheel is in the old cage. Guess it would be better to put it to the other end so wheel can go into the same place as before so the set up is as similar to her old cage as possible?

 

[Doro]

Any recommendations for hanging toys?

 

[elusive]

Putting the shelf in a position that allows for a familiar kind of layout is a good idea.
A big shoebox house would definitely be good as would replacing the plastic ramp (they can struggle a bit with those).
You could put a sand bath or another hide on the shelf.
I would put more substrate in too, really ram it in up to the top of the base of the cage & compact it down just a bit so it holds burrows better.
For hanging toys I think with that height the rat sputniks would be good.
You will need more floor items too to really keep her busy, tubes, cork tunnels, even cardboard like pringle tubes can be used just so she has plenty to explore & hideout in, more places to hide food & treats too to help keep her occupied.