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Pebbles82 · 03-28-2018, 03:42 AM

Have you got the cage all set up and sorted? Just asking because if you're getting a pair, cage set up is really important to try and avoid them falling out, fighting and having to be separated (which is very common).

So no levels. At least 2 houses and wheels, two water bottles and food bowls. And houses need to have more than one entrance. Even any tubes or tunnels inside the cage need to have a big enough diameter that they could both sit inside the entrance comfortable or one would claim it as territory. Likewise with levels one can claim it as territorial. The aim is to prevent them becoming territorial. And likewise it's best not to take one out of the cage without the other as even in a short space of time the one in the cage can become territorial.

If you don't have a house with two or more entrances you can easily make them out of a tissue box and cut holes for doors - or a shoebox.

They also like lots of hidey places so they feel protected from above - so large tunnels, egg boxes, other hides etc so not too much open floor space. It helps if one of the two wheels is big enough for both to run in together comfortably. eg an 8" wheel or even bigger. Open wheels are better than ones with holes if they want to get in together.

Although they may share a wheel, house etc, they need the option to have separate ones.

Also what size is the cage? If it's too small they can fall out (and likewise if it's very large). An 80cm cage would be a good size for a pair plus the extra houses and wheels etc.

Make sure there is plenty of substrate - 4 to 6" and plenty of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper for building a nest (don't use any fluffy bedding). Settling in. Usually best to leave them alone for 2 to 3 days and then gradually start hand taming offering a treat through bars or on your hand. It's also usually recommended not to change anything in the cage or clean anything for the first two weeks. If you have a sand bath in it they may use it as a litter tray which will help. Then ongoing - spot cleaning mostly and not doing big cage cleans too often. Pet shops usually say once a week but it's not necessary if you have enough substrate and spot clean. Also cleaning everything at the same time isn't good as it removes all their familiar scent and stresses them. So you could do the substrate one time, but leave the wheel till another week and the toys another week again. I can easily go a few months without a full cage clean with our robo.

Names - a pair of names might be nice

Maybe think of something you like and think of a pair from that. eg Harry and Ron (Harry Potter)

03-28-2018, 03:42 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Boys names Have you got the cage all set up and sorted? Just asking because if you're getting a pair, cage set up is really important to try and avoid them falling out, fighting and having to be separated (which is very common). So no levels. At least 2 houses and wheels, two water bottles and food bowls. And houses need to have more than one entrance. Even any tubes or tunnels inside the cage need to have a big enough diameter that they could both sit inside the entrance comfortable or one would claim it as territory. Likewise with levels one can claim it as territorial. The aim is to prevent them becoming territorial. And likewise it's best not to take one out of the cage without the other as even in a short space of time the one in the cage can become territorial. If you don't have a house with two or more entrances you can easily make them out of a tissue box and cut holes for doors - or a shoebox. They also like lots of hidey places so they feel protected from above - so large tunnels, egg boxes, other hides etc so not too much open floor space. It helps if one of the two wheels is big enough for both to run in together comfortably. eg an 8" wheel or even bigger. Open wheels are better than ones with holes if they want to get in together. Although they may share a wheel, house etc, they need the option to have separate ones. Also what size is the cage? If it's too small they can fall out (and likewise if it's very large). An 80cm cage would be a good size for a pair plus the extra houses and wheels etc. Make sure there is plenty of substrate - 4 to 6" and plenty of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper for building a nest (don't use any fluffy bedding). Settling in. Usually best to leave them alone for 2 to 3 days and then gradually start hand taming offering a treat through bars or on your hand. It's also usually recommended not to change anything in the cage or clean anything for the first two weeks. If you have a sand bath in it they may use it as a litter tray which will help. Then ongoing - spot cleaning mostly and not doing big cage cleans too often. Pet shops usually say once a week but it's not necessary if you have enough substrate and spot clean. Also cleaning everything at the same time isn't good as it removes all their familiar scent and stresses them. So you could do the substrate one time, but leave the wheel till another week and the toys another week again. I can easily go a few months without a full cage clean with our robo. Names - a pair of names might be nice Maybe think of something you like and think of a pair from that. eg Harry and Ron (Harry Potter)