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Old 02-03-2019, 11:58 AM  
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Question about cage cleaning when den is part of a tunnel system

I would second the large house idea . My experience is that when they have that, they don’t bother digging burrows - because the large house mimics a burrow and has enough space for them to creat normal areas within it - for nesting, hoarding and a toilet area (you can put a litter tray inside it).

With burrows they tend to try and clean out themselves. Pee in one underground area and then when it offends their noses - push the wet substrate further along and pee on a clean bit. So you can never actually find a pee place.

They feel secure in a large house that’s dark inside - as if the were underground. A shoebox is a good size. Cut the bottom out and a hole for a door at one end of a long side (the toilet end - the other end will be darker as further away from the door and she will probably next there). Keep the lid as a lift off roof. So you can partly submerge the house in the substrate and not have to take it out to check on her nest etc but just lift the roof off.

Putting a bendy bridge over the door makes it dark inside and a tunnel entrance so she will go down the tunnel and move in. You can just channel out a bit of substrate near the entrance if it’s part submerged in substrate and put the bendy bridge there.

Then put a litter tray inside in the back corner opposite the door. Am sure she will use it - although may have other pee places too.

So rather than spot clean again now just add the house - in an area of the cage where you think it would work well and be accessible for you - as long as you don’t need to move much to fit it in. Moving one toy would be fine. And just wait for her to move in. Give her a few days to settle then spot clean the old burrow
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