Cage toys and a chewing problem....

[hammiesarelovex3]

In this picture Carmelo seems to have chewed a hole in his wire top of the tank. So how can I fix it? Any tips?

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/x3Rissax3/Carmelo/holeincage.jpg

Also, since this has happened it makes me think that he is bored. I have his hut, food, water and a wheel in there with chew sticks.

He has this:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/x3Rissax3/Random%20pics/4385460154B.jpg (Without the fluff and it isn't in the cage, he tends to get bored with that)

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/x3Rissax3/Random%20pics/4258380035B.jpg (It too it isn't in the cage, he tends to get bored with that also)

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/x3Rissax3/Random%20pics/4512560407B.jpg (He sleeps in this, he tends to get on top of this too and tries to chew the top)

I was thinking of getting him some play sand at Home Depot, baking it, letting it cool and then put it in a dish for him to play in. He tends to go to the bathroom in it, so how often should I replace the sand? It was be in a tuppleware container safe enough for him to roll around in.

I was also thinking about getting him some more toys. Which one in your opinion is the best choice? Why?

#1 http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c5/c14 ... p5602.html (http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c5/c143/c146/Build-n-Bites-Constructive-Chew-Toys-p5602.html)

#2 http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c5/c14 ... p3626.html (http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c5/c143/c146/SAM-Castle-O-Fun-p3626.html)

Do you have any suggestions for toys? (provide pics if you can please!) I have tried a cereal box, but he pees in it.

Thank you everyone SO much! :) I really appreciate it!

*EDIT* I found out a picture frame fell and caused the damage. Carmelo did not do it. Although he may try to chew on it, he can't just do that much damage in one night. Thanks for everyone's concerns. :) I am thinking of putting duck tape there so he cannot chew through that.

I also found another cool toy:

http://www.petdiscounters.com/Puzzle-Pl ... p1444.html (http://www.petdiscounters.com/Puzzle-Playgrounds-p1444.html)

What do you think of it?

[Jane]

Maybe to fix that hole you can get some wire and try to weave it back together somehow? Or get another square of mesh (small) to cover the hole and weave it on with wire.

I would get the second toy if it's big enough for him, but it's more like a house..I've heard of people having the first one and them not being used though.

[hammiesarelovex3]

Maybe to fix that hole you can get some wire and try to weave it back together somehow? Or get another square of mesh (small) to cover the hole and weave it on with wire.

I would get the second toy if it's big enough for him, but it's more like a house..I've heard of people having the first one and them not being used though.

That sounds like a good idea. :)

Good suggestion. :)

[Peanut]

Hmm. I think Jane's idea, with the wires, is probably the best choice. Hamster Cental has a bar chewing article, so if you haven't already, you might want to check that out.

As for the toys? I think #1 would definatley make sure your hamster never got bored, but #2 is more productive, in a way, because it's both a nest, and a fun house!

Hope I helped! :)

[souffle]

I am slightly concerned that the roof is not safely repairable. The chewed wires look really sharp and could poke him in the eye or pierce a pouch. If I were you I would replace the whole top with a thicker wire mesh with a very fine gauge that he cannot get his nose through which hopefully he will not chew. How did he get up there to chew the wire? If you get any new toys that he is able to stand on to chew he might do it again. Instead of fancy toys pay a visit to the plumbing store where you can pick up bits of pipe with bends and Y junctions that they love to run in and out. Also an upturned rain gutter section makes a great nesting place!. Try and give him extra supervised play time and any high toys should be positioned so he cant reach the roof wires to chew them. If he tried to get through he may hurt himself on the wire points.

[hammiesarelovex3]

Hmm. I think Jane's idea, with the wires, is probably the best choice. Hamster Cental has a bar chewing article, so if you haven't already, you might want to check that out.

As for the toys? I think #1 would definatley make sure your hamster never got bored, but #2 is more productive, in a way, because it's both a nest, and a fun house!

Hope I helped! :)

I just found out it wasn't him that did it. a picture fell and it hit the cage and caused the damage.

You did help! Thank you! :)

[hammiesarelovex3]

I am slightly concerned that the roof is not safely repairable. The chewed wires look really sharp and could poke him in the eye or pierce a pouch. If I were you I would replace the whole top with a thicker wire mesh with a very fine gauge that he cannot get his nose through which hopefully he will not chew. How did he get up there to chew the wire? If you get any new toys that he is able to stand on to chew he might do it again. Instead of fancy toys pay a visit to the plumbing store where you can pick up bits of pipe with bends and Y junctions that they love to run in and out. Also an upturned rain gutter section makes a great nesting place!. Try and give him extra supervised play time and any high toys should be positioned so he cant reach the roof wires to chew them. If he tried to get through he may hurt himself on the wire points.

Thank you for your concern. :) I just found out it wasn't him that did that. A picture fell and caused the damage.

I like the idea of tunnels like that. I also had another suggestion for a toy.

http://www.petdiscounters.com/Puzzle-Pl ... p1444.html (http://www.petdiscounters.com/Puzzle-Playgrounds-p1444.html)

What do you think of this one?

[Peanut]

I think that toy is PERFECT. 5 stars! :D

[souffle]

We have those and the hamsters do like them though they can be quite fiddly to fit together and hard to get them to stay together! They would be too small for a largeish syrian though.

[souffle]

Our hams love these. They are big and have a tube. They like to go in and store stuff in them and climb on them.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HO ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HOUSE-HAMSTER-GERBIL-MICE-PETS-HOME_W0QQitemZ300123668015QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1286Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Our hams are all large and easily fit through the tube and you can stand them in a Gabber rex so they have a tube and two compartments to play in.

[hammiesarelovex3]

I think that toy is PERFECT. 5 stars! :D

Thank you! :D

[hammiesarelovex3]

Our hams love these. They are big and have a tube. They like to go in and store stuff in them and climb on them.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HO ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HOUSE-HAMSTER-GERBIL-MICE-PETS-HOME_W0QQitemZ300123668015QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1286Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Our hams are all large and easily fit through the tube and you can stand them in a Gabber rex so they have a tube and two compartments to play in.

Thank you for your suggestion! I love that house you got there. I may just go get that instead! :)

[hammiesarelovex3]

Our hams love these. They are big and have a tube. They like to go in and store stuff in them and climb on them.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HO ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERPET-CYBER-HOUSE-HAMSTER-GERBIL-MICE-PETS-HOME_W0QQitemZ300123668015QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1286Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Our hams are all large and easily fit through the tube and you can stand them in a Gabber rex so they have a tube and two compartments to play in.

Thing is I live in America. :( I don't think I would like to order from the UK. I tried looking on the superpet website and it seems you can't order it. I also tried the american ebay and its not there either. BUT I just found it on amazon.com! :)

Are you sure my hamster will not get stuck in the red tube? If I don't like that tube can it be taken off?

Does this chinchilla sand seem alright to you?

http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c6/c19 ... p4225.html (http://www.petdiscounters.com/c7/c6/c192/Chinchilla-Bath-Sand-p4225.html)

Thank you so much! :)

[Peanut]

Great choice! Getting the Chinchilla Bath Sand would be a good idea as well, and it's not too expensive! (The only reason I know that is because I live in America too. Sometime's I look at prices for hamster toys posted on HC, and I have no idea if I should add it to my To Buy list or not!)

I'm glad to hear that your hamster actually wasn't bored, but a picture commited the crime! I hope both you and your hammy have fun with the new toy! :D

[hammiesarelovex3]

Great choice! Getting the Chinchilla Bath Sand would be a good idea as well, and it's not too expensive! (The only reason I know that is because I live in America too. Sometime's I look at prices for hamster toys posted on HC, and I have no idea if I should add it to my To Buy list or not!)

I'm glad to hear that your hamster actually wasn't bored, but a picture commited the crime! I hope both you and your hammy have fun with the new toy! :D

Thank you! I hope I can get the toy hehe. My mom may not...who knows...but thank you! :)

[souffle]

Well our largest hammy Red has one of those toys in her cage and she is quite large at 218g and she gets through the tube. They do like to sit in the tube and pretend to be a caterpillar! It all comes apart so you could take the tube off I guess. Red stores her food in the top bit!

Not sure about the chinchilla sand as ours is a UK make called Charlie Chinchilla. As lond as it is sand and not fine dust it should be OK.

[hammiesarelovex3]

Well our largest hammy Red has one of those toys in her cage and she is quite large at 218g and she gets through the tube. They do like to sit in the tube and pretend to be a caterpillar! It all comes apart so you could take the tube off I guess. Red stores her food in the top bit!

Not sure about the chinchilla sand as ours is a UK make called Charlie Chinchilla. As lond as it is sand and not fine dust it should be OK.

Thank you for the advice. :) Hopefully I can get the toy soon...

[souffle]

Here is a cheap idea from the plumbing store!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toys2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toys1.jpg
And a shop bought extesion for the house bit!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toy3.jpg

[Jane]

souffle what plumbing shop are those tubes from? I was looking at some in B&Q and Wickes for the piggies and they were like £6 just for a short peice, of course hammies don't need them as big but still.

[lau200]

the best toys i have ever bought are called turrets and chu tubes. they are basically thick cardboard and cost less than £2. i have 7 hamsters and 5 gerbils, and everyone uses them. as a matter of fact all bar 1 hamster and 1 gerbil are asleep in one of them :D i have a constant supply because they do get chewed but it's far safer than plastic :D

it's a shame they don't make them in larger sizes because i know my chinchillas would love them :(

[souffle]

Jane, they actuall did come from B&Q. There was a big bin of oddments and they were all 10p or 25p. You could try your local plumber and see if he has any offcuts, or even look in on a building site and ask if they have any bits lying around. Look in skips outsite houses being renovated etc. Be a womble and scavenge!

[hammiesarelovex3]

Here is a cheap idea from the plumbing store!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toys2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toys1.jpg
And a shop bought extesion for the house bit!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/Pophammy/toy3.jpg

Thats an awesome idea! Thanks for the pics! :)

[hammiesarelovex3]

the best toys i have ever bought are called turrets and chu tubes. they are basically thick cardboard and cost less than £2. i have 7 hamsters and 5 gerbils, and everyone uses them. as a matter of fact all bar 1 hamster and 1 gerbil are asleep in one of them :D i have a constant supply because they do get chewed but it's far safer than plastic :D

it's a shame they don't make them in larger sizes because i know my chinchillas would love them :(

I have a chube for my hammie and they make some really large enough for chinchillas. I saw some at the pet store with them and they were going through them with ease. here's a link:

http://www.petco.com/product/9438/T-Rex-Chubes.aspx