Stop or allow? - Page 2

NiceCrocs · 07-22-2014, 01:53 PM

If she's just taking an occasional snooze in the sand, I wouldn't worry too much, Margo does that too, I think she just likes the texture or the coolness, but if she's trying to set up a nest in there I would probably want to interfere. Adding the terracotta and tiles is a good move

let us know how Teddy likes the new additions!

Teddy001 · 07-22-2014, 02:03 PM

Thanks, Crocs

It appeared she set up a nest in the jar with sand, as she moved a good amount of substrate into the jar. When I start Feedings, each day, she comes out, even if it's to step out of her house, take a sniff, then go back to bed- she's like clock work with the same routine, each day. When she didn't come out of her house yesterday evening, while feeding time, I thought, she was just tired from playing hard the night before. Went on with my daily routine, of checking her sand area, and low and behold, she was half asleep in the sand jar, filled with substrate. Do Hams transport a lot of bedding by their mouths? I've not seen her ever do that. Since her house sits on substrate, she kicks it in with her legs. I also noticed, she eats treats in the sand jar- this is a recent thing. I am a bit worried about that. I am concerned she may eat treat mixed with sand and get a blockage.

NiceCrocs · 07-22-2014, 02:15 PM

Ah, in that case the changes you made are definitely a good idea. I don't know if a lot of hamsters carry bedding in their pouches, but mine surely does; before she beds down for the day she stuffs her pouches full of substrate and bedding, carries it into her nest, and empties it all out and uses it to block the opening, and I've heard others say their hams do the same, so it's not terribly uncommon.

As to the sand, I've personally never heard of a hamster suffering problems from ingesting small amounts of sand, but I'm not a vet :/ hopefully others can chime in on that matter.

Teddy001 · 07-22-2014, 02:20 PM

Yes, she's started to do just that- build up substrate around the opening of her house, looks like a wall! Lol. It appears it's just peanuts she eats in the sand jar- if she continues, I'll give her the peanut during play time, out of her cage.

Teddy001 · 07-22-2014, 02:22 PM

Can hams sleep/nest on sand? As long as the box is open and well ventilated? Just curious

**DrKMcK** · 07-23-2014, 12:50 AM

They can sleep wherever they like. If a hammy is too hot or too cold where their nest is, they will move to another one that suits them.

And they definitely carry quite large amounts of bedding to their nests. I've watched many a hammy tuck bedding in their pouches and unload them into the nest, It's amazing how much they can pack in there. it's very normal, that's how they gather nesting material in the wild. If you watch them closely, hammies will toss out old bedding and bring in fresher pieces. Smart little furries they are.

Teddy001 · 07-23-2014, 04:00 PM

Yes hams do find ways to be comfortable with what's given to them in their cages. Their solutions may baffle humans, sometimes. Lol
Update: after I made adjustments, suggested, Teddy has not made a nest in her sand area, and sits in the cool tile pieces, I noticed last night- thanks everyone!!