Compulsive digging.

WinnieTheHam · 05-27-2015, 04:34 AM

Hi all,

Winston, My Syrian, sometimes has these bursts of compulsive digging which lasts hours. The other night when he was awake i tried to make more digging space so i swapped his maze where his nest was and put the nest where his maze used to be. I know moving things around can stress them out.

The weird thing is, is he dug so much bedding into his nest area, that the substrate was bursting out the seems... there was no way he could get back in there unless he dug it all back out. He also covers his food bowls and he also filled his wheel with substrate too.

I tried to get a video on my phone but my memory is full and my phone crashes every time i try to video.

I really hope he's not stressed out. He now has an open nest in the corner of his tank. I understand they love digging as it's natural to them, but to me it seems quite obsessive and i'm worried about him.

He has Cushings Disease (i've made a separate thread to that) so is there any way this could be the cause?

Thanks.

Snowz · 05-27-2015, 04:49 AM

Hi,
(obsessive-compulsive disorder?) maybe that's it? I've seen a thread on another hamster website but I am not 100% though.

Maybe you can buy this? : Trixie Large Wooden Digging Tower for Pet Hamster, 25 × 24 × 20 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

WinnieTheHam · 05-27-2015, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowz

Hi,
(obsessive-compulsive disorder?) maybe that's it? I've seen a thread on another hamster website but I am not 100% though.

Maybe you can buy this? : Trixie Large Wooden Digging Tower for Pet Hamster, 25 × 24 × 20 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Maybe, i was thinking that! But Cushings is a Hormone disorder so it could be related to that too! I have no idea. There's no need for me to buy a digging pit for Winston, His enclosure is 122cm x 40cm x 40cm and i almost fill the substrate to the top of his tank

he has plenty to dig in.

Leila0420 · 05-27-2015, 06:59 AM

Hi Winnie, it could be that he's a little bit unsettled or aggravated by the Cushings and this is how he's coping with it? Being ill is bound to have some kind of behavioral effect and this could just be how it's manifested in your Winston?

My dwarfs like to have a good dig and even when they block up entrances to their beds etc. they always find a way back in

I hope he's OK

(And a 122x40x40 enclosure sounds amazing! He's a lucky little guy!)

WinnieTheHam · 05-27-2015, 10:06 AM

Yeah it could be, i'm not sure. I just always thinks he wants to get out, or that he's scared so he covers valuable things up with fresh bedding. He literally fills his whole grass house up. He spends ages collecting enough substrate and kicks it in, then he goes and shoves it in with his head to make more room for more bedding! The substrate was seeping out from underneath haha!