Cage swap with stressy ham

[KDcow]

Hey guys, I am after a bit of advice with swapping cages.
Cinders has been in her current cage since we got her 9 months ago. She has always suffered with stress however lately it has gotten worse. She stayed at a relatives house from the 12/8 to the 26/8 (2 weeks), so she has been back home for a week. Since she has been back, every evening/night she paces the cage and bar chews. Constantly. It puts me on edge and I hate seeing her that way.

She comes out for exercise as much as she can, normally every time she starts getting agitated. I have tried stimulating her by giving her a seed block attached to string that would have to get through, but she snatched it out of my hand and threw it off her top level! Once she ate a bit she got bored and continued bar chewing. She also hardly ever uses her wheel now.

The only option I can think of now is giving her a bigger cage so I can add toys in and more places for her to explore (unless someone can think of other ideas!).
I have been looking at all kinds of cages available and like the look of the Alaska now (changed my mind from the Criceti). I was planning on adding another level, hanging toys and ground toys.
What is the best way to move her over the new cage making her as little stressed as possible? (she is a hisser as well!). I want the best for so I would really appreciate the advice!

[Shannonmcn]

You can introduce her to the new cage slowly during playtime so she gets used to the space over the course of a few days. Then when she is in there properly she won't be in a completely new environment. When you do the proper change over use as much of her old bedding as possible in the new cage and don't wash any of her toys, keep the cage layout as similar as possible too. You can add new toys once she has settled a bit but you want to keep changes to an absolute minimum at the beginning.

Changes can unsettle them, Cc was always on edge for a while after coming back from her occasional holidays at mums but she did get back to normal eventually. I would never say not to get them a bigger cage if it's possible though and the Alaska has a great reputation. In general more space means a happier ham so even if she does seem stressed out by the move I think she will be happier in the long term

[KDcow]

Thank you the advice, I will slowly introduce her to it over a few days if I get a cage.
Do I give her another week or do I get her a new cage, though she has always chewed her bars and paced her cage. I just don't like seeing her all upset.

[Shannonmcn]

If she's in something smaller than an alaska then I would get the alaska asap if you can, it's a good size at a great price and I don't really like the idea of keeping a ham in anything much smaller than that size personally. Cc was always in a cage the same size as the alaska (hamster heaven) and she chewed bars and got a bit stressy too so I upgraded her to a detolf and she's much happier. Some of them do just need a lot of space!

[KDcow]

Ok, I think I'm going to order it tomorrow. The cage she is in is quite a bit smaller than th Alaska, it was supposed to be temporary but she calmed down in it, only recently has she started getting worked up again. I suppose the worst comes the worst I can just have her old cage to use again

[Pebbles82]

I agree with changing her over the sooner the better. Put lots of substrate in the base of the new cage - at least 3 to 4" deep but the deeper the better! I fill our cage base to the brim (that encourages them to dig their own tunnels which is supposed to be a big stress reliever). Then as Shannon says, let her play in it for a while for say 2 or 3 evenings. Then on the fourth evening, pop her somewhere safe (eg a pet carrier) and move all the bedding from the old cage on top of the bedding in the new cage and mix it all up together (so it smells familiar). Then the wheel and toys as Shannon says. It's important not to clean anything before moving the stuff, and not for two weeks after the move. Any stinky bits will get mixed in with the new bedding and be fine for a couple of weeks. I would recommend getting a hamster potty litter tray and when you know which corner is her wee corner in the new cage, put the litter tray in that corner and she'll probably just use it. It means the rest of the cage stays mostly clean and you don't have to do full cleans so often, and just empty out the potty tray once a week, wash it out and refill it. This worked so well for me I could go 3 or 4 months without needing to do a full cage cleaning. Cleaning is one thing that totally stresses hamsters out as it removes all their familiar scents and trails they have made in their cage and instinctively they think a predator or another animal has been in their cage and get very anxious and even aggressive.

I think the bigger cage and a good depth of substrate will make a huge difference. They also need a 27 to 30cm diameter wheel. If they run in a wheel that is too small their backs are bent and this can cause pain (which also makes them stressed and aggressive sometimes and can lead to vet bills for spine problems).

So you are on the right track. Alaska cage, good sized wheel, plenty of substrate, some kind of house/hide and a few toys. Incidentally the cats eye house that comes on the shelf in the Alaska cage might need taking out as the holes are probably too small for a syrian (and they can get stuck in things!). The shelf itself is ok.

This wheel would be fine and fit well in the Alaska. You'd need the 28cm one and if you order it at the same time as the Alaska you'll get free postage on them both.

Small Pet Exercise Wheel | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

If you want a good toy/house to put in, ours loves this cardboard house that has hay stuck on the outside and carrot on top. He scratches away inside it pulling off the hay and sits on top nibbling the carrot. Keeps him happy for ages. It might even do as a main house for nest building. I put mine in the freezer for 2 days before putting it in the cage, as I worry about hay having mites. The freezer for 2 days will kill anything!

Rosewood Naturals Carrot Cottage Guinea Pig House, Medium: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Then you just need lots of strips of torn up sheets of white toilet paper in a big mound somewhere in the cage, so your hamster can pouch it and build a nest somewhere.

I am sure her stress levels can be reduced a lot. Their number one most important thing is their nest. They don't like it being disturbed. If it isn't wee'd in I leave it and don't touch it. If it is stinky and wee'd in you might have to remove some of it when doing a cage clean, but always leave some of the original nest behind and put more white toilet paper out so she can rebuild it. The number two most important thing is their wheel - they love their wheels, and if she doesn't have a 28cm wheel at the moment, she will go crazy for the one linked as it will be easier to run in and much more comfortable for her.

And space - so they can roam, find places to hide and wash and bury their hoards, and just explore.

Toys wise, I would avoid any hanging toys (except fixed things like the sputniks) or a grass hammock is ok, but I think anything with chains or rings is a hazard and hams can end up getting a foot caught jumping off and end up hanging by a broken leg.

This grass hammock is quite good as a roof toy, maybe near the shelf so she can get into it easily, or near the house roof. Again if you order it from zooplus at the same time as the cage you won't pay postage on it.

Natural Grass Hammock for Pets at zooplus

With a hammock, a wheel, a house, the shelf and plenty of substrate, she would be fairly sorted, although adding a tube to the floor of the cage would be a good toy. A kitchen roll tube is fine if she isn't too big, or one of the medium sized chew tubes

Boredom Breakers Chew Tube Medium Pets Small Animals: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

These bendy stick bridges are also good for hiding under and climbing over, or to make a tunnel to a house entrance. I put those in the freezer for two days as well lol! Just in case of woodworm. But I don't think many people do that. I'm just cautious!

Wicker Bridge for Small Pets at zooplus

On the day you move her over, try and have everything set up ready - toys, wheel, house and everything in place, so you don't have to disturb her by making changes too much for the first couple of weeks, then leave her alone for 2 or 3 days. It can take about 10 days for them to feel at home in a new cage. Ours got really nervy and shaky when he moved from a smaller cage to a bigger cage. But by day 10 he was having great fun, climbing and exploring and just looking happy!

I think you'll find you have a different hamster when you have her new cage set up and she's in it for a week or two - the amount of space really affects their behaviour.

I found this video by Erin's Hamsters was a Godsend - tips for cage cleaning - it is one of the things that many owners do without realising how much it stresses their hamster - after watching this I now do the cleaning in stages and never remove all of the substrate and leave the bottom 2/3 and just change the top 2/3. I think you'll find it helpful for now and when she has the new cage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVnEjrXbww

[Thin Lizzy]

Sorry to hear Cinders has been stressed lately, fingers crossed the new and bigger cage will help her.
I agree with introducing her to it over a period of time so she'll be used to it when she moves into it permanently.
Was she stressed before you went on holiday?

[Piebald]

The Alaska is a great cage but have you considered a tank type since she is a bar chewer (or did I miss something)?

[KDcow]

Serendipity- thanks for this reply and the reply my other post, both have been read and appreciated but I thought it would be easier to keep track by only replying to one. The only hanging toy I now have is a 'rat' sized sputnik (this size seemed more spacious for her). I will do what everyone is recommending and introduce her over a space of time. I watched the video and will try out cleaning her that way in the new cage. She already has the 28cm wheel so that's one less new thing to have to get her.

Thin Lizzy- She has always been stress and quite nervous. The first week we had her she hissed and screamed. She eventually settled but no more than one person is allowed in a room with her- other wise she gets worked up, bar chews and makes a really weird squawking sound. I don't think she likes hearing more than one voice. She also doesn't like it if I bend down to look at her in her cage. She always bar chewed before we went away but normally only when she was in heat, now she does it EVERY day. When I went to get from my relatives house after holiday, she woke up and straight away started bar chewing, pacing and squeaking. She does the same now but without the noises.

Piebald- I would love a tank for her but she loves climbing the bars and I don't want to have to take that away from her. But if it ever comes to my last option I will

[Pebbles82]

I reckon just fill the base to the top with substrate, pile it high in the middle and she'll be so busy digging tunnels she'll forget to chew the bars You already have the sputnik and wheel so you're set to go. I guess you have a house too. Best to keep familiar toys and houses if you have them already and don't clean them before moving them over then they will still smell familiar!