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Old 06-15-2016, 08:07 PM   #1
vvv86
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Join Date: Jun 2016
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Unhappy Obsessed with chewing plastic!

I have a Russian dwarf hamster male called Feliks. He is approx 25 weeks old. He has plenty of toys in his cage and it's plenty big enough. He has a wooden log tunnel, a sand pit, a cardboard tube, a wheel and an external tunnel attached to the cage. He comes out in his ball every evening for at least half an hour so it's not like he doesnt get attention or playtime. He also has a house and a food bowl of course. It's a plastic cage like a fish tank but has a bars section to open it. I've had to cover the bars already to stop him climbing them and chewing them because I don't want him to break his teeth or bones from falling from great heights, but now he has found a way to chew the edge of his wheel, his house and his food bowl. All plastic. He's got wood and cardboard to chew and things to play with so i don't know why he's so obsessed with chewing plastic! I tried hanging those hamster chew things with seeds in from the bars hoping he'd chew those instead but he ignored them. How do I make him stop eating plastic I'm worried?!
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Old 06-17-2016, 07:24 AM   #2
CMB
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Default Re: Obsessed with chewing plastic!

Try a Whimzee, Antos or Greenies. These are dog chews but hamsters seem to like them.

There are also different chews for hamsters. Sisal string carrots, loafer, Rush balls etc.

Rather than put the food in the bowl try scatter feeding, hiding food in an egg box or other small boxes. They have to chew through to get the food.

Fold a toilet roll so it is more square shaped, cut 4 slits in each corner of both ends, fold the end in to seel the base, then put food/unseated toilet roll inside and fold the other end in to close the box. There are threads here and videos on toilet roll toys for hamsters. Have a look for other ideas.
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Old 06-17-2016, 09:31 PM   #3
vvv86
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Default Re: Obsessed with chewing plastic!

Thank you I will try those things. I cut a strawberry up tonight and hid bits in different places but he ignored all of them except the easiest one to get to and went straight back to chewing plastic. Do hamsters go through puberty? Is it possible he's frustrated and his hormones are nuts? Because this is a new thing, he's normally good as gold
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Old 06-17-2016, 09:33 PM   #4
vvv86
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Default Re: Obsessed with chewing plastic!

Also I am taking him to get his teeth checked/trimmed in case that's what's bothering him. Even if it was though, surely he'd chew the wood and cardboard?
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Old 06-17-2016, 09:55 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Obsessed with chewing plastic!

Some hams just aren't interested in chewing wood or cardboard or anything sold as chews!
Getting teeth checked is a good idea just in case but the most popular chews are things like the antos/whimzee dog chews CMB mentioned, Biscrok dog biscuits seem to go down well with most too.
It does sound as though it may be a cage frustration thing possibly, have you thought about getting or making a safe play pen, much better for both you & your ham rather than putting him in a ball which he really may not like, in a play pen he can explore more & interact with you.
If you could post a photo of your cage we may be able to suggest some changes that might help.
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