Syrian chewing cage.

Gemma_xo · 03-01-2017, 06:19 PM

Hi all, posting on behalf of a friend (who has forgotten his login details!)

He's recently rescued a Syrian (Frosty) who was in an awful cage. He went from a cage with levels and no wheel / space etc.

Bar chewer and all sorts, he's been moved into a large zoozone with a better wheel (which he doesn't really use, unsure due to not having a proper one before, maybe?).

Frosty does however chew at the plastic on the cage relentlessly. My friends wondering what he can do to avoid this. He's given Frosty chews & things to play with, he's moved the water bottle (he also likes to chew the metal spout to death) to try block the plastic he's chewing but he's starting to make a dent in the plastic and the worry is him escaping and / or doing damage to himself by eating plastic.

We're both (my sanity levels are decreasing hearing the noise on Skype is ear piercing!) stuck for ideas of what to do next. He's supposed to be 2 years old but neither of us believe he is that old due to the fact he's a lively one & definitely not showing any signs of old age at all.

Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated and passed on-

Thank you!

Gemma (&Craig - Jargen on here).

x

InkyPen · 03-02-2017, 12:53 AM

To be honest, with a rescue ham that is chewing the cage this obsessively, I'd start to look at a glass tank style of cage (possibly a Detolf) as then there's nothing for him to physically get his little jaws around.

cypher · 03-02-2017, 01:42 AM

I'd agree with InkyPen, once they get into the habit of chewing plastic & find places they can get a good grip then they do tend to keep doing it so glass is probably the way to go.
If he keeps chewing the water bottle then it's best to try a bowl at least for a while to break that habit as they can damage their teeth & consume too much water doing that.

Gemma_xo · 03-02-2017, 09:51 AM

With just spending the amount he did on the zoozone, and space availability, a glass cage really isn't looking too promising unfortunately.

I did have this thought myself but with the set up that he's got to have it really isn't possible, financially or space wise =/
x

Drago · 03-02-2017, 10:17 AM

What about looking into something like a 40 gallon tank for the time being? These aren't too expensive, especially if you can find a second hand tank! You could also make your own tank if you're skilled enough. You would just need glass panes and aquarium sealent(plus someone to cut the glass for you) I've known people who have made 300 gallon+ fish tanks for less than $50 (around 40 in your currency)

AmityvilleHams · 03-02-2017, 03:48 PM

A DIY tank is a great idea,and something that most people don't mention!Of course,to make one that would work well for a hamster who needs tons of space(square meter or larger)it would be extremely heavy still and not the easiest to work with due to sizing.

There is the potential of using four Ikea Lack tables to make a square meter(slightly over actually)cage

It's not expensive,requires only minimal tools,and much like a homemade tank the creator has the choice over which shape it becomes,therefore making it much easier to fit into spaces than any premade cage.It would require a bulk melamine sheet,cut to size per panel/side(not including the front),one or two acrylic panels(to fit the front,add two extra if an L shaped with the most front window section is desired),a very basic(but good quality)drill(excellent investment when it comes to hamsters anyways,something most pet owners should just have lying around!),wire cutters(tend to be very cheap),1/2 inch or 1cm mesh,and safe wood to make a lid(hinges too if a hinged lid is desired).

chesca_27 · 03-02-2017, 05:05 PM

I think a square meter cage would be a bit too big to be honest. My piggies live in a just over square meter cage and it really is gigantic. Even they are a bit overwhelmed by the space.

Glass tanks in the UK are extortionately expensive, unless you can find a local second hand one. A Detolf would be your best bet for glass.

AmityvilleHams · 03-02-2017, 05:09 PM

It's more about the setup than being "too big"

Yes,a hamster may feel overwhelmed in something with little to no roof cover that is a square meter or larger,but if it is set up appropriately with deep substrate and lots of roof cover(and hiding places in general)it will be fine.That being said if a cage isn't set up right and has minimal roof cover a hamster is going to be nervous,being prey animals which absolutely need lots of roof cover.

Something else that can be done to help with nervousness along with the right setup is properly transitioning to a larger cage.This barely ever gets addressed,even though it is very important!Starting with a temporary divider in a larger cage then slowly allowing more space and doing a gradual expansion of the hamster's environment is much better than just jumping right to a larger cage.Not many people think about this along with setup,but it is absolutely crucial when it comes to changing cage size!

Another issue would be that people might assume their hamster should be automatically just as friendly as usual if they upgrade in cage size,which is a bit silly.It's just like any other cage change or bringing a new hamster home,they need to at least settle for a few days otherwise these issues can just get even worse.Not sure why this isn't thought of either,but it also is very important.