I need advice and fast!

**Princess Pixie** · 07-09-2017, 08:33 AM

My new Syrian is chewing the plastic base and if she keeps it up she'll be out in a week! It's a Barney with a 12 inch wheel, loads of toys, sand bath, food, water all that jazz, but she's going nuts bar chewing and chewing her way out of the base.

What do I do?! I'm getting her a glass tank but I can't afford it for two weeks. Is there something I can do to stop her chewing through the plastic?

Pebbles82 · 07-09-2017, 08:41 AM

You could put something in front of the area she is chewing - a large toy maybe? Or find something to put there like a plant pot or ceramic jar you can put in that corner on the cage base so she can't get at that corner. She might start on a different corner but it will give you a bit of time to think!

I am so sorry to hear this, after you bought the Barney cage. She is clearly a very chewy hamster and it does sound like she needs to be in a tank style cage or need more space. Did you have anything in mind? Glass tanks are really expensive in the Uk. There is the Kerry Terrarium on Zooplus (not cheap but cheaper than an aquarium) but it's a little on the small side possibly for a Syrian and it does sound like she needs more space.

**Princess Pixie** · 07-09-2017, 10:02 AM

I tried that and she physically pushed it.. I know right.. She's so strong! She started on the other side too but she's favouring the one side and bars, she's chewing the bars too. I can't physically give her more space, I don't have the room. I'm getting the glass tank from Zooplus, it's on sale at £65 at the moment. That's without p&p though. I'll try to somehow connect two of them together via a tube through the lids but I can only afford one for now.
I really worried she's going to escape, my cat is old but I'm sure she's not pass up a hamster on the floor!

I can't believe how flimsy the plastic on the Barney is.

Ruth Edwards · 07-09-2017, 10:41 AM

If you need to save money, you could get a second hand cage. I got a good one on gumtree for twenty ponds recently and my other hamster has one which was free on freecycle. If there's one going you can usually collect it quicker than it takes to get one in the post.

**Princess Pixie** · 07-09-2017, 10:46 AM

I need a fix now. I don't get money again till the weekend.

leedsgurl · 07-09-2017, 11:07 AM

Have you read the sticky thread in this section? Managing Bar Chewers

I think most hamster owners have had this problem at one time or another- I had to attach a log bridge on the inside once as they can get obsessed with one area!

Pebbles82 · 07-09-2017, 11:46 AM

I think the delivery is free

It can take 3 to 7 days to arrive though. That is very bad luck when you've just bought a brand new Barney cage. I do know some people with similar issues have bought a maxi duna multy, which although it's also plastic, seems to have a tougher base and I've not heard of anyone's hammy chewing out of that. You are right the base of the Barney and Alexander are quite thin and flimsy - which is fine if your hamster doesn't chew it! The Maxi Duna costs more though. You can sometimes find a 3 foot second hand fish tank on ebay quite cheap, but sounds like you need something quickly. £65 is a good price for the Kerry.

**Princess Pixie** · 07-09-2017, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I think the delivery is free

It can take 3 to 7 days to arrive though. That is very bad luck when you've just bought a brand new Barney cage. I do know some people with similar issues have bought a maxi duna multy, which although it's also plastic, seems to have a tougher base and I've not heard of anyone's hammy chewing out of that. You are right the base of the Barney and Alexander are quite thin and flimsy - which is fine if your hamster doesn't chew it! The Maxi Duna costs more though. You can sometimes find a 3 foot second hand fish tank on ebay quite cheap, but sounds like you need something quickly. £65 is a good price for the Kerry.

Would a 12inch wheel fit in the Kerry do you think?

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedsgurl

Have you read the sticky thread in this section? Managing Bar Chewers

I think most hamster owners have had this problem at one time or another- I had to attach a log bridge on the inside once as they can get obsessed with one area!

Yeah I've had a look and I'll definitely get her some more chew toys, I'm not over concerned about the bar chewing because I'll be getting her glass tank soon but I'm a bit worried about her breaking through the base. She's huge!

Pebbles82 · 07-09-2017, 04:35 PM

Ah - if she is huge then you might find the Kerry not quite big enough as you'll need big stuff for her. It might be ok. It's not that tall. What wheel have you got now? The Kerry is quoted as being 37cm tall. My last Savic cage was quoted as being 38cm tall but it was more like 36cm inside. So the Kerry could be 35 to 36cm inside. The 12" Silent runner is 35cm tall on its stand. A 28cm Trixie wheel would fit ok and the Silent Runner "might" fit. The only real issue with the Kerry for a Syrian is that in the wheel area you can't really fit any substrate due to the size of the wheel and the low height of the cage. You can slope it and have it deeper in other parts of the cage though, or fence off one end for the wheel area and have split level substrate, but that does reduce the actual floorspace a bit - sort of, but it should be fine really if a wheel fits. There is the Marrakesch which is 95cm but it's a lot more expensive. Same height but has wood ends which are painted with something so they are wipe clean and waterproof. You could drill a hole in the wood end though and fix a Silent runner that way. It wouldn't be so tall without the stand. And it has a bit more floorspace - about the same size as the Barney but less deep.

I would try and secure the Barney while you think about what to get, rather than find something isn't going to work. Sounds like you need something big or heavy in that corner that she can't move! If you've got any aquarium sealant you could "glue" a bendy bridge or a piece of wood onto the cage base over the bit she's chewing - she'll probably chew through that but it'll slow her up. Have you got a photo of her cage set up? Might be able to suggest something.

**Princess Pixie** · 07-09-2017, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Ah - if she is huge then you might find the Kerry not quite big enough as you'll need big stuff for her. It might be ok. It's not that tall. What wheel have you got now? The Kerry is quoted as being 37cm tall. My last Savic cage was quoted as being 38cm tall but it was more like 36cm inside. So the Kerry could be 35 to 36cm inside. The 12" Silent runner is 35cm tall on its stand. A 28cm Trixie wheel would fit ok and the Silent Runner "might" fit. The only real issue with the Kerry for a Syrian is that in the wheel area you can't really fit any substrate due to the size of the wheel and the low height of the cage. You can slope it and have it deeper in other parts of the cage though, or fence off one end for the wheel area and have split level substrate, but that does reduce the actual floorspace a bit - sort of, but it should be fine really if a wheel fits. There is the Marrakesch which is 95cm but it's a lot more expensive. Same height but has wood ends which are painted with something so they are wipe clean and waterproof. You could drill a hole in the wood end though and fix a Silent runner that way. It wouldn't be so tall without the stand. And it has a bit more floorspace - about the same size as the Barney but less deep.

I would try and secure the Barney while you think about what to get, rather than find something isn't going to work. Sounds like you need something big or heavy in that corner that she can't move! If you've got any aquarium sealant you could "glue" a bendy bridge or a piece of wood onto the cage base over the bit she's chewing - she'll probably chew through that but it'll slow her up. Have you got a photo of her cage set up? Might be able to suggest something.

I'm actually going to get an add on too, connect them with a tube through the mesh. One area for sleeping and one for playing. She's going to hate the tank, she loves to climb.
Your suggestions are good but I'm literally penniless till the weekend. I get paid weekly so I have no money at all till Saturday, I know a lot of people can't comprehend that but it's true so I can't buy anything.
I read that vinegar works as a deterrent for chewing. Is that true?
I'll try to upload photos.