hammy is destructive

[minnieandhammy]

More problems with my 6 month old female syrian. She has a large cage, the living world eco habitat( large) and lots of toys yet all she wants is to get out! She spends her time going round the sides putting her paws on the plexi glass and jumping up and down or gnawing the corners. She doesn't like wheels and hardly uses them When I take her out I let her loose and she mostly goes behind the bed and digs and chews the carpet and she has dug through the carpet so I am scared to let her loose now in case she hurts herself on a carpet tack. When i let her run on the settee she chews the covers madly and has made holes in them. I offered her a wood stick which she crunched away madly then returned to the covers which she prefers to chew. I don't know what to do with her. She doesn't like being in her cage but when she is out she destroys things. can anyone explain her behaviour?

[Cinnamon Bear]

I would only let her free range in a hamster proof room under supervision. You could try using a playpen or the bathtub for bonding sessions. I just got a snuggle pouch in the mail yesterday and as long as she doesn't try to chew through the comfy material she can stay in the huge pouch and I can bond with her more using that pouch, sitting on a chair. I highly recommend snuggle pouches now that my Syrian likes it a lot. More out of cage time for her.

People have different opinions about exercise balls but I use one as well as the playpen almost every night. Also, how big is your cage? A 40 gal breeder tank is what is recommended now (450 sq in). You could put in a variety of stimulating hidey huts and chew toys, Make the bedding deep so she can dig tunnels. Make sure she has a large enough wheel where her back doesn't arch. Also would recommend a sand bath, with Chinchilla sand, which your hammy may use for a potty, but that's a benefit for me.

[minnieandhammy]

Hello cinnamon bear. I think a ball and playpen and I will try the snuggle pouch are the only solution at the moment. Will also just have to try even more enrichment in her cage! Her cage has a floor area of about 1000 square inches . It is 115 cm by 73 cm or so. I would love to hamster proof the room. I will change the carpet for a laminate floor or hardwood in future so no more dangerous carpet chewing. I actually touched part of the bald carpet and pricked my finger. Hamsters don't know what's good for them.

[Cinnamon Bear]

I missed that you said the name of your cage & that it was large, so that's good With the exercise ball, try to get a clear plastic ball & use painters tape is what I use to keep the lid from coming off.

Painters tape doesn't leave any sticky residue on the plastic ball

[minnieandhammy]

Excellent suggestion. Thanks cinnamon bear.