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Old 06-14-2018, 02:13 PM   #1
EmaMaria
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Unhappy My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

Hey. New hamster owner here and I'm a bit worried. I just got a two floored cage for him. The house and food container are on the 2nd floor and the wheel, water bottle and toys on the 1st floor. There's a tube connecting both floors. The thing is he doesn't go up or down the tube. He's now at the house, sleeping, and im afraid that he cant get down when his thirsty or want to have some energy out. I got him home yesterday and on the pet store he didn't had any tubes so im guessing he might be afraid of it? Or maybe he can't climb it? What can i do? Please help me!!
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Old 06-14-2018, 11:39 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

The tube may be too steep for him to climb, if you can lower the shelf & just remove the tube he should manage ok getting to it from the floor or you could get a bendy bridge & use that as a ramp for him to climb up.
The house should not be on a shelf but on the substrate in the base. That house doesn't look very suitable for a syrian tbh, I would just use a cardboard box, no base & a hole cut out for a door, the house needs to be dark inside & plastic houses can get a bit damp with condensation too.
What substrate do you have there? It doesn't look like a suitable hamster substrate that he can dig & burrow & nest in.
You really need something like kiln dried pine wood shavings, carefresh or other paper based substrate or you can use hemp. A nice deep layer, the base of your cage looks as though it may be a little shallow but basically get as much in as you can.
Your cage really isn't ideal for a Syrian hamster, you might want to think about getting a better cage for him, Zooplus do a few good cages, there's the hamster heaven which is a little small but still ok although best used without the tubes & penhouse (the cage comes with blockers for the holes), the alexander which is a great cage or the alaska which is also a good cage although quite high so it's best to put some shelves or levels in for safety.
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Last edited by cypher; 06-14-2018 at 11:52 PM.
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Old 06-15-2018, 06:55 AM   #3
EmaMaria
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Default Re: My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

He isn't a Syrian hamster tho. He's a dwarf or a Chinese idk which one it is in English. In my country it's a "hamster russo". The base it was bought on the same pet store where i got him and was the same he had in his cage at the store. About the house, its the one that came with the cage and its full with the cotton for hamsters, where he made a tunnel there and sleeps in the middle of it. Yesterday he when through the plastic tunnel but he seems to have a bit difficulty going up. Is there something i can do to maki it better for him to climb up? Thanks!!
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:09 AM   #4
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Default Re: My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

Unscented toilet paper is best for your hamster to use for it’s nest. The cotton stuff can get caught around their legs and cause injury.

A paper based substrate is nice and soft for the hamster to walk on. They can also tunnel underneath. You may have a Russian dwarf hamster. He or she may climb the bars to get unto the level.

If you can get chinchilla sand. You can put some in a container. Dwarf hamsters often like to roll in sand. It helps clean their fur. Your hamster may also peein the sand, which makes cleaning the cage easier.
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:24 AM   #5
Razor
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Default Re: My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

I agree with Cypher on the cage! What is the dimensions of the cage? Hamster love burrowing, and usually a substrate depth of at least 10-15cm is advised to make them feel comfortable. Even if you hamster isn't much of a burrower, the depth of substrate would make him feel more comfortable to know that he can hide underground if he feel threatened. Russian dwarves are very active hamsters, and despite their small physical appearance, they have the endurance of a marathon runner, and hence the more the space, the healthier it is for them. To also add to what cypher said, the position of the house is not ideal. Hamsters are ground dwellers and need their home to be on the lowest level. Houses must be open at the bottom, which is why shoe boxes or similar are excellent choice of home. I use tea boxes, which are placed in three corners of the cage, which my hamster burrows into and makes her own nest using the substrate and unscented shredded toilet paper, Cotton and Kapok fibers are a serious health risk for hamsters, from getting caught in their legs as CMB said to even respiratory problems. I would strongly urge you to remove that right away!
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Old 06-15-2018, 08:13 AM   #6
cypher
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Default Re: My hamster doesn't go on the tube...

As I said to make it easier for him just remove the tube completely, lower the shelf if you can or use a wooden bendy bridge as a ramp so he can climb up that way.
You have a Russian hamster & they have furry feet so plastic tubes are very difficult for them even at a less steep angle than the one you have.
Even though he will be smaller than a syrian hamster the cage may still not be suitable, have a look at the ones i mentioned before, unfortunately the cages sold by pet shops are rarely suitable for hamsters.
As the others have said cotton bedding is very dangerous so replace it straight away with some shredded plain white toilet tissue, he will be a bit upset when you remove his nest but will soon make a new one, as i said before put his house on the substrate not on the shelf so he can burrow under it if he wants to.
I don't know if you are aware but Russian hamsters are prone to diabetes, this just means you need to take a little extra care with his diet, a dwarf specific mix like this one is good & no sweet treats, honey treats or fruit.
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tube, house, afraid, floor, hamster, yesterday, home, energy, thirsty, pet, store, climb, guessing, tubes, food, cage, container, wheel, 2nd, floored, owner, hey, bit, worried, water

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