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Old 07-11-2018, 04:03 AM   #1
Chainchomped
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Smile Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Hey everyone! This is actually my first post!
I got a hamster a couple weeks ago now and he always sleeps in his tube. I've never owned a hamster before but I've been reading a lot of behaviour guides and watching a tonne of videos on YouTube for correct care.
Anyways, something I haven't been able to find out is when the best time to clean their new home is and if I should empty their tube?
I've been doing spot cleaning since I've had him, picking up poop, moving urine soaked bedding to his toilet to train him to pee in there, but his tube is something I'm worries about.
In there, there's urine soaked bedding (I think), food and poop. Obviously it's his nest and he's content, but I'm wondering if I should clean it out? And when should I do a full cage clean?
(I will say that at the start of next month, I'm going to upgrade to a hamster heaven cage so I don't know if it's worth cleaning and just going for a fresh start then?)
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Old 07-11-2018, 04:43 AM   #2
Razor
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Hello! Congratulations on your new friend!
Clean? No. Remove? Yes. Start of next month is still about 3 weeks away, and that's a really long time. I'd say remove the tube and block of the holes. Not only would it make taming easier, but also promotes him to start building a proper nest in the substrate and pick the cue of peeing in the corner instead of the nest.
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:16 AM   #3
Chainchomped
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor View Post
Hello! Congratulations on your new friend!
Clean? No. Remove? Yes. Start of next month is still about 3 weeks away, and that's a really long time. I'd say remove the tube and block of the holes. Not only would it make taming easier, but also promotes him to start building a proper nest in the substrate and pick the cue of peeing in the corner instead of the nest.
Thank you for the reception! It worries me to remove them entirely, I must admit. The cage is 250, and I know you need a minimum of 450. I'm concerned it would be limiting the space he has to move around?
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:20 AM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Hi & welcome to HC
I agree about removing the tube, this is quite a common problem with new hams choosing to sleep in a tube if there is one & it gets really unhealthy very fast, best to remove the tube & provide a good size house, a cardboard box like a shoebox will do if you don't have a proper house, with no base sat on a deep layer of substrate then your ham can make a proper nest.
Even if you're going to upgrade next month it's too long to leave your ham sleeping in the tube & frequent cleans will just be stressful for him.
Once you've removed the tube it's best to just spot clean pee every day or few days depending on how much you need to do, other than that don't clean for at least a few weeks, you never really need to do a full clean, better to just clean part of the cage every few weeks if it needs it, when you clean always put back some of the old nest & food hoard when you do those areas. Full cage cleans & removing their scent too much or too often is very stressful for them.
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:33 AM   #5
Chainchomped
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

The cage at the moment looks like this. Should I put a new home under the level?
He's pretty uninterested in his coconut house, is that because of the tube?
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:38 AM   #6
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

I would take the shelf out too if you can then jus fill the base completely with substrate & put the house where the shelf is now, the coconut is more of hideout or place to explore, it's not suitable as a house, you could put a little substrate in there or some shredded up plain white toilet tissue & then hide some of his food or treats in there for him to find.
If you can find a cardboard box for a house then you could use the top as an extra shelf area for now, if need be use a wooden bendy bridge for access.
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:52 AM   #7
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Would a box like this do?
And when would be the best time to do this? When he's up? Shall I use some of the old bedding too? I'm really worried about stressing him out
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Old 07-11-2018, 06:26 AM   #8
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

That box will be fine for now, just cut the base out & make a hole on one side for a door.
It would be best to take him out while you rearrange things if you can, if you try to do it with him in the cage it will be stressful for him. If you have a carrier then you could put some substrate in that for him then try to get him to climb into something you can transport him in & put him in the carrier while you change things.
It will be stressful for him & will take him a little while to adjust but it would be more stressful trying to keep the tube clean & healthy tbh. Give him a few days to settle after you've changed things & don't do any more than spot clean pee & he should be fine.

I meant to say before that if you do upgrade to the hamster heaven it would be best to not use the tubes & penthouse, it comes with blockers for the holes, or you will have the same problem again.
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Old 07-11-2018, 06:58 AM   #9
Chainchomped
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

Ah thank you for the advice and help! And also being patient with me!

I'm a little confused about the tubes with Hamster Heaven, however. Is it a good idea to never use them?
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Old 07-11-2018, 07:01 AM   #10
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Default Re: Should I clean my hamster's tube? *Pic*

You may want to consider a different (and cheaper) type of cage. Try looking at the barney and Alaska cages and also have a read at our cage review section.
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