Bar biting... AGAIN - Page 4

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2018, 08:32 AM

Sorry - meant the end where the long bendy bridge is for a house - opposite the shelf end.

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2018, 08:34 AM

Just read back and you said she'd abandoned the house on the shelf and was nestingin that corner now. That makes sense as they like to bury their hoard under their nest and they like their toilet easily accessible from the house - ie everything like that at ground level. They sometimes abandon a house after it's been cleaned out as well - and they do need cleaning out those little plastic ones which just keeps disturbing their nest.

PumpkinSpice92 · 09-18-2018, 09:22 AM

Haha, thanks very much for all your help!! I will keep my paws out of her cage now - and do little tweaks like you said - I love the house you suggested but I just saw a straw type house similar material to the hyacinth tube but house shaped (similar size to the one you suggested) that I think she’d love... do you think that would be suitable?!
In terms of the higher shelf, I usually put some treats up there but no food or water so she doesn’t HAVE to go up if she doesn’t want and she actually she spends quite a bit of time up there which would lead me to believe she’s okay with the climbing - but you are right, there is no circular route which I do know from experience they prefer so i’m going to sort that out in about 2 weeks or so and give her a better nest ASAP - the fact she’s got no secure nest could be unsettling her I guess!

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2018, 09:57 AM

Yes I think that is the main thing. Their nest is their security. By straw house if you mean the grass type ones. They don't always work that well - they can have issues with sharp bits (I worry about eyes being poked etc) but also they cant be cleaned if they get soiled and end up being binned. They basically just need a box - a house is just a nesting box. The wood ones people tend to paint the inside with plastikote. which is pet safe and makes it wipe clean if it does get pee in it. Usually an accident that way at some point. It's quite easy but a bit of a faff in terms of time and organisation etc. Whereas cardboard can just be replaced. It also doesn't sink in the substrate as it's light so less issues there.

The other things with the grass ones is they tend to have a base - something open underneath is best. Even a tissue box would probably do if you had it upside down (ie with the opening at the bottom) and cut a hole for a door in one of the sides.

I prefer a wood one because they can keep it a long time then as sooner or later a cardboard one can disintegrate.

Theres a kind of middle ground between wood, cardboard and straw houses and that is the rosewood carrot topped house. It's basically a cardboard house but has bits of hay stuck on the outside (which our robo loves to scratch off) - but as they are only small pieces glued on with flour/edible paste they aren't a risk (although I do check and pull any hard or sharp bits off round the door!). They have dried carrot stuck on top. The guinea pig one of those is a good size - you just plonk it on the substrate and push it down into the substrate (it's quite tall) which makes the door a bit lower. Don't get the hamster sized one though - it's teeny tiny - not big enough for a nest.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Na...d+carrot+house

I think as soon as you put a reasonable sized house that's dark inside she will investigate and nest in it. And then you may not see her for a few days! They are funny when they get a new house - it sounds like theyre doing diy in it at first - lots of banging and scratching.

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2018, 10:04 AM

This is another one that is popular if you like the natural look - the trixie lief labyrinth house. Depends how big your hamster is as the entrance holes are only about 5cm and ideally they should be bigger than that for a syrian. Also its a bit crmped inside for a syrian. Most people knock the solid floor bit out( which is at one side and quite easy apparently) and also the little centre partition to make a bigger partition in the middle for nesting. It has two entrances - one on top, one at the front - hammies seem to love them. The centre part is dark so no need for a bendy bridge over the door.

The entrance holes should be big enough unless your hamster is really big. Yes Charlie was massive lol.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-6201...abyrinth+house

PumpkinSpice92 · 09-18-2018, 10:39 AM

Thanks for showing me so many options! I’ve decided to go with the carrot cottage - she already has the hamster sized one and she loves eating it so even thought I realised it was too small I didn’t throw it away and still give it to her sometimes when she’s out of her cage - I think she’ll love it and it’ll be nice and dark inside!
I do love that labrynth but she’s not tiny so I think just a box shaped one will be better

Thank you so so much for all your help... I appreciate it takes time to write such a detailed message

Pebbles82 · 09-18-2018, 11:26 AM

You caught me on a good day

Unfortunately I don't get as much time to spend on here as I used to. I saw having our last Syrian hamster, as an adult, as a real education - they have their own way of communicating

I think the carrot one is a good idea - nearly did it myself but already had a house. It's quite a bit bigger than the hamster one but not overly massive. Our hammies also like the little one as a plaything for out of cage - it also fits in my pet carrier as a little house when needed.