Intense bar chewing : anxiety ?

[cypher]

Whimzees are dog treats that are safe for hams, they look like this
http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs...-small-48-pack
You should be able to buy single ones rather than a pack like that though in many pet shops or various places online.

Cages like the one you have with levels & the cabin on top aren't the best really, they need more space on one level with deep substrate & the house should be on the substrate & not have a base so they can dig & nest underneath, you can give them shredded plain white toilet tissue for making nests too.
Higher cages can have the potential for falls too if they climb the bars.
70x47cm isn't too bad a size though especially as he wasn't used to a proper cage before.

[alpacassei]

Poor hammie, it does sound like the biting is a result of trauma then.

70 x 47 is a good size for a Russian but it does sound like it could be on the taller side if it fits two platforms. The problem with cages that are too tall is that hamsters can get injured falling from bars or platforms (they’re great at climbing up, terrible at getting back down!). Having deep substrate will also give him a soft landing if he does jump or fall from a platform. You could also weave carboard between some of the bars so you can fill the cage with even deeper substrate past the base’s height without it going everywhere.

As Cypher said, give him a nesting house on the substrate floor rather than on the platform. Houses without bases are prefered so that they can burrow underneath into the substrate, just a small carboard box will do and it will give him something else to chew. Plain toilet tissue makes a great bedding material (avoid any “fluffy” bedding, even if its natural) as well. I like to tear it into pieces and scatter it around for my hammies to gather.

I also recommend using wooden toys rather than plastic, my Russians won’t chew most of their actual chews but they love chewing on other wooden toys and houses for some reason.

[gmoliere]

Thank you so much to all of you for the priceless tips !
The whimzees are doing magic with him. He still kinda chews on bars, but drastically less than before and he stops by himself without my intervention. No more chewing at night either. I did some major changes in his cage that only seem to make him feel better.
I would never had guessed all it took for him to cool down were dog chews !

Have a fine weekend !

[alpacassei]

Originally Posted by gmoliere

Thank you so much to all of you for the priceless tips !
The whimzees are doing magic with him. He still kinda chews on bars, but drastically less than before and he stops by himself without my intervention. No more chewing at night either. I did some major changes in his cage that only seem to make him feel better.
I would never had guessed all it took for him to cool down were dog chews !

Have a fine weekend !

I’m so happy that’s he’s redirected most of his chewing towards the whimzees instead of the bars! I was reallly worried about your little guy but it sounds like he’s doing vey well!