Please help hamster driving me insane haha

Popcornhamham · 06-07-2019, 02:23 PM

Please help hah

I have a female hamster about 2/3months old she’s so active but I can’t find a way of giving her outside of cage time exersice as she hates free ranging, and play pens I’ve tried the bathtub and a big cardboard box one and all she does is scratch at the sides and try to climb out. I brought a ball for her (that I was hasitant to buy as I personally don’t think they are very good for them) but I don’t like keeping her in there long as she hasn’t got access to water so she comes out in that for 15-20 max each night. She runs around for a bit but always goes back to the same corner in the room and bites and scratches at the ball. Every night she’s keeps scratching at the walls and has started biting the wooden ends on her detolf especially one corner at the top. I suffer with joint problems and chronic fatigue and she’s keeping me up with the constant biting and scratching and it’s slowing taking a toll on my health, I try and get her out twice a night but that all depends on my heath. I’ve ran out of idea on what to do. Will she get calmer with age? Is it a thing I’m Just gonna have to stick it out until she grows up a bit?

Ria P · 06-08-2019, 09:38 AM

It might be a good idea to post a photo of your detolf set up. There are plenty of knowledgable (not me) people on this site who may be able to help. There must be a reason why your hamster is not happy and could be something easy to fix.

mangoandmimi · 06-08-2019, 09:57 AM

To be honest it all sounds fairly typical of a young and active female. You just have to work with them really and do the best you can. From my experience with hyperactive hams, a detolf would be my bare minimum for keeping one in, lots will want more room than it can offer. A cage setup may help although when they start chewing like that it is difficult to break the habit. I wouldn't wait around for her to calm down with age as plenty remain that way until over 1.5 years old. Has she got deep bedding? That would be essential at least in one end of the detolf.

The ball really isn't the best option, no matter how active she is it doesn't change the fact that they're just not safe and will likely still stress her out. Biting and scratching at the ball seems more like a sign that she doesn't enjoy it in there. Where have you tried free ranging her? Most seem to enjoy it but maybe the area is too open or something.

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-08-2019, 10:47 AM

Hi, In the summer I can let Luna run around the conservatory, but in the winter it is too cold. I tried various boxes and playpens and ended up getting this with my nectar points https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7904044. You could just get a big plastic bin which would be cheaper, but I liked it cos it was on wheels. Luna always tries to escape and climb out, but I try to distract her with scattering food around and things to play with. I also found that if I wrap myself in a blanket, she will spend a long time climbing around and all over me and try to climb up the blanket. It's a nice way to bond with your hamster and hopefully burn off some of that energy. Also, can I ask if you are well enough to manage to get in the bath with her, you may have already tried that as you mentioned the bath, it might mean you distract her enough rather than trying to climb the sides. Also, could you partition an area off with collapsed boxes, if she is anything like my Luna, Luna will eventually nibble her way through the cardboard, but it will keep her entertained for a bit, you just have to keep replacing the boxes.

Popcornhamham · 06-08-2019, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mangoandmimi

To be honest it all sounds fairly typical of a young and active female. You just have to work with them really and do the best you can. From my experience with hyperactive hams, a detolf would be my bare minimum for keeping one in, lots will want more room than it can offer. A cage setup may help although when they start chewing like that it is difficult to break the habit. I wouldn't wait around for her to calm down with age as plenty remain that way until over 1.5 years old. Has she got deep bedding? That would be essential at least in one end of the detolf.

The ball really isn't the best option, no matter how active she is it doesn't change the fact that they're just not safe and will likely still stress her out. Biting and scratching at the ball seems more like a sign that she doesn't enjoy it in there. Where have you tried free ranging her? Most seem to enjoy it but maybe the area is too open or something.

Yeah she has about six ish inches of bedding at one end of the detolf and I’ve tried free ranging her in the hallway, on my bed, boarded off hamster Safe area of my room and all she does is scratch at bite in one area I always add toys and different hides to go in and tunnels but she Just gets too stressed to even notice they are there tbh

Popcornhamham · 06-08-2019, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

Hi, In the summer I can let Luna run around the conservatory, but in the winter it is too cold. I tried various boxes and playpens and ended up getting this with my nectar points https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7904044. You could just get a big plastic bin which would be cheaper, but I liked it cos it was on wheels. Luna always tries to escape and climb out, but I try to distract her with scattering food around and things to play with. I also found that if I wrap myself in a blanket, she will spend a long time climbing around and all over me and try to climb up the blanket. It's a nice way to bond with your hamster and hopefully burn off some of that energy. Also, can I ask if you are well enough to manage to get in the bath with her, you may have already tried that as you mentioned the bath, it might mean you distract her enough rather than trying to climb the sides. Also, could you partition an area off with collapsed boxes, if she is anything like my Luna, Luna will eventually nibble her way through the cardboard, but it will keep her entertained for a bit, you just have to keep replacing the boxes.

Hey, I’ve tried putting her in a plastic bin for play time before and she just did the same and scratched at the side and didn’t rlly do much “playing”, with getting in the bath tub my bath is a bit skinny with the taps in a weird place so I can’t really sit in there comfortably with enough room for her to run around and if I’m sat in there too long my legs go into spasm and I can’t get out XD I may try getting in there when my boyfriend come over bc then I know someone will be able to get me out and see if that helps her idk hahah

Ria P · 06-08-2019, 11:29 AM

This may be a silly question but does your hamster have a wheel that runs smoothly and is big enough? Hamsters usually burn off energy running on their wheels.
The first time i tried to let my male Syrian hamster roam on my bed he freaked out and froze. Same with free roaming in the hall, he just tried to hide and started scratching a corner and just sat looking nervous while in the play pen.
A few months on and older he now climbs all over me while on the bed and runs around with his ears up. They do seem to get more confident as they get older.
Is your hamster tame? Are you able to handle and pet her?
She may enjoy closer contact with you and eventually be able to relax more.

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-08-2019, 11:51 AM

I just had an idea, how about turning one of them metal runs you can get upside down. I suggest upside down as from the sounds of it I am pretty sure your hamster will easily climb up and over. If you did that you may need to put it on top of a piece of carpet or cardboard, so she doesn't try to dig her way out if you put it on top of your carpet. This is the type of cage I am on about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7hbGM2l0w0. Also, when you have her out of her cage have you tried putting a wheel out as well, I have one for Luna and she jumps on and off that thing.