my Campbells Dwarf is constantly scratching the cage to get out!! - Page 2

racinghamster · 05-10-2015, 12:44 AM

It depends on how you want to approach it. My hamsters (I only keep one at a time, all dwarfs) tend to sleep most of the day, play all night and are not handled, although I did with my Chinese hamster when I had her. They get stroked, hand fed and attention when spot cleaning. I leave them alone during the day. It`s as if they know by their own hamster instincts.

Hamsters are nocturnal normally but they do wake during the day, but of all the hamsters I`ve kept, all of them prefer to be left alone during the day to go back to their nest if they have been up getting food or a drink. If I happen to be in my room when he emerges, I just talk to him and he knows I`m there, but I don`t try and pick him up or disturb what he`s doing.

I always keep my layout similar too and use a long tissue box with various holes in it as a big cosy nest where he can happily rummage around in and has a Duna shelf above this. Sometimes if their nesting area is too small they might get frustrated. My lads box area for sleeping is as wide as the Duna shelf itself, so he stays in there most of the day! I caught him lying near the door of his tissue box the other day with his legs in the air sleeping!

x

Oh....and don`t fully cage clean. This in itself can cause them stress. I never do this and only remove half the shavings, or handfuls and replace those with fresh and wipe the around the cage with wet kitchen towel. No cleaning sprays either as they are not necessary unless a hamster has wet tail or similar illness. x

cypher · 05-10-2015, 02:07 AM

Most hamsters do seem to like a routine but as far as time out of the cage & interaction with owners they can vary a lot, they all have their own habits & personalities so you have to figure out something that works for your ham & the time you have to spend with him.
I've found dwarfs can be quiet active during the day but if you don't have time in the day morning & evening work well. As you get to know your own ham & his habits it's usually fairly easy to tell when they want to be with your or when they want to be left to do their own thing.
You don't have to react every time your ham is attention seeking, if you get into a routine he'll get to know when he can come out, play, get fed & all the other things you do with him.

racinghamster · 05-10-2015, 05:05 AM

Maybe I`ve been lucky (or some might say unlucky!) that all the last four hamsters I`ve owner have not been active during the day or at least, not attention seekers!

cypher · 05-10-2015, 05:46 AM

I'd say unlucky lol!
I love it when my hams pop out to say hello in the day, I don't get them out or bother every time I see them awake & mine rarely do the attention seeking thing but I can usually tell when their little faces are peeking out looking for me & they're in the mood for a bit of interaction, if they seem happy doing their own thing then I'm happy just to watch!

racinghamster · 05-10-2015, 05:49 AM

How did I know you were going to say that cypher! I would like Chubs to be a it more lively but because he has a large cosy bed, he prefers that to me!

There`s gratitude for you! x

cypher · 05-10-2015, 07:53 AM

He's obviously grateful for his bed, maybe sleeping all day is his way of saying thank you!

racinghamster · 05-11-2015, 02:52 AM

Oh, he does love his bug tissue box, that`s for sure! He has tunnels coming and going from it and is a house-proud hammy! x

herbi7 · 05-18-2015, 04:09 PM

RH, do yours need out of the cage time or are they happy amusing themselves in their cages?

racinghamster · 05-19-2015, 03:49 AM

Hi herbi. At the moment I only have Chubs (Russian hybrid) and he`s very much his own person and doesn`t crave attention, so he stays in his Gabber Rex tank while I interact around him. Same size cage as the Zoozone 1. He has a regular silent spinner wheel, which he loves, but he`s not very active during the day, he`s a sleepy head! x

vallsfantova · 05-19-2015, 04:02 AM

I always recommed a bigger the space, is just better, they behave more in different ways and develops more habits, the smaller the place the least can they do.

However, mine got a massive space, and still, whenever I open the tank she stares looking to the roof, plotting, monitoring and calculating news ways to freedom, so far, she has escaped whopping three times.

She likes to burrow and scratch incessantly in the corners, not big deal as is glass, but sometimes I place a brick in that particular corner, so she will get entertainment in trying to move it, shred it, or if she could, throwing it somewhere.

For attention seeking she always places herself on top of her big house, looking to the door where I will be coming from work, very polite, well raised, a joy.