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

Cookiies · 05-08-2015, 12:18 PM

Hi all!
I have a little fluff, roughly 4 months old, he has a 150 litre bin cage, with plenty of toys, a weel and is being scatter fed to help encourage exploration and playtime, I've also bought him a huge cardboard playground and he has a ball, he's out of his cage for roughly an hour a day, sometimes more. He's very affectionate and loves hiding in pockets and sleeves, my only problem is that he constantly scratches the corner of his cage, he has enough food, he has plenty of toys, they get changed over for other ones every time he's cleaned and he has his sand bath, but all he does is scratch one corner of the cage constantly. It's extremely distressing because I've tried everything I can think of. I just want him to be a happy hammy! If anyone has any ideas of what could be causing it it would be great! I did read somewhere that they get agitated if they can see their own reflection, is this true? Or am I doing something wrong?

BrainGirl · 05-08-2015, 05:55 PM

Hamsters burrow and it's probably just instinct telling him to dig. You said he has plenty of toys but what kind? Does he have tunnels or boxes to hide in or run through? How deep is his bedding? Perhaps what he needs is a digging box with extra deep bedding in it so he can satisfy his burrowing urges

cypher · 05-08-2015, 11:45 PM

It does just sound like natural behaviour, they do naturally dig after all! Does he have a food hoard there by any chance? One of mind spends quite a lot of time in corners digging & scratching as she rearranges & buries her food hoard!
You could try burying a cardboard box or tube in that corner for him to dig around in rather than digging at the plastic & give as much substrate to dig in as you have space for in his bin, it's not possible in many cages but they can do with about 20cm of substrate & with a bin it's more likely you could provide that.

racinghamster · 05-09-2015, 03:55 AM

Hi Cookies, no your not doing anything wrong. You describe what your routine is and your hamster sounds as though he`s got a lovely home.

Onto the Bin cage though. The one thing I find with Bin cages is, they are (to a hamster) like being in a deep hole with no visual stimulation. Meshing a Bin at the front can help, although you may need a second cage to keep him in until this DIY job is done. Or splash out on a Ferplast Multi tank! These can be bought for a reasonable price online and pay for themselves long term as it means you never need to buy a new cage. These are perfect cages for all dwarf hamsters, but if you prefer to stick to your current Bin cage, I would suggest putting mesh on the front. x

Edited to add: here is the cage and it`s a good price: http://www.portonaquapet.co.uk/-M362...FaLMtAodYUkAtw

They do the Maxi version too but it`s a lot bigger! x

cypher · 05-09-2015, 04:17 AM

Good point about the bin being too enclosed for some hams RH, mine have only ever been in bins for play cage cleaning & they really don't seem to like it at all, I don't really see too much difference between that kind of cage & a bin from their point of view though & it might be worth thinking about a (narrow bar) barred cage.

racinghamster · 05-09-2015, 04:28 AM

The Perspex lid is clear though and the deep base filled with substrate raises the lower level up a bit, while an internal shelf allows the hamster to sit adjacent to the lighter Perspex, so maybe that would make the difference? I use a second hand Gabber Rex tank in the same style for my Russian dwarf and have a mini Duna shelf inside. I love these cages for dwarf hamsters. The Duna Multi is a good price on that website. I would be tempted myself if I didn`t already have a Gabber Rex!

The base is also a darker colour, so a hamster being in the base looking upwards will be aware of the light coming in, while in a Bin cage, the sides are not clear, so won`t give the same light/shade experience I feel.

Just a recommendation though! x

Cookiies · 05-09-2015, 11:59 AM

Hi all! OP here

I'm going to try raising the level of his substrate on one side on the cage and see what he does, I noticed last night that he starts doing it when he sees me looking though, can hamsters attention seek? Sounds really silly, but I'll try some of your tips in regards to the burrowing thing and see if it stops. Thank you for all your replies, me and Chu are very grateful!

Cookiies · 05-09-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Hamsters burrow and it's probably just instinct telling him to dig. You said he has plenty of toys but what kind? Does he have tunnels or boxes to hide in or run through? How deep is his bedding? Perhaps what he needs is a digging box with extra deep bedding in it so he can satisfy his burrowing urges

All of his toys are made of wood, I prefer it to plastic, he has a castle with lots of holes, wooden 'log' with holes, a grass play tube, his wheel and the wooden sticks you can bend into different shapes, (various ones arranged in different ways) he also has a small toilet paper tube maze I made for him and lots of dangly wooden chews for him to chew on, I swap these around often usually one for one, I also only do a full change over once every two weeks, I like to keep some of his scent there so he doesn't get scared and start scent marking everywhere, his poop and food horde gets done weekly

also I hide food in the holes in his toys so he doesn't get bored

racinghamster · 05-09-2015, 12:25 PM

Can hamsters attention seek?.....YES!

Your little guy probably knows he can get out when you are around, so he may react as only he can. Sometimes if hamsters are given TOO much time out of their cages, it can lead to them shouting for more! Some owners are at their wits end because their hamster seems intent on trying to escape or doing all it can to make a fuss!

My Russian dwarf and the two roborovski I had before him all had a daily routine and that means sleep! They can associate good things and bad things and can change behaviours in relation to times of the day or know when to wake up for example. x

Cookiies · 05-09-2015, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

Can hamsters attention seek?.....YES!

Your little guy probably knows he can get out when you are around, so he may react as only he can. Sometimes if hamsters are given TOO much time out of their cages, it can lead to them shouting for more! Some owners are at their wits end because their hamster seems intent on trying to escape or doing all it can to make a fuss!

My Russian dwarf and the two roborovski I had before him all had a daily routine and that means sleep! They can associate good things and bad things and can change behaviours in relation to times of the day or know when to wake up for example. x

Oh thank God, so all I need is a routine? Do you have any tips on how to get him into one? Sometimes he only comes out to try and get out out

I do take him out at random times tbh :/