Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Species > Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-26-2016, 02:54 AM   #1
Juliebrei
Senior Hamster
 
Juliebrei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denmark
Posts: 529
Unhappy Potty training problem

Our little Zelda uses her ball and her wheel as a toilet and a house. We've had her for 2 weeks and we just can't snap her out of it! We try to pick up the pee right away and put it in her toilet, but she doesn't really seem to care.
What do we do?
Juliebrei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 05:19 AM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Potty training problem

What species is she?
Some of the dwarf hams will always pee in the wheel whatever you do! With any ham the more you clean the more they pee as they can use it as a kind of scent marking especially when they are new & making their home their own.
What do you have in her toilet? Chincilla sand usually works best as they seem to like using that.
I would leave her to get on with it for now, don't be in a rush to clean anything too much but continue to put some wet substrate in the toilet tray & she may get the idea with time, if her house is big enough you could put it in there as it does tend to work best if you put the toilet in the same place as or as close as you can get to where they've chosen to pee.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 08:33 AM   #3
Juliebrei
Senior Hamster
 
Juliebrei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denmark
Posts: 529
Default Re: Potty training problem

it's a winterwhite
I hope not cleaning too much might be the piece missing. we've been trying to keep the cage clean, apart from the toilet.
we're first time owners, so sadly we trusted the petshop and bought a crittertrail cage, which means there's absolutely no way to get to her, when she's in the wheel. and it feels extremely unhygenic that the pee and poop actually goes outside the cage in some sense. we might have to just buy her a new cage if she doesn't settle in soon.
Juliebrei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 08:48 AM   #4
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Potty training problem

I feel you're going to have to get a new cage,or build one. Critter Trail cages and pretty much all pet store cages are too small for hamsters in my opinion, however making a 775 square inch DIY cage(even a bin cage will work)would be great.

Critter Trail cages can't be partially cleaned,since pretty much all the substrate will get soaked with urine and none will be saved.In my opinion it is too small and not deep enough to offer the benefits of a large cage with deep bedding,however just keep in mind if you do get a 775 square inch cage and have 6 inches or more of bedding that will make it cheaper and easier as well as make it much easier for your hamster to stay stress free.

Something to remember is that if you set up a 775 square inch cage right it will work nicely,but if it isn't set up well you may have to deal with behavior problems. A good example of this is not having many open areas,especially with new hamsters.

Last edited by Vectis Hamstery; 09-01-2016 at 09:34 AM.
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 08:50 AM   #5
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Potty training problem

The cage may well be your problem, if you can get a more suitable cage things should be a lot easier to manage, you're not alone being badly advised by pet shops, it happens all too often but there are some really good cages available, depending on where you are.
They really do a lot better with one larger area without levels or fancy add on pieces & a good size wheel, 8"/20cm is usually about right for a Russian ham.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 08:54 AM   #6
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Potty training problem

The Critter Trail isn't a complete waste though as it can still be a carrier!Of course,it is an extremely expensive carrier at that

It might be possible to find a half square meter(775 square inches)rabbit cage and then just mesh the bars,but there are certain bins available that could make a good cage.Another option would be Ikea hacks like a Detolf or doing two Billy units,but as long as the end result is a single floor area around 775 square inches total it will be fine.DIY can be a bit expensive when you're only making small cages,so Ikea hacks could work out better in cost.
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 09:02 AM   #7
Juliebrei
Senior Hamster
 
Juliebrei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denmark
Posts: 529
Default Re: Potty training problem

I've been watching Erin's animals so I know, I just found the channel a little too late
My boyfriend hates IKEA, but he might just have to get over it if he doesn't want to spend a fortune on another cage
Juliebrei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 09:11 AM   #8
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Potty training problem

I guess it depends on what you consider spending a fortune but if you don't fancy an Ikea hack then zooplus has some good cages, the hamster heaven is a good enough size for a Russian (best used without the tubes & add ons) or the Barney is another good cage, the alaska is a good cheaper option but it is a little tall for a Russian so you have to take care with your set up to avoid falls.
There are various tank style cages too which can work well, don't have links handy right now though.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 09:59 AM   #9
Juliebrei
Senior Hamster
 
Juliebrei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denmark
Posts: 529
Default Re: Potty training problem

the boyfriend has fallen in love with hamster heaven. thank you so much for the help
Juliebrei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2016, 11:57 AM   #10
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Potty training problem

You're welcome
I'm sure she'll love that cage but I would use it with the tube blockers to begin with not with the tubes or penthouse, especially as she's used to peeing & hiding in an inaccessible bit of her current cage you'd probably find she'd nest, pee & hoard her food in the tubes which is really unhealthy & makes getting to her really stressful for both of you!
You can always add the tubes & penthouse later once she's made a nest somewhere else.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
toilet, pee, care, pick, put, ball, wheel, zelda, training, problem, house, potty, snap, weeks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:46 AM.