Need some help/advice.

bulby · 05-23-2016, 12:18 AM

I've had my little syrian for 3 weeks now and everything's fine with him but I've just had a slight disaster and will need to use his cage for a gerbil as it's been rejected by its cagemates. Would it be too stressful to move my syrian to a new home so soon or would it be alright?
I'm thinking of getting him the detolf.

cypher · 05-23-2016, 12:28 AM

A lot of hams get moved around that kind of time, most often because they have a small cage to begin with so it's not an unusual thing to do.
Just try to set the new cage up in a similar way to the old, keep all the old substrate, nest, food hoard, wheel & toys etc from the old cage & put them in the new one so even though it will seem strange to him it will already have his scent so he'll feel a lot more secure & less stressed by the move.
It can take them a while to settle down again after a move so don't worry if he doesn't seem happy with it straight away.

bulby · 05-23-2016, 12:53 AM

Is the detolf going to be suitable for him? Obviously I'll need to build a lid but are syrians okay with it being so long and thin instead of more of a square shape?

cypher · 05-23-2016, 01:40 AM

Yes it's fine, it should make a great home for him, lots of hams have them, but you will need that lid, they can be great escape artists!

Pebbles82 · 05-23-2016, 01:45 AM

A detolf would be a very good choice for him

It doesn't matter what kind of lid as long as it stops them from climbing out. Most people make two oblong lids because it's easier to move a smaller lid than one big one.

Is he in the rotostak unit on the video at the moment? If so you could put the whole unit inside the detolf when it is set up, and he can explore from there if you leave it open. As Cypher says move anything familiar over with him so it doesn't all smell new - all his substrate/bedding, his nest and any toys or chews. One thing that could help with the change, if you can, is to let him have a play in the detolf a day or two before moving him over. Put lots of new substrate in it, and the odd toy or cardboard tube (eg kitchen roll tube inner - it's a good idea to slit them down the side in case he is a bit large for them - a cardboard box maybe - as long as he has something to hide in - and anything new you have that you intend to leave in there - maybe even a toy from his old cage and then put it back again.

I did this with our hamster before a recent cage change as he is a bit of a nervy type. He had a good look round and explore, but after 10 minutes got a bit panicky and wanted to come out so I put him back in his old cage. 10 minutes later he wanted to come out of his old cage, so I put him back in the new one again and he was in there for a good half hour checking everything out and exploring everything and seemed to like it. Then popped him back in his old cage again so he was back to familiarity and would have time to adjust. A day or two later then maybe, if you have somewhere cosy to put him while you do the changeover (I put ours in his pet carrier with a blanket over the top). Then scatter the old substrate from the cage over the top of the new in the detolf - there might not be that much of it if the old cage is smaller - in that case put most of it on top near the area where the house/nesting area would be. Set it all up with the toys and wheel and then pop him in.

I think with a change to something like a detolf it would be a good idea to have plenty of "cover" for him so all the open space isn't too scary at first. So somewhere big and dark to go and build a nest is a good idea - maybe an upturned shoe box with a hole cut in for a door. You can get or make freestanding platforms which are also something to hide under - something like this one - and lots of substrate piled up in one area would be good - plenty of tubes and hidey place type toys

Bendy bridges are always good - for hiding under or for a ramp up to a level.

If you don't have somewhere to put him while you do the changeover then just leave him in the old cage and transfer the house or put the new house in - move some toys over, move some of the substrate over, then pop him in the detolf and transfer the rest of the things over (that's if you can't put the whole cage in it).

Will you need something temporary for the gerbil while you are getting the detolf ready for your hammy? If you need a temporary place for one of them I think it would be best to leave the hammy in the cage until the detolf is ready and pop the gerbil in something else - as you say though, sounds like something needs sorting quite quickly!

Can someone help you make a lid for the detolf asap? It just needs some strips of wood, some mesh and a stapler - or a hammer and some u nails. Erin's hamsters has a video on how to make them - but I believe someone said the measurements aren't correct - so measure up the inside of the detolf yourself before getting the wood and mesh cut. Some hardware stores will cut it to the size you ask when you buy it, which makes things easier.

This is the platform I mentioned. It's quite tall - 21cm high - so it will stand above substrate and you can still have a good 6" or more of substrate. And Erin's video.

TRIXIE NATURAL LIVING SHELTER - FOR GUINEA PIGS AND DWARF RABBITS - (art 6226) | eBay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYzDeSBE1hI

Pebbles82 · 05-23-2016, 01:48 AM

I don't know much about gerbils but I don't think the triangular rotostak unit would be good for gerbil either - they need lots and lots of bedding and height for climbing. They are big tunnellers and climbers. Sorry if I've got that wrong and your hammy is in something else - I just looked at the video on your first post. It could do as a very temporary measure maybe though if it's urgent.

bulby · 05-23-2016, 02:03 AM

I have my syrian in a two story bin cage with that rotastak unit on top, about 273 sq inches per bin cage and then the added extra.
The gerbil is currently in a borrowed pets at home gerbilarium which I just think is so small and I want to get her out of there asap.
Dragon seems pretty chill and probably won't mind the new cage, I think as long as he has his mug and wheel he'll be happy anywhere.
And I just want to get the gerbil in a permanent home asap seeing as it's already gone through so much recently.

bulby · 05-23-2016, 02:05 AM

I'm very DIY oriented so knocking up a lid won't take me long at all, already have all the stuff I need for it haha. I think I've managed to find a second hand detolf just a 15 minute drive from my house which will be a mega result and hopefully can have everything sorted by the end of today.
Just gonna pop to pets at home on the slim chance they might have some advice for me and to get some new toys as I now have to have enough for three cages. :P

Pebbles82 · 05-23-2016, 02:09 AM

That sounds great! Your hammy's current bin set up sounds like it would be good for the gerbil

Although I really am not up on gerbils lol! Lucky hammy having a detolf! I'd love one.

CMB · 05-23-2016, 04:06 AM

You could move the gerbils into the detolf as a group and keep the hamster in the cage(s) they are in.