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Old 09-27-2017, 12:36 AM   #1
Euan
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Default Minimising Clean Out Stress

Hi guys,

After recently doing our full clean down of the hamster cage, I say cage it's two Ikea shelf extensions stuck together, after spot cleaning for a while our hamster seems to have regressed from being more or less fully tame to being skittish and not to sure about us again.
We used the same type of substrate and bedding and put all the components back in more or less the same place, the only thing we didn't do is mix in some old substrate with the new to maintain his smell. We forgot then threw it out by accident.
What are your tips for keeping you hams happy and as stress free as possible after major cleans?

Thanks,

Euan
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Old 09-27-2017, 01:19 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

The simple answer is never do a full cage clean! Unless your ham is ill or you have a problem with something like mites you never really need to do the whole cage in one go.

Keep spot cleaning as needed then at most clean out a half or better maybe a third of the cage if you feel more needs doing then a few weeks later do another part of the cage.
Never clean toys, wheels, houses etc at the same time as cleaning cage or removing some of the substrate.
Always put back some of the old substrate on top of an area that's been cleaned, not so important if you only clean a small area but I would still mix a little of the old back in & if you clean the nest always put some of that back in too, if you clean the hoard area if that is still dry & fairly fresh just put it back if not put some fresh mix in it's place.
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Old 09-27-2017, 03:26 AM   #3
Carla Gordon and Derrick
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

Agreed with everything Cypher said. We spot clean to keep things up to date, and then when it needs it we do about 1/4 of the cage at a time. They're used to their wheels being cleaned (they pee on them, so they get washed a lot!) which doesn't bother them now, and we clean out their toilet area regularly, but try to keep other bedding and substrate changes to a minimum.
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Old 09-27-2017, 03:51 AM   #4
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

Yep agree with the above suggestions. Erinsanimals does a great youtube video about hamster cage cleans. Worth a watch.
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Old 09-27-2017, 05:23 AM   #5
Euan
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

Yeah, our bad on that one. Probably severely unsettled and confused the poor guy, now we know for next time.
In regards to the hoard area I am going to assume that's just when you find a load of stashed food? Is there usually just the one or do sometimes they have several scattered about?
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Old 09-27-2017, 05:35 AM   #6
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

I do daily spot checks and remove any soiled substrate, I use warm water to clean his loo area every 2 to 3 days.
I do part cage cleans which Master Harvey prefers. As for food hoards, he has certain treats in a corner and his flowerpot which he nibbles on daily. The hoard in his house is emptied weekly, I will rescue a few bits from it and add new to it.
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Old 09-27-2017, 07:09 AM   #7
cypher
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

I wouldn't worry too much, it may take a little while for him to get back to his usual confident self but he will get over it ok.
Hoards vary, I've had some just have one spot & others have a few.
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Old 09-27-2017, 08:05 AM   #8
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

I leave hoards if it is just dried food. If it's been pee'd on and wet, I remove it but try and leave a bit of the original dry hoard behind and add new dry food in exactly the same place (otherwise you are a thief and not to be trusted! Lol).

Agree with the above about clean-outs. Most people get told to do a full clean every week by pet shops but it isn't necessary and really stresses the hamster.

It would be like if you came home and found your bedding taken away, your house redecorated and your fridge emptied - it wouldn't feel like home.

The main thing is to always have something smelling familiar. Their sense of smell is their main way of finding their way around the cage also.

So if you have the substrate deep enough you can just spot clean (take the odd handful of soiled substrate out and replace it with a new handful and mix it in) for even up to 3 months or more. The deeper the substrate, the less the lower half needs replacing. When I do a full substrate clean (maybe 2 or 3 times a year), I discard the top half. Put the bottom half (or clean half) in a plastic bag, wipe the cage with a damp cloth and dry it then put the clean half back, add new and mix it all in.

And as Cypher says - do the wheel a different week to the substrate and the toys a different time again (they tend to not need much cleaning, so as and when).

As Lizzy says, if you use a litter tray, you can empty that every 4 or 5 days and clean that and replace the litter. Hammies will use one (usually) if you put it in the right place - ie where they have chosen as a toilet). The cage then often just stays clean and dry. Poops aren't dirty really, and unless there are zillions of them I wouldn't worry too much and spot cleaning occasionally will stop them overtaking. They sometimes eat poops for extra vitamins, or hoard them in case there is ever a food shortage

With 5 to 6" of substrate you will most likely end up using much less in the long run, than a thinner layer that needs changing regularly, plus it gives the hamster the opportunity to dig burrows and tunnels and just enjoy digging.

Nest - I never remove the nest - unless it is pee soaked or soiled. It is their most important thing next to their hoard. They tend to renew it themselves if you regularly put new nesting material out. If it's pee soaked then remove it but again try and leave a little bit of the original nest, a dry bit, even if it's a bit whiffy. Then just put a whole new big pile of nesting material out so your hammy can rebuild the nest.

Torn up strips of plain white toilet paper is the safest nesting material, and they like it. Never use anything like fluffy bedding.
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Old 09-27-2017, 08:08 AM   #9
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Default Re: Minimising Clean Out Stress

PS When you eventually do change most of the substrate you may find the hoards are taking over and can reduce them a bit then, but still put some additional new food in the same place.
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