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Old 02-22-2018, 04:14 PM   #1
Emma Marie
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Default Worried about Basil

Hi guys
You may remember my Mum adopted a hamster from pets at home who was very stressed and actually bit the lady in the shop. We are worried about him as it has been almost a month now and he is still very scared in his cage. Basically he stays in his hide all of the time and only comes out if we tempt him with treats and then as soon as he has got it he races back in again. Oddly enough he is tame to hold and seems more active in the play pen but in his cage I scarcely ever see him out. Sometimes he will hide behind his wheel for a bit but that is all.
I will provide some pictures of his cage as I am wondering whether there is anything I can do to make him feel more comfortable. He has several cardboard chews in front of his house which he will venture into for a treat but then straight back in again.

I think he may have gone through something at his previous home as his behaviour is really strange compared to all the hamsters me and my mum have had in the past.
I am hopeful that he uses the wheel in the early hours as I have never seen him on it and I have been staying up a little past midnight to watch him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
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Old 02-22-2018, 10:36 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

If he's tame & comfortable with you out of the cage then it may be that his cage set up isn't suiting him or making him feel secure enough to spend more time out, when you post some photos it will be easier to say if some changes might help.
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Old 02-23-2018, 04:14 AM   #3
Emma Marie
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

Here is the picture of his cage
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Old 02-23-2018, 04:47 AM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

His cage does look very empty & there's very little substrate.
I would begin by putting as much substrate in as you can without the wheel touching the top bars, just leave a little space above it then he will be able to dig & burrow if he wants to & it will just generally feel a lot more comfortable for him.
You could put a shelf at one end, it's quite easy to make one with just a piece of kiln dried pine & some dowels glued on for legs or you may be able to buy one. That would make better use of the space you have as you could put things on the shelf & he would have a little hideout area underneath.
I would get a better house or make one from a cardboard box with no base & a door cut out, wooden houses are good but need to be painted with plastickote water based enamel to protect them (same with wooden shelves ideally) unfortunately all the best houses come from Germany like the Rodipet granite & labyrinth houses.
Other than that I would put more toys in, you don't want it to be too crowded but not too much open space & just more to do in the cage as well as the other things which would make him feel a lot safer & more comfortable with hands coming into his cage I would think.
Hope that helps a bit.
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Old 02-24-2018, 12:34 PM   #5
Emma Marie
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

Thanks for your reply. Do you know anywhere in the UK that sell platforms or levels for my cage? And do you have any toy suggestions for him?
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Old 02-24-2018, 12:48 PM   #6
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

Most levels/platforms are sold for barred cages. You may find a Trixie platform. Making one is probably best as it will fit better.

If you measure the tank front to back, you may be able to buy or make a house with a flat roof. The roof would then work as a platform/level.

A bendy bridge is a good toy, as it can be climbed over or under.

Some chew toys that hang from the top bars may be nice.

A corner litter tray or rectangular/square ceramic bowl may be better for the sand area. It may be used by your hamster as a pee area. This means you don’t have to change the substrate as often. You just remove the damp sand and add some fresh sand.

Possibly swap the arch to the back corner and have the big wicker tube going straight across the tank, either at the front against the glass or a little further back.

A Sputnik could be added to the roof bars, but you would also need something to allow your hamster to get up to the Sputnik.

Last edited by CMB; 02-24-2018 at 01:01 PM.
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Old 02-24-2018, 05:43 PM   #7
Emma Marie
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

Quick update! Heard a wheel going around and peeked in and Basil is running on his wheel! So I finally get to see him out! He is a little jumpy so I’m staying away from the cage and just watching him. It’s nearly 1am but he’s worth it 😍
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Old 02-24-2018, 10:34 PM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

That's really good to hear!

Shelves can be hard to find especially getting the right size & height so it's generally easier to make them tbh, if you don't want to make a wooden one then cardboard boxes can be used to make a shelf & hideout in one.
Maybe some syrian owners can suggest more toys in addition to the ones CMB suggested, I only really know what's best for dwarfs!
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Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
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Old 02-25-2018, 09:43 AM   #9
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

You can buy a wooden seesaw that isn’t a tunnel. Which may be safer for a Syrian, as it has couldn’t get stuck in the tunnel.
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Old 02-26-2018, 10:32 AM   #10
Emma Marie
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Default Re: Worried about Basil

He is a dwarf hamster 🐹
Sorry for the bad picture it’s the best I could get at the moment .
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cage, past, wheel, worried, back, hide, bit, mum, home, treat, straight, previous, basil, house, feel, comfortable, make, cardboard, venture, behaviour, front, chews, hamsters, watch, midnight

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