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Old 10-27-2019, 07:18 PM   #11
Engel
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Default Re: Meet Niko

Oh wow it's been a while since I've posted, here's a little update!

Niko is doing well and today, for the first time, he has sat on my hand to get food rather than take a piece and run off. Hes readily waiting for food to the point he'll run and climb all over my hand while he waits. (He knows the sound of the bag lol). I've also upgraded his bin cage so he has double the amount of room.
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Old 10-27-2019, 07:47 PM   #12
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Unfortunately stacked bins don't actually increase the actual floor space. Think of that style of attachment as the same problem Crittertrails have, the modular units don't add any real floor space.

However, you can cut the sides off bins(or even a large portion of the sides) and zip tie two or more bins together. With this method, you'd actually have more real floor space that counts.
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Old 10-28-2019, 07:46 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Unfortunately stacked bins don't actually increase the actual floor space. Think of that style of attachment as the same problem Crittertrails have, the modular units don't add any real floor space.

However, you can cut the sides off bins(or even a large portion of the sides) and zip tie two or more bins together. With this method, you'd actually have more real floor space that counts.
Unfortunately I don't have the space to have it length wise hence why it stacks. I understand that it doesn't really count as extra floor space, he still seems to enjoy it though as he gets to climb/burrow through the connecting tube and it allows me to put extra enrichment things in there for him.

Also, I have to be careful with how I have the bin as I have 3 dogs (small. Biggest I have is a bichon frise) so I have to be mindful that it's dog proof so a proper fitting lid is very important. I don't know how you'd do that with a modified bin like that
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Old 10-28-2019, 01:05 PM   #14
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Dog proof wouldn't be the biggest issue since dogs and other predators(yes, even tiny dogs are predators) must be completely kept out of the hamster containing room at all times with a secure door. It's still good to keep in mind, but your main defense against predators is a door which you should already have!
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Old 10-29-2019, 07:49 AM   #15
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Dog proof wouldn't be the biggest issue since dogs and other predators(yes, even tiny dogs are predators) must be completely kept out of the hamster containing room at all times with a secure door. It's still good to keep in mind, but your main defense against predators is a door which you should already have!
Couldn't agree more. However the one dog who's allowed upstairs can also open doors...yes she's tiny but springs up to the handle... luckily she's the one that was raised with probably any pet possible from other dogs and cats, to birds and rodents, horses the works so she thankfully doesn't care and will go in and just sleep on my bed (like she would before I got Niko). I think I have worked out how to form a lid if I was to put two tubs together length wise. I understand where you're coming from though
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Old 10-29-2019, 01:33 PM   #16
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If your door isn't locking, that is a very big problem and needs to be fixed as soon as possible. I know the struggle of pets who can somehow open doors as one of my cats is great at opening any kind of door.

It doesn't matter if a pet is raised with all sorts of animals though, they're still predators deep down. They could be the sweetest most gentle cat or dog and still at the end of the day a hamster or other prey animal would never know that, so it causes them unnecessary stress and can even lead to serious health issues over time or behavioral issues(even if you don't see it right away or at all with some pets, it is there).
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Old 10-29-2019, 08:05 PM   #17
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If your door isn't locking, that is a very big problem and needs to be fixed as soon as possible. I know the struggle of pets who can somehow open doors as one of my cats is great at opening any kind of door.

It doesn't matter if a pet is raised with all sorts of animals though, they're still predators deep down. They could be the sweetest most gentle cat or dog and still at the end of the day a hamster or other prey animal would never know that, so it causes them unnecessary stress and can even lead to serious health issues over time or behavioral issues(even if you don't see it right away or at all with some pets, it is there).
I know no matter how domesticated the animal is, primal instincts still remain. You can't change that. Compared to my Lhasa apso, my toy poo really couldn't care (until I get the ball out, but that's her obsession. No I don't put him in the ball when she's in the room, normally I have to move the ball to get to the thing I want. Hence how she sees the ball.)

Anyway, I started moving stuff around in his bin cage and it collapsed (I'm guessing weight) sides snapped, no amount of tape would fix it and I'd be worried about sharp edges

Had to put him in the ball (he was fine, thankfully the part that caved in was the opposite side to where he was sleeping). Got to my nearest pets at home and got a cage which is their equivalent to the Alaska cage. Just over the minimum for floor space so can't complain really. Managed to fit everything that was in the bin cage into the new cage. It's raised off the floor. It's deep enough to burrow too. Will probably post a set up photo tomorrow.

My one question I have though, are hamsters good at climbing?
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Old 10-29-2019, 08:32 PM   #18
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Hamsters aren't good at climbing, but they do need secure lids for other reasons.

I wouldn't use hamster balls in the future as they offer no real enrichment value and inhibit most senses. A secure playpen or play bin would be a lot safer and would allow actual enrichment unlike a ball, but these options would require a predator free room(which you should have anyways, it is not optional and you really need to get a proper lock as soon as you can go and buy that and have it installed, and not just because of out of cage time but because of the stress and such as mentioned - ultimately it's not fair to any hamster or similar prey animals).
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Old 10-30-2019, 05:56 AM   #19
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Here's the new cage setup
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Old 10-30-2019, 06:04 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Hamsters aren't good at climbing, but they do need secure lids for other reasons.

I wouldn't use hamster balls in the future as they offer no real enrichment value and inhibit most senses. A secure playpen or play bin would be a lot safer and would allow actual enrichment unlike a ball, but these options would require a predator free room(which you should have anyways, it is not optional and you really need to get a proper lock as soon as you can go and buy that and have it installed, and not just because of out of cage time but because of the stress and such as mentioned - ultimately it's not fair to any hamster or similar prey animals).
I understand about the door, it closes properly but she can still open it. Not much I can do especially if I'm sleeping in that room.

Also, I ask about climbing as Niko loves climbing over things (the red tube specifically) and was wondering if I was to provide some climbing enrichment and have a soft hammock underneath to catch him if/when he falls?
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