Meet Niko

[Engel]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The problem still remains even if it's only 1 hamster high, no matter how cute that unit of measure may be.

It's a very cute unit and it seems not many people are aware of it! Lol

Is there anyway to incorporate the ladder? With chains and hooks off (which they are now) and if it was flat on the ground I mean. Like wedging hay in parts (oddly which he loves) or using part of it as a hide entrance? It just seems a waste of money other wise

[AmityvilleHams]

If you could completely fill in all the gaps permanently with safe wood, that would be an option.

[Engel]

Ok. Well I'm going to take it completely out. Doesn't seem to use it much so I doubt he'd miss it. I'll keep it by for if I have anything which it'd be suitable for like gerbils for example.

What are your thoughts on scatter feeding? Niko has a bowl but like most hams, he takes it back to his nest. He loves foraging around in the corner where I've got mixed dry herbs hay and whatever else. Be a bit more enriching for him I'm thinking. Obviously keep the food bowl for fresh fruit/veg but scatter feed with his mix? Is there any cons to scatter feed or is it just preference?

[AmityvilleHams]

Scatter feeding is a great idea! I don't think there'd be much if any cons to it, since as you mentioned it is more enriching. I do think you can get away with feeding some fresh foods without bowls, but in general it's more sanitary and more convenient to just use a bowl or some sort of similar food safe non porous surface. I like to think of hamster feeding similar to the way parrot communities tend to view parrot feeding, bowls are convenient for us humans but they really take away a massive amount of enrichment and as a result mental stimulation thus leading to bored pets that tend to be more prone to negative behavior and are overall less happy in comparison to those with ample foraging opportunities.

[Otaku]

You must have been horrified by the bin cage incident. Thankfully Niko is safe and well. Looking at the first photo he is absolutely adorable! I really love the new/current set-up too. Lots of cover and lots of knew on.
Looking forward to more photos of this handsome little chappie! <3

[Engel]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Scatter feeding is a great idea! I don't think there'd be much if any cons to it, since as you mentioned it is more enriching. I do think you can get away with feeding some fresh foods without bowls, but in general it's more sanitary and more convenient to just use a bowl or some sort of similar food safe non porous surface. I like to think of hamster feeding similar to the way parrot communities tend to view parrot feeding, bowls are convenient for us humans but they really take away a massive amount of enrichment and as a result mental stimulation thus leading to bored pets that tend to be more prone to negative behavior and are overall less happy in comparison to those with ample foraging opportunities.

Ok. I've read somewhere that some think it's not a good idea as you can't see how much your ham is eating. I think it's difficult to say either way as Niko empties his bowl through the night and stashes it. I normally find it when I clean him out lol

[Engel]

Originally Posted by Otaku

You must have been horrified by the bin cage incident. Thankfully Niko is safe and well. Looking at the first photo he is absolutely adorable! I really love the new/current set-up too. Lots of cover and lots of knew on.
Looking forward to more photos of this handsome little chappie! <3

Yep. Worried me more that Niko believe it or not, he slept through the whole thing. I suppose it was my fault for having a stacked bin cage with lots of bedding in both bins. He was a bin confused for the first couple of days being in the wire cage as you'd imagine. Had a bit of bar biting the first week but since then there's been nothing.

Unfortunately the down side is the base can't hold as much bedding as a bin cage, only about 6 inches which is ok for a robo as they're tiny but it was marketed as a Syrian cage.

[Otaku]

Aww, he is adorable!!

One of the ideas I have for my cage is to buy a clear plastic storage box and fill it with substrate. The open top being level with one shelf and I'll cut out a couple of exit holes at the bottom (which will also be level with another shelf) as a makeshift burrow box. I know plastic is not ideal but it would be bigger than the burrow tower on zooplus.

[AmityvilleHams]

I don't think you can ever be fully certain on the exact amount a hamster really eats, since they do hoard at least some of their food even if you put it in a bowl which obviously doesn't get eaten right then and there.

[Engel]

Originally Posted by Otaku

Aww, he is adorable!!

One of the ideas I have for my cage is to buy a clear plastic storage box and fill it with substrate. The open top being level with one shelf and I'll cut out a couple of exit holes at the bottom (which will also be level with another shelf) as a makeshift burrow box. I know plastic is not ideal but it would be bigger than the burrow tower on zooplus.

Ooo show us when you're done I'm sure your little one will love it! Just keep an eye on any possible escape routes and make sure that (s)he won't chew their way out