Afraid my hamster has cage rage

[Kshez127]

So I’ve had my female Syrian BUBS about a month now recently moved her into the Savic plaza rat and Syrian hamster cage. She has plenty of saw dust the fills all the bottom of the cage up to the bars and I have even made her an extra platform in the cage. She as a huge wheel that is 28cm off Amazon a trixie rat one, three hide outs, a sand bath, chew sticks and some toilet roll tubes too, I also scatter feed her. As of recently she will follow me around the room even after I have fed her which she quickly collects as fast as she can and take it all to her hide out which she never used to do. She also frantically will climb all around the cage then bite the bars very aggressively. She also is drinking a lot of water and peeing an awful lot all in her hideout. I used to be able to stroke her etc now she won’t let me do anything. I haven’t been able to bond with her as much as I would of liked because recently her sleeping patterns are all over the place it’s normally around 10-11am collects food runs around climbing frantically and bar biting then goes back to sleep till around 4-5pm then comes back out and does exactly the same. I’m really stuck on what to do because will she just attack me if I put her somewhere to bond.. I also tried using a playpen which I made out of cardboard and she just aggressively chewed the corners to escape.. I’ve watched so many videos but they all say the same of getting a larger cage but that’s the biggest I can afford right now and it just makes me super sad seeing her this way because she clearly isn’t happy

[LunaTheHamster1]

It doesn't sound like cage rage. It sounds more like pent up energy so letting her out to free roam in a safe place would probably help. Have you tried bath tub bonding rather than a cardboard box, Trying to chew her way out of the cardboard box is just typical hamster behaviour, especially female syrians in my experience.

Not sure about the drjnking water bit, if you are worried it is something to keep an eye on and possibly a vets visit, it may just be because she is running around alot. She could be peeing in her hide a lot to mark her food, especially if you have just put her in the new cage. Does the pee smell different to before?If possibly I would leave spot cleaning alone for a few weeks and see if she settles, the move may have unsettled her, this could also be why she is collecting all her food in a way that was different to before.

[Ria P]

That is a good cage and should give her rnough space.

Could you please post a photo of her set up so people can have a look and possibly come up with ideas as to why she seems so unhappy?

[Kshez127]

Originally Posted by Ria P

That is a good cage and should give her rnough space.

Could you please post a photo of her set up so people can have a look and possibly come up with ideas as to why she seems so unhappy?

I’ve added the photos attached,
On the one side she kept chewing I have cardboard up and lots of substrate so she can dig but she just scratches the cardboard. I had her in the bath tub this evening and gave her some veggies which she enjoyed but in the bath tub she just kept trying to escape again..?? Then when she scratches up the side of the bath tub I take that as I’m she wants to go back
Thankyou both for your response!!

[Kshez127]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

It doesn't sound like cage rage. It sounds more like pent up energy so letting her out to free roam in a safe place would probably help. Have you tried bath tub bonding rather than a cardboard box, Trying to chew her way out of the cardboard box is just typical hamster behaviour, especially female syrians in my experience.

Not sure about the drjnking water bit, if you are worried it is something to keep an eye on and possibly a vets visit, it may just be because she is running around alot. She could be peeing in her hide a lot to mark her food, especially if you have just put her in the new cage. Does the pee smell different to before?If possibly I would leave spot cleaning alone for a few weeks and see if she settles, the move may have unsettled her, this could also be why she is collecting all her food in a way that was different to before.

I have just posted some pics below of her set up! I did abit of bath tub bonding this evening but she kept going under the blanket or scraping against the sides of the bath tub.. But she did come over a few times and take a few treats but seemed very uninterested going to try again tomorrow though just stresses me abit when she’s just constantly trying to escape

[cypher]

How long since you moved her? It sounds to me as though this may be partially at least her being upset by the move, it can take them anything up to a couple of weeks to adjust to a new cage.
Did you use the substrate & keep her nest material from the old cage? If you put them in a new cage with all fresh substrate & nothing from the old cage not having their scent on things can be very stressful for them, even though it’s a good move to a great cage it may take her a while to get used to being taken out of her old home.
The cage is quite empty too, adding more toys & other enrichment will probably make a big change to her behaviour.
The shelf looks very high too, maybe try lower that a bit.
You could add in things like cork tunnels or tubes, other hideouts & bendy bridges are good, have a look at the cages thread for ideas & just try to give her plenty to keep her busy & feel less exposed in the cage then you may still need to give her a little time to adjust & settle down.

[Kshez127]

Originally Posted by Kshez127

I’ve added the photos attached,
On the one side she kept chewing I have cardboard up and lots of substrate so she can dig but she just scratches the cardboard. I had her in the bath tub this evening and gave her some veggies which she enjoyed but in the bath tub she just kept trying to escape again..?? Then when she scratches up the side of the bath tub I take that as I’m she wants to go back
Thankyou both for your response!!

Last night I woke up a few times to her aggressively biting the bars and she has trashed her whole cage like everything is everywhere

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Kshez127

Last night I woke up a few times to her aggressively biting the bars and she has trashed her whole cage like everything is everywhere

She just sounds bored and full of pent up energy, sometimes with syrians, especially females you have to work quite hard at keeping them entertained.

Like cypher says from what I can see her cage does look a bit too empty,semi crowded is normally better for most hamsters. Filling it up doesn't necessarily mean having to spend money. The best thing I find is to invest in a ball of sisal or jute approx £1-£2 from wilkos/garden centre or craft type place then you can make lots of hanging safe hamster boredom breakers.

Here are a few things I make. The walnut feeder can be done with egg cartons cut up, if you don't have walnut shells or a drill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTGC32SxgUU&t=22s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBnYdS_3wGc&t=76s

Also,I always look at my recycling to see what I can use for my hamsters, cardboard boxes and tunnels are great, I use a lot of them, especially when free roaming, but they can be used in cages too.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Kshez127

I have just posted some pics below of her set up! I did abit of bath tub bonding this evening but she kept going under the blanket or scraping against the sides of the bath tub.. But she did come over a few times and take a few treats but seemed very uninterested going to try again tomorrow though just stresses me a bit when she’s just constantly trying to escape

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to stress too much, she is just being a hamster and wanting to escape and explore. Are you in the bath with her? Did you put things in there for her to play with?

This was me bathtub bonding with one of my hamsters Sunny. The camera work is a bit shoddy but you can see she looks for ways to escape sometimes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCAM9Cad4YQ&t=10s

[Pebbles82]

If she is bar biting a lot then it could lead to tooth damage and she does sound stressed. Cypher had some good tips above for adjusting the cage layout. I would also add a large house - they do need somewhere dark to retreat to and to build a large cosy nest in. You could add a shoebox house with a bendy bridge over the door to make it darker inside. Cut the base out of the shoebox and keep the lid for a lift off roof - but don’t lift it off for the first 2 or 3 weeks. If you put a smelly treat inside eg cucumber or cheese it will tempt her to move in.

Something is unsettling her. It may be the environment needs adjusting and a house adding she can feel dark and safe in and have normal nesting habits. Another thing that can cause this stress behaviour is too much cleaning out or moving things in the cage or taking something away.

Normally you would not clean anything for two weeks after a cage move to let them settle. From now on I would mot do any cleaning out for two weeks and then after that just spot clean the pee maybe once a week but don’t disturb her nest or hoard. Also put lots of nesting material out - a big pile of torn up sheets of plain white toilet paper (I tear the sheets into strips lengthwise). Not actually in the house but just somewhere in top of the substrate so she can forage for it.

If she still doesn’t settle then it could be she is one of those hamsters who does need a lot more space - but I think it is just getting the environment right. But if the bar chewing becomes a real habit she may need to be in a non barred cage. I wouldn’t worry about taming too much right now - more about her getting settled in the cage.