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Old 10-07-2016, 08:58 AM   #1
mikew
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Default Sudden Digging A Lot

Have noticed for a few days now my Ham digging around a lot. Have heard him do it in his nest too. Would this mean he's angry about something? It's an unusual behaviour for him.

He's an 18 month old Syrian. Seems to be eating/drinking ok. Not as active of a night as he was but I guess that's his age?
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Old 10-07-2016, 10:15 AM   #2
pinkneon
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

He could be feeling cold maybe? You could try giving him more bedding? He may not be as active as night due to the weather possibly ...
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Old 10-07-2016, 02:22 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

I think maybe it's the cooler weather too He is maybe trying to dig down into the substrate and make his house cosier. As Pink Neon says, just give him a load more bedding. Torn up strips of plain white toilet paper are best. They pouch it, take it to the nest and make a bigger cosier nest. If his house isn't that big you could maybe add more substrate as well, so it's deeper and he can burrow down a bit. We've started leaving a little oil filled heater on low at night as the nights have been cold recently. As they get older I think they feel the changes in temperature more.
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Old 10-07-2016, 09:00 PM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

It does just sound like winter nesting behaviour, lots of substrate & shredded tissue on demand!
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Old 10-08-2016, 01:41 AM   #5
mikew
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

Thanks for this. I think you guys might be right. Maybe my Ham's noticed the temperature dropoff recently much more than me.

I've increased his bedding quite a bit and will give him more than usual when I clean him out tomorrow. Fingers crossed that might make him happy again.
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Old 10-08-2016, 01:57 AM   #6
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

I've noticed Harvey digging more, so I made some changes and loads of extra CareFresh and toilet tissue and putting a cover/wooden around his house as extra insulation.
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Old 10-09-2016, 10:49 PM   #7
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

Hamsters are burrowing animals,so this is fairly normal.How deep is your substrate?Substrate does have to be quite deep actually,and most store bought cages can't hold even a minimum amount for Syrians.
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Old 10-09-2016, 11:03 PM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: Sudden Digging A Lot

Though they might enjoy huge amounts of substrate most wire cage bases are deep enough really, even in the colder weather about 10-15cm is perfectly adequate, if anything I think dwarf hams enjoy deeper substrate more than syrians do!
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