Tips for our second hamster

[Pete145rugby]

Hi everyone,

I'm based in the UK, and I'm about to get our second hamster (sadly, our first one recently died, just over 2 years old).

I know that we made a few mistakes early on when we first bought our first hamster. He was a bit of an impulse buy from a pet store, the cage was too small, the wheel was too small, and we basically did our research AFTER we got him.

We rectified things pretty quickly, bought a much bigger cage (Hamster Heaven) and wheel, and our hamster became a pretty happy little guy, and he was well looked after and well loved.

We followed the taming tips very closely and handled him regularly, but I have to say that he never seemed entirely happy being handled. I always got the impression that he 'tolerated' human contact rather than craved it, or enjoying it.

Looking back, I think the mistakes we made early on in the first 4-8 weeks probably set the tone, and his personality was kind of set in stone before we knew what we were doing (and fixed his habitat).

So, with that said, we're very keen to get things right from the start this time, and I'd love to pose some questions to the forum:

Firstly: Habitat. We read lots (and lots) of reviews before settling on the Hamster Heaven (upgrading from the Habitrail OVO Loft that the PetShop sold us). He was probably a little grumpy by the time we put him in his new (appropriate) home, so for most of the rest of his life he'd use all of the nooks and crannies of the Hamster Heaven to avoid us!! What are your thoughts on stripping that set-up back a little second time around? I see quite a lot of people have removed the nest box on the top of the Hamster Heaven, and maybe one of the two platforms, should we do something similar or just give him/her the run of the full set-up and see what their temperament is like?

Secondly: Pet Shop Hamsters. The nearest breeder is a long way from us, so we're thinking of buying from a pet shop again. Our last ham was healthy enough, but this time we're thinking of buying from a smaller, local pet store rather than a national chain. They have fewer in stock, they seem well looked after, and they've had a new stock of Syrian pups just two days ago. They claim to source from responsible breeders. Is this an OK option or should I make the long drive to source from a breeder?

I think we're better equipped to cater well from the very start this time. But any tips would be great.

Pete

[CMB]

Removing the nest box/pent house and the tubes is a good idea, as your new hamster may hide in them to avoid you. It could also pee in them, block them with substrate, hoard food in them.

Having open bottomed hide(s) are best for the hamster to have their nest.

A platform/level is ok from the start. Though the green track that comes with the hamster heaven cage isn’t really suitable. A solid platform with no gaps is best. Put it in at a height you can have a good view underneath. Toys can go under the platform to make use of the space.

The new hamster may nest under the Platform, but with toy placement and a hide/nest places somewhere else you may find they won’t.

If you didn’t have one before, a container with sand may be used for bathing/toilet making cage cleaning easier.

Getting a hamster from a smaller pet shop is ok. My previous hamsters came from a small local pet shop and were handled in the shop regularly, so were easy to tame.

[Pebbles82]

I would start with an empty cage and not use the platforms, tubes and penthouse. If it helps, this was my set up in the Savic Mickey 2XL - which is idental to the hamster heaven apart from smaller bar spacing and not the tubes etc.

I used a large flat top guinea pig house instead of a shelf. It made a good nesting box for a large winter nest, and a litter tray fits inside too. The bendy bridge over the door makes it dark inside and makes a ramp up to the roof/shelf. I also had a small lava ledge at the back covering the gap at the end of the house, which was popular for sitting under.

Our hamster's favourite place to sit was under the rat sputnik. He also liked to climb in and out of the cage through the sputnik.

Later I added this tube tied to the roof so he could go between the house roof and the sputnik. I put bits of treats and food in the tube and sputnik until he got the hang of it.

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[Pete145rugby]

Thanks for your comments, very helpful.

I've stripped the set-up back a little until he's used to us a little! But he's got a wooden nest box, another box a cardboard tube and wheel (obviously), so he won't be bored.

Here's a picture. I think he's a light grey satin.

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[Pebbles82]

He looks adorable!

[Stardust79]

How cute! He is adorable. Lots of peace and quiet for a few days, then slow taming. I love his colour!

[Turrican]

Aw, look at him! He's sooo cute. That little pink nose!