Java - Queen or brat?

Hekomi · 09-10-2014, 01:34 PM

Java's being her regular self, and my SO and I are kinda at our wits end. She's in a 29gal, which is a decent size, but not huge. She keeps chewing at the back of her 11'' wodent wheel, and climbing it. It's literally chewed up ATM.

In her tank she has her hideyhouse, water bottle, a treat stick (we rarely give these... Java is the ONLY one to have one to try to give her something else to do), treat log (same as the stick), TWO whimzees, a barrel chew, a sand bath, playground, two tubes... so it's got lots of things to do.

We take her out and play with her a ton, but even still she's restless.

We have a 40gal breeder I could move her into... but would this actually change her behaviour? Would she stop trying to escape? Some part of me doesn't think so...

I'm debating getting her a hammock - yes, it might promote more climbing, but maybe something else to do? But if she's destroying her wheel, I worry about her and fabric?

What would YOU do? I don't mind moving her to the 40gal breeder, but if it's not really going to fix anything, then it seems like a strange switch. Either way it will be occupied in a month or so, either by Java or Pekoe.

I'd love some ideas, as I'm running outta options with this gal.

Colby and the Dwarfs · 09-10-2014, 01:56 PM

Sounds like a typical female hamster, tbh. They're (lovely) brats

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Hekomi · 09-10-2014, 02:00 PM

Yeah, she's certainly way different from Biscotti. I feel like she should be a tort! Very friendly and loves people, but a mini-terror in her tank. :/

Esmy · 09-10-2014, 02:02 PM

Can you try a Silent Spinner? It doesn't have the edges at the back like the WW, but it does have the knob. Gotta love our girls. lol

Shana · 09-10-2014, 02:07 PM

I vote for giving her more space. When I first got Mitzi I had her in a 20 gallon long tank. I planned on attaching an old 10 gallon to it, but couldn't quite figure out how to make it work so I kept procrastinating. Eventually Mitzi's chewing and escape attempts started driving me nuts, and I was motivated to find a solution. Even having an extra 240 square inches has helped her dramatically. She'll occasionally chew on the silicone in one corner, but it seems like it's more a part of her grooming ritual than destructive behavior.

More space means more activities, and some hamsters require that. I've attached some photos so you can see some of the things I've added to entertain her. The shoe box in the ten gallon is where I scatter feed. If I had space in my tiny apartment, and didn't live on the third floor of an elevatorless building I'd get her a 40gal.

If Pekoe isn't happy in the 29gal you can figure out another solution then. But Java seems unhappy already, so I think she should get the 40gal.

(PS I just wrote all of this on my ipad and I'm having issues attaching multiple photos. Will post again from my laptop so I can add the other photos.)

Shana · 09-10-2014, 02:10 PM

The wheel is in the 20gal. Chew marks on it's edge are from the pre 10 gallon addition days.

Hekomi · 09-10-2014, 02:20 PM

Java chews her silicone too. All my other hams have been happy in the 20-29gals but the ones there are babies. I could definitely acquire another 40gal for Pekoe should she need one.

Any other thoughts? We've gotten mixed thoughts.

spyro87 · 09-10-2014, 03:11 PM

Well, I'm thinking over this carefully... and it would seem to me she gets a great deal of out of cage time, and attention, and in cage she has plenty to do to keep her occupied; but like Honey, she just likes to chew. Some hamsters are chewers.. I think given that she has a decent sized cage already and still she insists on chewing, the chewing isn't been caused by lack of space. Neither is the climbing behaviour; all my hams are in plenty big enough bin cages, and it's their individualism coming out. I have hams that love to dig; pop them in a sand bath and they'll dig until the cows come home.
Other "non-digger" hams just look at me like I've lost my marbles!
My climber hams when put in a deep glass jar sand bath, honestly seem to see it like it's a challenge, "The HamBane Wall, can you climb it?" and they begin to climb their way out.
As far as I'm thinking, it's just hams showing their favourite activities in the things that they do.
Perhaps, Java instinctively knows she has troublesome teeth - they do say hamsters instinctively know how much they need to chew and how much they need to wear their teeth down - so maybe she's found chewing certain things is just more efficient? Or, perhaps her teeth dont grow quickly so she's found they only need a daily, light "filing" on the silicone :P or her wheel, and those whimzees wear them down too fast, who knows? (going a bit deep into possible hammy psychosis there.... get out while you still can!!)

I'm going to opt with leaving her where she is. I don't think you will ever stop her chewing & climbing... as I don't fully believe it's because she's unhappy with her current abode.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 09-10-2014, 03:38 PM

I'd give her the extra space, more space is never a bad thing and it might help - you won't know until you try it

Willow Wisp · 09-10-2014, 03:42 PM

You won't lose anything by trying her in the larger tank, it's worth giving it a go

if it doesn't solve the problem you could always move her back?