Bedless William

happysaz133 · 03-01-2009, 12:31 PM

Poor little baby - he just cannot pick a bed! His Savic Cambridge came with a little blue house, which is a perfect size for him (and other Syrians I have had in the past, he's tiny right now anyway). So I put some toilet tissue in, and assumed he'd sleep in it. However he ended up sleeping in a tiny ball on the sawdust in the corner, so I gave him some tissue there too, assuming he would shred it. Nope, he slept there for two nights, then 'moved'. So he ended up sleeping behind the house. So I put tissue there as well. Guess what? He's moved again, this time, sleeping in some Puzzle Playground tubes. However he's eating/storing food, sleeping, peeing and pooping - all in the same tube! So its not very practical, he became a dirty ham very quickly, and I removed it, pulling the shredded tissue out of the tube and putting it in and around the house, and now he's back to the corner!

To cut a long story short, I've had him 5 days now, and he's still not decided on a bed, and I feel sorry for him, he looks so unhappy with his sleeping arrangements, and seems completely unable to find himself a bed. I don't know what I can use. I know not all hammies like houses, but he's not shredding the tissue, or digging the shavings up to keep himself warm (and we have no central heating). I worry he will get cold. Any suggestions for helping him get a bed, or something he might use? I thought maybe a Cup-a-Soup box? Maybe a puzzle playground house shaped creation?

He only seemed happy in the tube bed, but he can't store his food, eat, pee and poop all in the same place he sleeps. I feel mean taking it off him, but not sure what else to try!

(Oh, and I've bought a potty to littertrain him, its not come yet though).

Nicolapompicola · 03-01-2009, 05:20 PM

he probably liked the tube as it was a tight fit... So i'd say give him something smaller, but disposable.

haziebabie · 03-02-2009, 03:54 AM

Aww bless him. I am sure he will settle down soon. I think a little cardboard box filled for him with already shredded tissue. None of mine bother ripping up their tissue and I do it for them. Or just have a couple set up for him and see what he chooses.

souffle · 03-02-2009, 06:07 AM

Don't worry Happysaz.
It often takes babyhams time to choose a nice bed and till they do they sleep in the oddest places. We have had them sleep in the potty, behind and in the wheel and on top of shelves!
I would take out the tubes for now as you really don't want him to sleep there. Offer a cardboard box with the whole of one side out of it and put plenty ripped bedding in it. Put some food it too and hopefully he will take the hint!
I's sure he will settle soon.

happysaz133 · 03-02-2009, 07:15 AM

OK thanks for that. I'll try a cardboard box and shred his bedding for him (lazy ham

) and if thats no success I'll try a puzzle playground. While I'm at it, here he is after I took his tube apart, I'm such a mean Mummy!

souffle · 03-02-2009, 07:34 AM

Aww sweetheart. He really is very tiny isn't he compared to that tube. I think he is quite a young baby you have there.

happysaz133 · 03-02-2009, 07:59 AM

I think he must be very young myself, I was wondering that. He's tiny, smaller than any hamster I've brought home before. I put some dwarf tubes in his cage at first, while I washed the bigger ones (because they had all been used by Jasper), and he still fits through the dwarf tubes now with only just touching the sides! He's so friendly though, I haven't had to tame him at all, so they did a good job a P@H.

His ears are comical. They are so big compared to the rest of his body, he still has to grow into those