New hamster housing

HarryHamster · 08-27-2015, 11:20 AM

Hi guys
my new hamster Hugo has taken a liking to sleep and hide in the tube in his cage. Should I take this out and have a cardboard house or something like that?
thanks

Wanna Hamster · 08-27-2015, 11:25 AM

I'd say he's fine. Tori did this for a few days, then a gave a new hidey and she started sleeping in that. I wouldn't take the tube out, as that would stress him out. I'd try just adding more hideys and see if he goes in those instead. If he doesn't... Well I guess he just prefers to sleep in his tube!

HarryHamster · 08-27-2015, 11:27 AM

thanks Wanna Hamster

Wanna Hamster · 08-27-2015, 11:28 AM

No problemo!

Wanna Hamster · 08-27-2015, 11:29 AM

I see you just removed your avatar pic of Harry.

cypher · 08-27-2015, 10:48 PM

Tubes can be a problem, they can get really unhealthy if they sleep in them, especially if they decide to pee in there as well, if your ham likes to hide in the tube it can really hinder taming too so to some extent it depends on how your ham is behaving & how tame he is. Generally it's better not to have them with young, new, untamed hams.
If you take it out he may get a little stressed but would soon adapt to a nice cardboard box or some other alternative nesting site.

Wanna Hamster · 08-28-2015, 05:50 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the potty part. Tori is litter trained and gets up to go potty. If she hadn't been litter trained... Oh my that tube would have been very stinky and gross. Also, It depends on the size of the tube. When Tori was younger, I didn't give her small tubes as she would try to turn around in them and get temporarily stuck. Now, she knows not to turn around in them and can use them just fine. Sorry I said some bad information before.

HarryHamster · 08-28-2015, 07:47 AM

I watched him last night and he come out to wee in the potty and then grooms himself, so he should be ok for now?

cypher · 08-28-2015, 07:49 AM

If he's not peeing in there it should be ok for now, how tame is he? If he hides in the tubes rather than coming out to you it might be worth a rethink, see how he goes.

HarryHamster · 08-28-2015, 07:52 AM

He is not tame and he 15 weeks old, he is very skittish and very shy (any sudden movement he freaks out) at the moment so I think it will be better for the tube to be removed from cage. I am gonna put a cardboard house in like you suggested, but wait till he is awake.