Too much free space, need toy ideas

linneissen · 03-22-2016, 09:52 AM

My syrian Coco is a really nervous hamster and someone told me I needed more toys, any suggestions of what toys I could have in there? (This is a IKEA detolf btw) Coco does not seem to like her toilet rolls, I think they are too small for her too. I know I can cut them so they will be a little bigger but I've tried that and she never uses them. Any good toy you know about? Or any suggestions if I should replace some stuff? I notice that Coco can get a little nervous because my dwarf Mint sleeps on the other side of the cage towards the wall and Coco notices that when Mint is eating etc. (Coco sleeps by the shoe.) Also don't mind my uncleaned room...

CMB · 03-22-2016, 09:56 AM

Pet shops have thick cardboard tubes for hamsters. If your hamster is large you can get the same tubes but bigger (sold for rats/Guinea pigs)

If your hamster likes digging you could use something to block a corner of the tank and fill it with deeper substrate as a digging area.

linneissen · 03-22-2016, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMB

Pet shops have thick cardboard tubes for hamsters. If your hamster is large you can get the same tubes but bigger (sold for rats/Guinea pigs)

If your hamster likes digging you could use something to block a corner of the tank and fill it with deeper substrate as a digging area.

Yeah that seems like a good idea. Should I just put more substrates in the corner? Or do you mean something like a box with a hole in it?

AmityvilleHams · 03-22-2016, 10:08 AM

I'd suggest having very deep substrate all throughout the cage actually.Hamsters often don't burrow unless provided with deep enough substrate.

SKB_Hamsters · 03-22-2016, 10:32 AM

I would put some cardboard boxes in and cut holes into them so you hamster can hide in there. Also you can buy rat sized tunnels, these are ideal for Syrian. Also I would recommend deep substrate so your hamster can dig as nervous hamsters like to bury beneath as they feel safer and maybe some more bedding so your hamster can build a big nest. You could also place more bendy bridges in as my nervous hamster used to like to hide beneath them. Just ensure there is plenty of spaces to hide and not to have it so open as your hamster will feel safer and less intimidated.

flowerfairy · 03-22-2016, 10:59 AM

Have a look on zooplus, rat rations and pet planet for some great toy inspiration.

Woodstock (syrian) loves a chill n chew mat. Gopal (syrian) loves his grass hide and they both enjoy wicker tunnels.

Bendy bridges can be used as fences to separate different areas. All three of my syrians have their wheels in a non substrate area with the bendy bridges holding back the substrate.

Arun and Woodstock have large wooden houses with no base and lots of deep fitch bedding underneath so they can dig down.

I regularly add fresh toilet paper for them to make cosy nests with.

Sand baths are popular. Gopal,has a rabbit corner litter tray for his. He loves to rollmin it. Woodstock uses his as a toilet. He has a ceramic rabbit food bowl for his sand.

Lots of hiding places and things to chew and explore. I like to give them something new once in a while.

I like fitch as a substrate. It is paper based and nice and soft. I am planning to get hemp bedding soon to make different areas in their cages with different textures for them.

Have fun!

linneissen · 03-22-2016, 11:23 AM

This is how it looks now, I made a old box with a hole which she can dig in. I still think I should get like a second bending bridge...and there is a a little too much open space in the middle...

Pebbles82 · 03-22-2016, 11:27 AM

I got this for our Syrian - he really likes it. It's a kind of natural texture for climbing over and also a good deep sized tunnels. I got it from Rodipet as most cork tunnels are massive and theirs are the size quoted which was just right I found. I'd also agree with putting a good depth of substrate in. You could use a bendy bridge on its side to make a fenced off area for the wheel with lower substrate, and then pile it up to at least 20cm deep in the rest of the cage.

Our Syrian is also a bit of a nervy shy type and likes to be 'under' something - they like something to sit under like a platform or shelf sometimes, so I would also suggest something like this Trixie platform - it' quite tall so would sit above the substrate a bit and Coco could sit under it or climb onto it (with some kind of way up like a smaller bendy bridge). Also a good sized house - if they have a good sized house they are a bit more chilled I reckon. I got this Ferplast Rabbit sized house for our Syrian - and put a tunnel over the door. He loves it and has a huge nest at one end, his potty corner inside the house (his potty litter tray fits in one corner) and plenty of room for hoards. It also doubles up as a platform and has a lift off roof so you can spot clean without disturbing the nest or taking the house out. If you don't have room for the house and the tall platform I would go with the house.

If Coco is anything like our hamster he likes to go from place to place with something over his head all the time. The shoe looks nice but might be a bit of a chewing risk and the tunnel could be better

I was also wondering if it is noisy taking the top panels off? Ours gets a bit freaked out by noises above him.

Anyway this is the cork log and this is the house. It's way too small for a rabbit and is about the same size as the hamster Leif Labyrinth house - except it's open inside. It's quite tall so can sit on the base of the tank and have the substrate piled up round it (which also makes the entrance a better size), and you can then put a couple of inches of substrate inside it as well, as if it is sitting on the substrate but it's not it's on the base. If that makes sense!

Rodipet also make some good houses.

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...a-6-10-cm.html

Ferplast 84646099 Wooden House for Rabbits SIN 4646 Total Size Approx. 34.5 x 24 x 16.5 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Trixie Natural Living Shelter, 30 x 22 x 25 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

This is the house in our Syrian's cage

I think because you can't hang things from the top, it maybe feels a bit exposed and she has nowhere dark to go and can't tunnel down because the substrate isn't very deep. If you give her some roof space to go under and a dark place to hide she will probably feel a lot more secure

Pebbles82 · 03-22-2016, 11:28 AM

Posted at the same time as you! The box is great! Forget the house then. I think the Trixie platform would be great in the middle of the tank. You could make the bendy bridge into a ladder up to the platform (more cover under the bendy bridge) and get something like the cork log as well.

CMB · 03-22-2016, 01:28 PM

Lots of great suggestions. While I was away.

Have a look at some of the other cage/tank layouts. They can give ideas too.