Hello everyone!
My granny hamster Nana has what I think is a not bad home set up but doesn't matter what we buy her, she never seems to enjoy the toys we got her.
I know she is a granny (around 2 years old) but she shows lots of activity when we take her out and can be running around for hours, but once we put her back in the cage seems to lose all interest.
I've taken some pictures to show you the cages, we got two because we bought the previous one for our last hamster rosita (she is in the rainbow bridge now, I miss her!) and soon it was obviously that the size the store sold us was not enough, so we got another one and they are linked by tubes.
I would really appreciate some feedback from wise ham owners, but because economy is thigh I would like to keep this cages, but with some improvement.
The cage set up is cute but actually too small for your hamster. The recommended size is 450 Sq in floor space for one cage. Maybe you could connect your cages to a 450 in bin cage? Or go with a better DYI cage or one of the popular cages in the UK, depends where you live makes your options vary a bit.
Has she been in that set up for a while? And does she seem happy? I think as she is two years old, then if she seems happy then a big change isn't necessarily necessary. Although I would be concerned about the levels in the cage at her age, as they can start having falls and injure themselves. It was when our last hammy was 2 I lowered the levels and ended up taking them out completely (I actually moved them up to right up against the roof so he could still sit under them so it wasn't too exposed about - but couldn't actually climb up onto anything and fall.
Ideally she would be better with one cage that's a bit bigger, and continuous floorspace and no levels at her age.
Are you in the Uk? Although a cage change can be stressful, if it's an improvement and they like it, then they can adjust well, and it could be a good thing to live out the rest of her life in.
You could keep her two smaller cages connected and take the levels out, and add more substrate. But if she does start to have walking difficulties as she gets older, she could have problems using the tubes or even get stuck in them. So now might be the time to give her a set up she can enjoy into old age.
I think, considering her age, you don't need a massive cage, but something big enough - eg like the combined floor area of your two current cages. Our last Syrian was still very active and nippy on the flat/level until he was about two and a half years, so he did enjoy the floorspace, and especially when there were no levels.
Instead of a shelf I put a large cork tunnel on the substrate. It was a tunnel he could run through and it gave a little bit of climbing interest but was low enough not to be a problem.
Money is always an issue! You could make a bin cage maybe. Or (if you're in the Uk) the duna multy could be good. It's not an expensive cage (Still £32 though). The only issue is you are limited to the size of wheel you can fit in it. Syrians usually have large wheels. What size wheel does she have at the moment?
There is a bigger version, the maxi duna multy, which would be ideal, and is tall enough to fit most wheels in, but it's expensive (about £80). But you could get a Zoozone 2 which is about £45 - same size as the maxi duna multy but it has wide bar spacing on the lid so if you don't mind meshing the lid it's a good buy.
Another option is to check ebay for a second hand Hamster Heaven. It's a good sized cage - not too big, not too small, not too high, has a good deep base for substrate and a nice big front opening door so easy access for you (and her getting in and out). They are best without all the bits and pieces they come with new - just a bare cage, and add some toys, house and wheel.
You can actually buy a new one for £50 from Zooplus but you might not want to spend that much. It's a fairly future proof cage suitable for syrians and larger dwarf hamsters. I would take the tubes and penthouse off/out though and block them off and just use it as a standard cage (plus get rid of all the plastic platforms - that wouldn't work with an older hamster).
I had the Savic Mickey 2XL for our Syrian for a while - it's identical except it had different things inside, no tubes and smaller bar spacing. Expensive to buy new so the Hamster Heaven is better value and just remove the shelves and tubes and start from scratch. This is what my old cage (and what an HH would look like) set up. You wouldn't want the hanging sputnik in it for an older hamster though.
And this is a video I did on setting up a cage for an older hamster. That's in a slightly larger 100cm cage. The Hamster Heaven is 80cm.
There are usually some second hand Hamster Heavens on youtube or gumtree that would cost maybe £25 or less. Clean it up and it would be fine.
If you're not in the Uk, let us know - a bin cage could be an option. But I'm thinking if she is used to a barred cage, then a barred cage could be a better upgrade.
For now I would be very concerned about her having a fall and getting injured and suggest taking all the shelves and ladders out and adding more substrate so it's deeper. You could add a tissue box as a hidey place instead of the shelves. Cardboard can be fun to chew as well Pringles tubes are popular to make tunnels with as well.
Edit - just read that she doesn't show any interest in her current cage. It's great that she likes running around out of it and out of cage time is important too At her age she maybe won't get that excited about anything in a cage much, but they do like plenty of substrate and a cosy nest and hidey places. So a nice big house or shoebox house she can build a cosy nest in might be nice and some different textures in the cage. I like the hyacinth tunnels and cork logs - but if you don't want to buy things cardboard is interesting to chew. I used to hide food and treats in the substrate in different parts of the cage so your hammy can enjoy foraging and finding them.
Can the tubes be connected between the two cages low down?
At 2 years old your hamster is likely to be slowing down and is possibly going to die quite soon. She may have trouble climbing, especially the long pipes going from the floor of the pink cage to high up the side.
Deeper substrate might be good so if she falls it's a softer landing. She could also enjoy digging.
A cage with more floor space is better than joining cages. If you are going to get another hamster. It would be a good idea to get a new bigger/suitable cage.
You could add bendy bridge(s) and cardboard tubes as even older hamsters can go under/through them. She may even still be able to climb over them.
Thank you for all your answers ^^
I'll try to respond in order.
Thank you cinnamon, I do think the cages are to small but our other syrian, who was way more active and playful than nana seemed to be great with it so that's why we didn't change it.
Thanks serendipity for all your advice, as I said nana doesn't really shows interest on what's on the cage, and If I recall well, we tried wooden toys, cardboard, bridges, balls... she seems interested for a few days, maybe a week, and then puf! she only likes to be outside. I have to clarify that she's always been like this, not a very playful hammie after all. I think she is kind of lazy hehehe.
I did tough of changing the cage to a bigger one, so I was thinking about making a bin one, the space I got for the cage is a bit larger than the length of the two cages together but I'm not very sure if we'll have another little monster after nana, because when we lost rosita I was very affected and nana came as a gift for my SO so I'm unsure about what we'll happen in the future.
Yes we do live in UK. Nana comes from pets at home adoption.
She doesn't seem to struggle with the levels or tubes just yet, she goes smoothly but I wouldn't say that she loves them.
She is a bit big, we had to buy her a medium size wheel because obviously the one that came with the cage was tiny.
CMB thank you for your advice, she is oldie but goldie I will put more substrate, but I'm thinking it will be better for her to fill the cages with bedding instead? what do you think?
Still don't know what to do, do you think if I made her a bin cage she would be unhappy?
She probably isn't interested in much in the cages because the kind of things they like to do are roam and dig and enjoy the space really and it's probably why she wants to come out a lot, but that's ok if you can let her have a lot of out of cage time.
It depends on the bin though. A good sized bin might cost more than a cheap cage. I think if you had the choice, a cage would be better than a solid sided cage/bin because it's what she's used to, so less of a change of environment and more familiar.
You could add both more substrate and more bedding. I'd look out for a second hand Hamster Heaven. Or Zooplus sell the Alaska cage for about £32. It's also about 80cm and has a front opening door, but it's a bit taller.
I'd go for a second hand hamster heaven - then you can sell it again and probably get back what you paid for it. There's one here on ebay - in Kent if that's anywhere near you
There's also an advert on here from Flower Fairy who is selling 3 cages I think. The Grosvenor or the Elmo might be good (if they're still available). But depends which part of the country you live in.
I need some advice with the cage
I would like to keep this cages, but with some improvement.
Re: I need some advice with the cage
so it wasn't too exposed about - but couldn't actually climb up onto anything and fall.
I will put more substrate, but I'm thinking it will be better for her to fill the cages with bedding instead? what do you think?
Linear Mode
