Behaviour linked to cage? - Page 2

Baron · 10-15-2018, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponymad2104

How is he?

He's doing pretty fine. He struck me as a " William Shakespeare" so that's how've been calling him. Or "Will" for short.

I haven't seen any form of hyperactive behaviour. He's pretty calm, but does move faster then my other dwarces.

Pebbles82 · 10-16-2018, 03:05 AM

I am wondering if he is a runt - if the back half is smaller. They can overcompensate for having a weak back end by being super energetic - or it could just be that it's more effort to move his back end so he has a strong front end! And wants to keep going.

Is he staying with you? I am sure he would love a playpen and some out of cage time

Freedom!

Pebbles82 · 10-16-2018, 03:06 AM

On the other hand if he has had very little exercise all his life in a small cage, it can lead to underdeveloped muscles at the back and even arthritis.

cypher · 10-16-2018, 05:39 AM

I was thinking that too, lack of proper exercise & poor muscle development, be interesting to see if he improves with a good wheel & cage.

hamsterlover20 · 10-16-2018, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponymad2104

My last hamster was in a tiny cage before I got him, with a 4 inch wheel (he was an adult Syrian), he was nippy, messy, very nervous and not active at all.

I moved him into the Alaska with a 12 inch wheel, he was so active, very friendly always met you at the bars in the morning when I got up and evening when he got up. Was no longer skittish and nervous. I didn't even have to out much work into taming him, just seeing him frequently and giving him more space to be a hamster worked

thats pretty much the same story as my hamster's

Baron · 10-16-2018, 09:23 AM

He has had three cages in his life before he came here. Will has been in a Savic Peggy for most this year.

He was housed in a cage slightly smaller before this, I think it's called something like the Criceti 9. Then another cage, not much bigger. Former Owner M got him when he was really young, about 8 weeks and...never really got around housing him in a better cage I guess until I came along. I am his third owner now in a year time.
If he had stayed with her, then he would've gotten a Favola cage. A cage that's better but not by much.

He does have the silent spinner medium, which suits him fine for now. But I do have a Trixie 20 cm wheel I might offer him later. Would that be better?

Considering his food....Is the Versele laga Hamster nature mix good? He always got the version for large hamsters. I think Zooplus has the mini hamster version. It's a brand my hamsters don't
really like.

Right now he has shown a preference for a more natural mix without pellets and also seems to enjoy his sandbath.

cypher · 10-16-2018, 10:12 AM

He looks so tiny with that big bowl of food!

Versele laga isn't really a good food, if you can get it I would go for the Bunny HamsterDream Expert from Zooplus, one of the Rodipet mixes or something similar, much more natural & the nutrition is way better. It would probably be good to give him a bit of a protein top up too if he's getting more exercise now, a few mealworms would be plenty.
The silent spinner should be fine for him for now at least, I would wait a while & see how he gets on with it.

Baron · 10-16-2018, 10:23 AM

Iv'e been giving him a mix similair to the Bunny mix. I think it's called Mixerama. It has mealworms standard in it. I love these kind of mixes so much, and so seem my hamsters.
I am not happy with the Versele laga mixes either.

cypher · 10-16-2018, 10:48 AM

Is it this one? That's a really nice mix.

Baron · 10-16-2018, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Is it this one? That's a really nice mix.

Not this exactly, but a mix a lot like this one.