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Old 03-22-2019, 09:30 AM   #1
Ria P
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Default Bigger house?

My Syrian hamster sleeps in a wooden house which he loves but I have now read that a house should be the size of a shoe box. His house is roughly half that size or a bit bigger and he's lived with us for 10 days. Shall I get him a bigger house or would that upset him? He's a short haired grey hamster and gets through the door okay.
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Old 03-22-2019, 09:52 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Bigger house?

I’d get a new one. It might be stressful but it is important to get him set up with a suitable house. A shoe box with the bottom and door cut out would work. Although long term it is better if they have a multi chamber/compartment house really, as it helps mimick natural burrows - they will often use different rooms to pee and hoard in too. It keeps the nest more hygienic. Rodipet and getzoo make these houses. If he is settling you can always leave the old house in for a bit when you introduce the new one and maybe move some of the existing nest over to encourage him to use it.
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Old 03-22-2019, 10:10 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bigger house?

If he loves his house and uses a litter tray outside of his house (ie doesn't pee in his house) then it sounds fine for now. It is not essential that they have a large house, although they do build bigger nests when they have a large house. What tends to happen when you give them a large house, is they move their pee corner inside the house as well, to have an ensuite bathroom So then you need to move the litter tray in the house too.

If you were thinking of giving him a bigger house, would suggest adding it but leaving his existing house - and see if he moves in. If you put bendy bridge tunnel over the door of the new house he will almost certainly move in. They are tempted to go down the tunnel and then find a nice dark space inside that mimics a burrow So move in.
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Old 03-22-2019, 11:12 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Bigger house?

Thank you both for your replies. He uses a litter tray in the corner opposite the house so keeps his nest dry. I think I'll wait and see how big he grows but shop around for bigger houses in case he outgrows the current one. It's a German make house I bought at Petshed where I buy his food but they only stock that one size.
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Old 03-22-2019, 11:30 AM   #5
alpacassei
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Default Re: Bigger house?

You could always put both houses in his cage and see which he prefers
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Old 03-22-2019, 01:15 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bigger house?

How big is his current size house? Sometimes it's easier, if it's a decent size and he uses his potty out of the cage - the bigger house can get filled up with the potty!
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Old 03-22-2019, 02:33 PM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Bigger house?

I'll measure his current house when I get home tomorrow. It's twice the size of the plastic hut that came with the cage.
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Old 03-23-2019, 01:02 PM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: Bigger house?

Hi again, i got sidetracked on my way home from work and went hamster shopping (clothes? nah, boring). I had a look at a bigger house which would be a possibility. His current one is roughly 15cm x 15cm x 15cm but has a sloped roof and is sunk into the wood shavings so may be a bit bigger. I got one of these bendy wood tunnel things, the bigger one and placed it in front of the clay flower pot he likes to sit in. He had a good old sniff tonight and a quick chew to check what its made of. He's also got a dark corner with lots of bedding, a stash of food I guess, some hay which he's nibbling on just now under the platform. I think I'll keep the house for now and see how big he'll grow. He's not a big fluffy hamster but a shiny grey one with a ratface. Not sure what he is really. He was first in the queue trying to get out of the pet shop cage so he came home with me.
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