Ragna’s cage set up

[AmityvilleHams]

I would be concerned with using moss personally since it does increase the humidity level in a cage, which is not good for hamsters. It's great for frogs and species that need high humidity, but when it comes to species like hamsters that shouldn't have high humidity it can lead to respiratory problems.

Actual safety as far as ingestion goes is pretty debatable at best since it's somewhat of an unknown safety situation still, but even if you want to assume it's safe there is still the very real humidity issue. That humidity can also come from urine if it gets urinated on, which I'd consider to be quite unhealthy too!

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

I would be concerned with using moss personally since it does increase the humidity level in a cage, which is not good for hamsters. It's great for frogs and species that need high humidity, but when it comes to species like hamsters that shouldn't have high humidity it can lead to respiratory problems.

Actual safety as far as ingestion goes is pretty debatable at best since it's somewhat of an unknown safety situation still, but even if you want to assume it's safe there is still the very real humidity issue. That humidity can also come from urine if it gets urinated on, which I'd consider to be quite unhealthy too!

Thanks for the info. My cage is barred and the room is airconned. Humidity won’t be a problem but I will defiantly keep an eye on it being peed on - very good points. Thanks so much for the advice☺️

[mangoandmimi]

Dried moss is fine. Not wet or damp. Honestly so many people have used it especially in Germany, I have too and I don’t understand why there seems to be a lot of negativity towards it. The chance of it getting damp is so slim and I’ve never known a hamster pee on it. I really wouldn’t worry, there are a million other things that I would spend my time worrying about instead. It does add a great deal of enrichment to the cage too in terms of new textures etc.

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by mangoandmimi

Dried moss is fine. Not wet or damp. Honestly so many people have used it especially in Germany, I have too and I don’t understand why there seems to be a lot of negativity towards it. The chance of it getting damp is so slim and I’ve never known a hamster pee on it. I really wouldn’t worry, there are a million other things that I would spend my time worrying about instead. It does add a great deal of enrichment to the cage too in terms of new textures etc.

Totally agree...thanks for the input.

[Schwartzie]

My camera is installed and ready for action tonight - really excited to see what he gets up to at night. Have attached a picture of it in the cage.

We used to place cameras around the farms back home to pick up jackal, leopard, porcupine, bat eared fox etc. I am hoping that the same philosophy of where to place the camera applies to hamsters - lol! We used to gage where the places of feeding were and hang it above so that the focus wasnt on the camera. We avoided places where they would want to scent their territory or mark it.

I put it above his house, above the food so that the focus isnt the camera but the food. I originally wanted to place is up next to the wheel but that is his scent area so didn't want him stressing about scenting it or scenting it and I'm left with a pee scented camera - lol! This camera is actually really great as its rounded so when we hung it upside down the rounded part avoids corners to chew on etc.

Any advice?

[Ria P]

Oh! I thought it would be positioned outside the cage! If its within reach, Ragna will most likely nibble it.

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Oh! I thought it would be positioned outside the cage! If its within reach, Ragna will most likely nibble it.

I also wanted to place it outside but it's pretty impossible to be able to see anything if it is because of the bars and being able to see past objects that is why we positioned it upside down because the bottom side is rounded. If Ragna tries to nibble on it or even stand up and balance against it and camera will move because we hung it without attaching it so it's fixed. We also hung it in an area where he wouldn't need to scent it or focus on it because it's directly over his feeding area. We are going to keep a close eye to see what he does. The camera moves 360 so it's very difficult to attach outside the cage because of where you need to attach it. If you attached it outside it would have to stand on a surface outside the cage. I didn't think of all that before getting it - lol!

[Coco61]

When I use mine, I stand it on a chair just outside the cage and raise the height to where I want it by putting books underneath. I check what I can see via the App and adjust the view. Mine doesn't swivel at all. Technology really has come on. Of course this idea cannot be a permanent set up.
Yours look great and if out of reach of teeth, then will provide lovely viewing.

[LunaTheHamster1]

I have mine outside the cage on a stool. I don't normally have it set up constantly but I do at the moment so I can keep an eye on Luna. I can get quite close and still see nearly all the cage, if I want the whole cage I just have to move it back slightly.

It's going to be exciting for you so that you can finally see what Ragna is up to.

[Ria P]

Good luck with the viewing! Let's hope you will see more than a sniffing nose and a set of hamster teeth!

Hamsters are very nosy animals and will investigate anything new and interesting.