Mimi's new home! Ikea Detolf

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 06:57 AM

Hi all!

So, Mimi (AKA Mimi the Terrible, Mimi the Destroyer...!!

) has been with us a few months now and has settled down enormously (thankfully!) She's actually a properly cheeky little girl but unlike our departed Dora, Mimi craves acres of space. So... here's my effort with a re-purposed Detolf and a Kallax underneath. So far, so good! She tried escaping the first night (had to put baby cupboard catches on the lid which isn't that heavy!!) but seems to like it now and bimbles about in there quite happily.

~Mary

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 06:58 AM

BTW she had 6 inches of aspen in there but has scraped it all into her house and tunnel!

mangoandmimi · 08-01-2019, 07:18 AM

Very nice

Haha she reminds me of my past hyperactive and extremely destructive Syrian also called Mimi. I would probably add more bedding in as sometimes they like their houses to be stuffed full of bedding!

Ria P · 08-01-2019, 08:12 AM

That's a fabulous hamster home! Lucky Mimi!

I like the way you've used different substrates, what are they?
Lovely set up.

LunaTheHamster1 · 08-01-2019, 08:24 AM

That looks fabulous, Lucky hammy.

10Minutes · 08-01-2019, 08:33 AM

That's so gorgeous! Oh, and how did you know Mimi craves space while Dora didn't? I would like to learn more about hamster behaviours and am hoping for tips.

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mangoandmimi

Very nice

Haha she reminds me of my past hyperactive and extremely destructive Syrian also called Mimi. I would probably add more bedding in as sometimes they like their houses to be stuffed full of bedding!

Haha, thanks! Yes, she’s a digger, a climber and a burrower...

I will put more in; she only moved in two days ago and already she’s moved lots of it around and flattened it!

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

That's a fabulous hamster home! Lucky Mimi!

I like the way you've used different substrates, what are they?
Lovely set up.

Thank you!
Most of it is Aspen, from the reptile section, plus natural Carefresh and then edible meadow hay (and spiky bits removed) scattered over a treat tray made of grass. I don’t really know if she likes it but they look nice!!

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

That looks fabulous, Lucky hammy.

Thank you!

MaryRobinson · 08-01-2019, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10Minutes

That's so gorgeous! Oh, and how did you know Mimi craves space while Dora didn't? I would like to learn more about hamster behaviours and am hoping for tips.

Well, they’re completely different personalities. Both adopted and tame, but Dora was very sedate and loved the house we built her which was 100x40. When we rescued Mimi we put her in The late Dora’s beloved house and Mimi was just mental all the time, climbing and trying to get out! Dora had stashes everywhere in there and used to be a right little home-maker. This year, when Mimi took over the house, she seemed pretty displeased (even though it was about ten times bigger than the plastic prison she was living in before). She’s always hyper and wriggly and clearly needed more stimulation. Actually Dora was really a boy (which we discovered after we adopted her but then, well, ‘she’ just seemed right!!) which might explain it as I hear they can be more chilled.

As it is, Mimi seems to have made it her mission to get back to Syria...!! I feel sad caging her but will give her the best life possible, as we did with Dora-boo. Nutty little bean that mimi is!