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Old 10-20-2019, 06:50 AM   #1
madkatherine
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
Posts: 30
Default Hamster Updates + Any Enrichment Ideas?

Hi guys!
It's been a while since I visited the forum and I'll quickly explain why.

Back in April 2018 we adopted a Syrian hammy and named him Seed. We loved him dearly and tried to provide the best life we could to him, but, unfortunately, he passed away in May 2019, being just above 1,5 y.o. It broke my heart. But I'm here for a different reason now.

Around a month ago we felt that we were ready for a new baby and adopted a ~2 month old dwarf hamster.
I'd like to share his cage with you and ask whether you'd have any enrichment ideas/suggestions? I feel that something is missing but can't quite get what exactly.

Here is the cage and some info about it.






- The Cage -
We upgraded our DIY cage for Seed so now the measurements are
  • 110x50 cm (~43x19,6 inches)
  • aka 5500 sq.cm (~843 sq.inches) of floor space
(I would realy like to make it even bigger though)

- The Setup -
  • ~15 cm of Carefresh bedding (gosh, I'm getting so tired of this "confetti" colors but that's the only type of Carefresh and the only safe bedding we have around here ) + shredded paper towels in hides
  • dried herbs/hay sprinkled here and there
  • 2 wooden hides (he doesn't use them much tho)
  • half-buried expandable plastic tunnel (this thing he looooves)
  • wooden log
  • hay tunnel
  • sand bath
  • a few bandy bridges
  • 23 cm wheel
  • food bowl (I scatter feed too)
  • water bottle & bowl
  • various chew toys (a few wooden ones, Whimzee, etc)
  • + I usually add some millet sprays

As I said, I feel that something is missing here but, at the same time, that there's not enough space for more things So any comments are welcome!

Hi and thank you from little Prosecco!
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Old 10-20-2019, 07:39 AM   #2
Kyrkogrimr
Hamster Pup
 
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: London, UK
Posts: 163
Default Re: Hamster Updates + Any Enrichment Ideas?

Hey madkatherine,

Have you tried puzzle toys? If Prosecco is anything like Cadmium, nothing motivates like food, so a puzzle toy with some of his food or a treat inside will keep his mind occupied. You can also try nuts in shells; I believe walnuts are popular, Cadmium has just recently decided that monkey nuts are worth having (I tried introducing them a few months ago to dedicated indifference on her part lol)

I notice that there's quite a lot of open space at the front; it might be worth putting some bendy bridges or cardboard tunnels down there? I did notice the buried tunnel, but I know Cadmium doesn't like much open space in her enclosure; she's much happier and more friendly with a relatively busy/crowded cage. But perhaps Cadmium is odd. Someone with more experience may wish to weigh in on that.

Congrats on your new little guy, he's a beautiful little one ^_^
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Old 10-20-2019, 11:38 AM   #3
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster Updates + Any Enrichment Ideas?

I really like your set up and Prosecco is ultra cute!

I'd place a coconut hide right in the middle and possibly one of those 55cm long Trixie bendy bridges over it diagonally. My three love their coconuts.
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Old 10-21-2019, 10:30 PM   #4
madkatherine
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
Posts: 30
Default Re: Hamster Updates + Any Enrichment Ideas?

Thank you, Kirkogrimr and Ris P, for your tips and compliments
I will defo integrate some of your ideas. And yes walnuts and monkey nuts - how could I forget about them!
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wooden, cage, month, space, bowl, hides, carefresh, feel, adopted, bedding, tunnel, missing, hamster, enrichment, setup, bigger, make, herbs/hay, colors, confetti, tired, realy, type, safe, dried

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