Ideas for tank enrichment?

PurpleKat · 11-03-2019, 02:41 PM

My big syrian girl seems to have gotten bored in her tank.
She's been in this detolf for 2 months.
She was happy initially and content.
I changed it up a month a go and she was happy.
But 3 weeks after she she seemed bored.
I added a puzzle toy and she was happy but now she's not.

Her bedding is 6 to 8 inches high.
She comes out every day for floor time, in a safe area.

Pebbles82 · 11-03-2019, 05:09 PM

She's a lucky girl having a lovely big detolf

I would suggest a couple of things. A platform or shelf is always a good idea - it's another level, something to sit under and climb on. Maybe at the left hand end. You could make one or Getzoo sell very good ones that are 21cm high so would sit above the substrate.

https://www.getzoo.de/getzoo-ecketage-32x22x21cm-links

Also other large enrichment things like large cork logs - they make tunnels to run through and an interesting texture to climb over. Basically fill the floor space more with different levels and textures - places to go, things to do. It also helps them feel less exposed.

Also does she have a house? You have plenty of room in there for a large house/nesting box. They do need somewhere dark to retreat to, to feel settled and have normal nesting and hoarding behaviours.

I like the Rodipet labyrinth houses, but they are expensive. A shoe box house would be fine as it's quite large and you could put a bendy stick bridge over the door to make a tunnel entrance and make it dark inside.

Cut the base out of a shoebox, keep the lid as a lift off roof, and cut a hole for a door - at one end of one of the long sides (this means the other end is darker). It could be partly submerged in the substrate to mimic a burrow.

Sorry if you already have a large house - I can't see well from the photos.

Dessi · 11-03-2019, 06:24 PM

Look up «*Diy hamsters toys » on youtube. You’ll see lots of foraging ideas. Foraging is good against boredom.

Do you feed her seeds in a bowl ? If so, you should sprinkle it in her bedding, so she has to work for it. It will keep her occupied. You can also give her a whimzee once in a while, to chew on.

Flossypet · 11-04-2019, 06:58 AM

It's great that your hamster has a lot of burrowing depth, but you might find that if you buried either bought or homemade toys inside the bedding your hamster might burrow around a lot more.

Hamsters usually won't just burrow around in bedding otherwise.

It looks like your hamster has a big enough cage so all she needs is more to do.

PurpleKat · 11-04-2019, 10:30 AM

She does have a large house, she likes it hidden, it's on the left by lots of bedding.
I do give her some toys, like egg cartons with food wrapped in paper.

Pebbles82 · 11-04-2019, 11:28 AM

I would add a platform then

.

Pebbles82 · 11-04-2019, 11:34 AM

A knuff platform idea here

https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/558235316295136456/

Cyanic · 11-10-2019, 04:13 AM

Platforms are wonderful additions as Serendipity said as they offer more for the hammie to explore as well as offering places for them to sit under. You could also try incorporating different substrates in her enclosure to add that variety too. Have one side dedicated to burrowing/nesting and then gradually change the substrate to offer more variety to walk upon. You can section off each area with the addition of bendy bridges but always check to make sure that the gaps between each stick, when sat upon it's side, isn't large other wise hammies can get their legs stuck. You could even section one part off completely as a sand bath

Youtube and Pinterest are fantastic for ideas so definitely check them out