German cage update

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 05:46 AM

Hi everyone, it’s been just under a year since I last popped in to chat. I cannot thank this forum enough for all their support and knowledge. I learnt so much on this forum. I remember sitting there in shock at how little I knew about anything hamsters. I still have a lot to learn.

After a year of having Ragna, he passed away a week ago. When I examined him it didn’t look like he has any injury, discharge or anything like that. I will never know how he passed. He was a massive hamster and a I think that he was close on a year when I bought him. He also came from a petshop that really handled them badly and after trying to win him over realized that he just wanted to burrow and be a hamster.

I originally created a cage for him from a rabbit cage and placed mesh over it with boredom mate so I could raise his substrate. It was then that I stumbled upon a German forum and the process of creating his German inspired habitat began.

We ended up with a 120cm by 55cm by 55cm cage. We bought IKEA side tables and used wood to close up between the legs. Once Ragna was setttled the only way that I could keep an eye on him was the pet camera and signs of activities in the morning about the bedding.

After Ragna passed I disinfected the wood items and sanitized things so that I could begin creating another world for another hamster.

I thought I would catch up with you all and say hi and share what I did with the habitat. Any advice is always welcomed!

Will send pics...

Pebbles82 · 07-11-2020, 05:53 AM

Hi. Am so sorry to hear about Ragna. It sounds like he was quite elderly if he was a year when you got him. Play well Ragna. It's hard when they leave us. Looking forward to your photos.

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hi. Am so sorry to hear about Ragna. It sounds like he was quite elderly if he was a year when you got him. Play well Ragna. It's hard when they leave us. Looking forward to your photos.

Hi Serendipity...how you? My heart sank when I noticed that Ragna wasn’t being active. Do you remember how big he was? He was a big boy. He also was terrified. I really hope he had a good life burrowing and being a hamster.

I took lovely pictures of the new set up but they are too big to share. Will have to adjust my phone then take new pics.

LunaTheHamster1 · 07-11-2020, 06:39 AM

Hi Schwartzie, so sorry to hear about Ragna, I love that you just let him be his hamstery self. He was a big boy, It is totally possible that he was a lot older when you got him. I just remember you going and making sure he had balls, so you didn't end up with a pregnant female.
Remember, you gave him a fantastic life even if you didn't see him that much.

Pebbles82 · 07-11-2020, 07:20 AM

Hi. I do remember he was a big boy

It is almost harder when these big strong looking hamsters go as they seem so invincible. You can resize the pics - either with an app or on pc. I find the quickest easiest way is using paint on windows 10.

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 07:37 AM

Pictures of the cage set up

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 07:39 AM

Pictures of cage set up

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

Hi Schwartzie, so sorry to hear about Ragna, I love that you just let him be his hamstery self. He was a big boy, It is totally possible that he was a lot older when you got him. I just remember you going and making sure he had balls, so you didn't end up with a pregnant female.
Remember, you gave him a fantastic life even if you didn't see him that much.

Hahahaha...yes I remember that...so afraid I would have little ones running around. He was defiantly older...look at my video on the Syrian hamster section of little Rollo...Ragna was huge!

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hi. I do remember he was a big boy

It is almost harder when these big strong looking hamsters go as they seem so invincible. You can resize the pics - either with an app or on pc. I find the quickest easiest way is using paint on windows 10.

Thanks Serendipity...I posted more pictures and will make the sizes bigger next time. They are a bit small.

Schwartzie · 07-11-2020, 08:04 AM

Things Ragna taught me about a German sized cage....block up the sides if you can so that you don’t frighten them when approaching. I also have made more hideouts so that Rollo won’t feel the need to dash. Layering shavings, or whatever substrate you choose with hay makes a difference. I have used layers of coco peat - the one you soak - hay, shavings and mixed substrate. I never changed the bedding and made sure that any food was cut up very finely so it disintegrated quickly. It will be very interesting to see if Rollo is sociable despite having so much substrate to burrow in. I was also surprised to find that under the substrate it was cool. We have air cons running because we live in intense heat but it stayed cool with 24 or 25 degrees Celsius.