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Old 01-21-2021, 08:59 PM   #1
Hammy_Newbie
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Default Hamster heaven cage

Hi,

I recently upgraded my hamster to a hamster heaven cage, which is great and Nibbles seems really happy in her new space. The only downside is that since moving in, she seems to have stopped going on her wheel. In her previous cage, the wheel was attached to the side of the cage and she ran on it regularly but it is now freestanding due to the fact that there isn’t room to attach it to the side, with the two ledges.

I used to often hear her in the night on her wheel but since moving I haven’t heard her once. It’s not fixed or secured so I don’t know if it’s because it feels too unstable to her? I’d like to fix it to the side but I think I could only do that if I remove a shelf and she goes on both shelves regularly and likes hanging out in the little houses, so I’m slightly loathe to do that.

Has anyone else encountered this problem with this cage and did you manage to find a solution?
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Old 01-22-2021, 02:18 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster heaven cage

Is your hamster a dwarf or a Syrian?

All my dwarfs live in Hamster Heavens but the first thing i do is to remove all the plastic shelves and tubing then start with an empty cage to create a more natural set up.

Here is an example of my foster hamster's set up.
I had a Syrian in a Hamster Heaven but moved him into an Alaska because he needed the extra height for his large wheel.
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Old 01-22-2021, 10:53 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster heaven cage

Which wheel is it and is it big enough? A dwarf hamster needs 6.5 to 9” diameter wheel. A Syrian needs an 11” wheel. Minimum 8” diameter. If the wheel is too small they won’t use it - it can cause back pain and spinal problems.
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Old 01-25-2021, 01:12 AM   #4
Hammy_Newbie
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Default Re: Hamster heaven cage

The wheel is 8 inches but she is small for a Syrian and was perfectly happy on it in the other cage.
Your set up looks good Ria. I could remove one of the shelves but I’m hopeless at any kind of DIY so not sure I’d be able to make my own! I just wish the cage was better designed!
I think it might be more the fact the wheel isn’t so stable on the cage floor. I have moved it to a different position next to one of the ledges to try to stop it moving around so will see if that helps.
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Old 01-25-2021, 07:02 AM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster heaven cage

I think that the Hamster Heaven is an excellent design. It is sturdy with a big front door and a top door. My set ups don't involve any DIY. All i do is replace the plastic shelves with a Trixie corner shelf that screws onto the bars and the platform has four legs that screw on. The house is the inexpensive Ferplast guinea pig house.
A friend of mine took the tubes, penthouse and one of the shelves out because they took up valuable space. She left one shelf in which created enough space for a bigger wheel, big bottomless house and other enrichment her Syrian needed.
The green, 8in Roly wheel that comes with the HH is noisy and not really big enough for a Syrian. I put it in the hamster playground together with a 12in Trixie wheel. All my hamsters, from the tiniest dwarf to the biggest Syrian, always choose to run in the big Trixie wheel.
They have other, quieter wheels in their habitats.
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Old 01-25-2021, 09:57 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster heaven cage

I did a big long post earlier and lost it! Short version. If she hasn’t had two weeks to settle in then give her two weeks then tweak things. I bet she is using the wheel at night but hiding away more until she’s settled. Try putting a bit of substrate on top of the wheel and see if it’s gone in the morning.

After two weeks suggest:

1) Remove penthouse and tubes abd the shelf with holes in abd the pod house on the solid shelf.
2) Add a large house at floor level sat on top of the substrate (eg Ferplast sin guinea pig house or a shoebox house)
3) Add 28cm trixie wheel

That should allow her normal behaviours - to bury hoards under her nest in the substrate which also improves hygiene and less need to clean her out too often.
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