Hi everyone! - Page 2

Pebbles82 · 07-04-2019, 11:36 AM

Excellent that "he"

is tame. Sorry for the gender slip up. If/when you upgrade his cage, come on here first before moving him over - there are ways of doing it that help them settle much quicker and avoid stress and setbacks.

HamsterGranny · 07-04-2019, 01:29 PM

Finally worked out how to add a pic of Cinnamon as my avatar!

HamsterGranny · 07-04-2019, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Excellent that "he"

is tame. Sorry for the gender slip up. If/when you upgrade his cage, come on here first before moving him over - there are ways of doing it that help them settle much quicker and avoid stress and setbacks.

Thanks, will do!

alpacassei · 07-04-2019, 06:20 PM

Love the new profile pic! Cinnamon is such a cutie!

HamsterGranny · 07-07-2019, 02:13 PM

Trixie wheel has arrived and is proving popular. Alaska cage on order!

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2019, 02:45 PM

He's gorgeous! Will give you the cage moving tips now

When moving them over to a new cage, don't clean anything and just move everything over to the new cage, including all the old substrate, and try and set up the layout so it's similar to now. Not always possible but as much as possible. So it's familiar - eg wheel back left and opposite house etc.

Because the new cage is bigger you will need more substrate, so put that in first, then you can spread the old substrate on top (keeps it familiar smelling).

This bit isn't essential but I find it helps the hamster settle much more quickly and makes a big difference in reducing stress.

That is - the day before moving them, let him have a play/explore in the new cage once or twice. So put the new substrate in the new cage and a toy or two (eg cardboard tunnel and a wheel, any new toys you have and maybe one old one from the old cage).

If he freaks out when you put him in, then put him back in the old cage, and try again later. Either first or second time he should have a great time in there exploring and being excited. Then pop him back in his old cage for the night.

Next day, put him somewhere safe (eg pet carrier) and move everything over from the old cage to the new, as above and move him in - he should settle really well in a few days.

But basically you then do the whole settling in period again. Leave him alone for a day or two (unless he shows signs of wanting to come out) and don't clean anything for the next two weeks. Other than emptying a litter tray or spot cleaning the pee every few days.

They need familiarity of smell and layout or can get very stressed. The other thing I'd suggest is, when you've moved him into the Alaska, take the old cage away to another room, clean it out and put it well away from him somewhere - eg upstairs, a cupboard whatever. If you leave the old cage in the room, I find it can unsettle them and they go back to it a bit if out and about and get confused - sort of!

Ria P · 07-07-2019, 02:51 PM

Have a look in the Forum under Housing and you'll find a thread "Lets see your cages". There are some very nice set ups there. I love looking at different cage set ups and find ideas for my hamster's cage as well.
The Alaska comes with a silly and useless plastic hut thing which i chucked out but is a great cage and very practical with two big doors.

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2019, 03:08 PM

Yes I'd recommend removing the white cat house! The entrance holes are a bit small for a syrian and a larger syrian could get stuck. The shelf is fine without it.

HamsterGranny · 07-08-2019, 04:27 AM

Thanks for the advice - hoping Cinnamon will take the transition in his stride but we'll let him take his time

Ria P · 07-08-2019, 06:30 AM

Tbh and shame on me, i completely forgot to introduce Henry slowly to his new cage when he moved from the Pets@home XL to the Alaska. I set all his things up the way it was in the old cage including his nest and half of the old substrate plus a coconut hut which he loves.
He was annoyed having to sit in a plastic box and wait while i moved things over so when i put him back in his new cage he had a quick sniff around and went back to bed!
The new cage had his smell and his things and that was good enough for our Henry. No dramas.

I think one of the most important things for hamsters is their smell. Same when Henry first free roamed in the bike room. At first he had enough after a short while but then i watched him rubbing himself against the skirting boards (best excuse ever not to clean them) a few evenings later, scenting them with his scent glands that now he gets all excited when i carry him up and he's off like a shot soon as i put him down.