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Would love your best input on different types of substrates/bedding, chew toys, bathing sand, potty litters, etc that can be found in US - and what are things to just avoid. And, I saw something that anything “natural” you should bake first to kill any microorganisms? (Wood toys, logs, etc?) We’re just trying to learn all we can to give Picket his best life ever! Can’t wait to learn from everyone. (And see all the cute hamsters.)
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Just to reply to your initial request
Chew toys - Whimzee dog chews are very popular - especially the toothbrush ones as you can stick pumpkin or sunflower seeds in the "bristles" and the hamsters have fun getting them out and like the chews. The mini size. Also toilet rolls, cardboard box hides etc - depending on how chewy the hamster is! Our hamsters have only ever been interested in chewing things with food stuck to them.
Chinchilla bathing sand is the type to use (needs to be sand not dust). It can also be used as potty litter - it soaks up the pee. Dwarf hamsters aren't as easily toilet trained as Syrians but they do sometimes use their sand bath as a toilet. But can pee in multiple places - which is ok - you just spot clean the pee areas (if you can find them - if you can't don't worry about it - wait till it smells!)
You don't really need to bake any items unless there has been illness, disease or mites etc. But freezing certain things is a good idea to kill any bugs that might be lurking in food, bark wood items, hay or cork logs.
The two things I would absolutely freeze for a week are hamster food, including chews - and hay. It is very common for hamster food (and all pet foods) to contain microscopic moth eggs which can hatch out in the right conditions - pantry moths. Freezing the food for a week first kills them off. Hay is a common source of mites - but freezing for a week kills those off too. Hay isn't necessary really.
As you are making such a lovely large cage, you might want to think about using different substrates in different areas, for variety. Carefresh is fine but could be expensive if you only used that, as you need at least 4 to 6" deep substrate really.
Other options include Boxo which you can buy in bulk at Walmart (sort of soft cardboard pieces), as well as the other substrates mentioned by others.
Things to avoid - ladders with rungs, anything with chains (feet can get caught). Fabric toys like hammocks. No "fluffy bedding". Wood houses or toys that can have nails in (check them for splinters or protruding nails). Cardboard is your friend
Old tissue boxes can make good hides, or a child's size shoe box can make a good house with a lift off roof (cut the base out so it's open underneath and sat on the substrate - they like to burrow down and bury hoards under their nest), cut a hole or two for a door and keep the lid as a lift off roof, so you can check inside. If it's large enough you can put a corner litter tray inside as well and you might find they use it. I put it at the end opposite the door (cut the door at one end of one of the long sides so the other end is darker).
They always nest at the darkest end furthest away from the door. If you put a bendy stick bridge over the door it makes a tunnel entrance as well so that makes it darker inside, which they like, they like the tunnel entrance and it doubles up as a ramp up onto the roof as well.
The other thing to look out for with toys/houses etc is entrance holes - some are far too small even for a dwarf hamster - and they can get stuck - which can be quite an emergency and stressful. One member had to saw her hamster out of a house.
Little houses/hides like this are quite nice - smooth wood with no nails (I think). But as you can see it has a small round window. And it doesn't say how big it is. It needs to be at least 4cm diameter for a dwarf hamster really. 5cm minimum ideally. If it is too small then you can just block it off (I glued a couple of wood dowels over a window that was too small).
https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Woo...2198896&sr=8-5
This is also a nice hide for enrichment
I wish we could get this one in the uk
https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Natura...042nst800sr-20
This is a bit expensive but your hamster would love it. If budget is tight then a shoebox house is good. But if you can stretch to it (or even make one yourself) these labyrinth houses are excellent. They have different rooms for nesting, hoarding and toileting - and it does work. Depending on the hamster! With this type you don't need a bendy bridge over the door as it has a double entrance and rooms to the side - and light doesn't go round corners.
https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Mul...199148&sr=8-11
Lots of tunnels - these help the hamster feel secure moving around a large cage so they can always dive into/under something. Kitchen roll inner tubes and toilet roll tubes etc. You can also use a tube as a ramp to a platform or level, if secured well.
The large cork tunnels are great - they have an interesting texture to climb over and also make a good ramp up to a level - and a nice big tunnel to sit in or run through. Our robo used to like scratching bits off the inside (which is good for their toenails!).
Reptile stores sell them or there's this one on Amazon. They are often quite grungy looking or dusty but just need a rinseout and left to dry before using.
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Natur...2199511&sr=8-1
One thing that's important is a level or platform. Maybe you could make one - in some natural cages they have a long one running along the back.
Again it is shelter so a hamster can dive under something but they also like to climb onto it - somewhere else to go. And it's a place to sit and have a wash. They're also good for putting any heavy items on that could sink in the substrate (or squash a hamster if tunnelled under) - eg a ceramic hide or sand bath and can be a good place to put a food bowl so it doesn't get full of substate. Or just a few toys/chews/hides on it. I don't know where you can buy a freestanding platform. But some people make them out of Ikea Knuff magazine racks. (The small holes may need blocking off). Some examples here
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kn...w=1366&bih=598
Different textures and things to chew are good as well - these hyacinth tunnels are safe to chew and nice and soft. Our hamsters love their hyacinth tunnels. I freeze these natural/grassy things for a week.
https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Cre...199769&sr=8-32
Dwarf hamsters like a sand bath and you can use any kind of dish as a sand bath. A pyrex casserole, a salt pig etc. But these ceramic critter baths are popular hides (whether as a sand bath or just a ceramic hideout). It's good to have something ceramic so they can cool off in hot weather. Also terracotta plant pots on their side or terracotta plant pot saucers - all good for cooling. They feel the heat and they feel the cold - hence they like building a big cosy nest.
https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-100079...199769&sr=8-35
For nesting material - plain white toilet paper is safest - just tear a few sheets into strips and leave them in a big pile somewhere in the cage (not inside the house) - they like to forage for it and/or pouch it and take it to their nest.
These are the Whimzees - pet stores probably sell them too
https://www.amazon.com/Whimzees-Toot...s%2C234&sr=8-9
Wheels. With all that space your hammy would appreciate a flying saucer as well as an upright wheel I reckon! Our robo had both and used both. They tend to love their flying saucers but they do need an upright wheel as well. This size is good for a dwarf hamster
https://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufact...2200600&sr=8-1
It can be difficult finding good wheels in the US. The 6.5" silent spinner used to be the standard one for a dwarf hamster. But if you get one check it works ok - some of them are too stiff and don't spin and the hamster gets frustrated (or just can't push it).
Other alternatives are the 8" wodent wheel
https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...el-8__WW8.aspx
And the 9" Silent "Runner" which is a brilliant wheel for dwarf hamsters - completely silent, has a safe sturdy stand and runs very easily and smoothly. It might sound big for a dwarf hamster but it spins so well and they do enjoy them. If you're feeling flush! As the above is turning into a shopping list!
https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...-9__43672.aspx
My main tip would be get everything set up before moving your hammy so no need to tweak things later while they're settling in/adjusting. You probably already know about moving the old substrate across to help them settle (without cleaning anything first).
Food - Regarding hamster mixes. In Europe people tend to give a dwarf specific hamster mix. I am not sure there is one available in the US and many of the hamster mixes contain sugars. Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes so it's better to give a sugar free mix. Harry Hamster (or Hazel Hamster) is absolutely fine (they are the same - just different names for different countries) - it contains all the protein and nutrients needed and is sugar free. You can then give smaller seeds as treats as they do love smaller seeds - eg a pinch of linseeds or hemp seeds on a separate dish. They like linseeds and they're very good for top notch fur!
Treats - natural treats are better for taming and generally -eg pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. I sometimes give some of these. You want avoid sugary ones again so not the yoghurt drops or chocolate drops.
https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Frien...2201387&sr=8-8
Dietwise all they need is a good hamster mix and a tiny bit of fresh veg each day - thumbnail sized - carrot, cucumber, broccoli are all fine. I tend to avoid lettuce and cabbage - there are plenty of others to use.
Do post when you're ready to upgrade (and before!) as there are some useful tips for helping them adjust quickly to the cage change. Also partial cleans are better than full clean outs (so something always smells familiar). Eg substrate one week, wheel another week and so on. I leave the nest and hoards alone unless pee'd in - then prune the hoard when doing a substrate change (if it is getting a bit large/old). You can easily go three months without doing a substrate change, with spot cleaning and 4 to 6" of substrate. Which is less stress for the hamster. With a larger cage also you can clean one section at a different time to another section.
Re: Newbie: Picket the WW (we think) and his new house.
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