[Pebbles82]

Main thing is move all their current substrate over and don't clean anything - even if it's a bit in need of a clean - it should be fine for a couple of weeks. Try and put house, wheel and toys in similar places (ie keep the layout the same as much as possible) although adding the odd new thing should be ok. So you can put some new substrate in the new tank, as it will be bigger than the old cage, but put the substrate from the old cage on top of the new substrate, so it still smells familiar. Try and move all his nest and hoards over in tact as much as possible and resist the temptation to chuck everything, clean everything and start fresh!

Then avoid cleaning or changing anything for the first couple of weeks to let him adjust to his new surroundings. If there is a really wet or stinky patch of substrate then a bit of spot cleaning is ok, taking a handful or two out and adding a couple handfuls of new substrate and mixing it in with the old, but at least for the first week its best not to touch anything, change anything or add anything.

It can help to let them have a play in the new cage a day or two before moving them in, if possible. I did this and I think it really helped and Charlie didn't seem stressed at all when I moved him a couple of days later. He was a little bit apprehensive and nervy for 2 or 3 days but seemed to be enjoying it as well. The difficult bit was having both cages in the room at once for 2 or 3 days!