Thread: New cage advice
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Old 07-18-2018, 12:57 PM  
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New cage advice

She's been moved from a probably not good home to a rescue as a baby and then not long after moved to you - it's not surprising she is stressed.

I would get the Skyline Marrakesch. It's expensive on Zooplus right now but the white version is cheaper on Amazon. There is nothing she could chew - the front back and base are glass and the wood sides are very smooth. Its not quite as big as the Alexander but it's a good size.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skyline-204...line+marrakesh

But as it's only been a couple of weeks I would also try getting her settled a bit. Has she had a cage clean since you got her? That might have set things back a bit.

She probably isn't tame yet - try and give her an hour or so each evening out of the cage in the dry bathtub with the plug in. Put a couple of toys in there - a tube and a mug on its side maybe, and let her run around in there. She'll probably slither up and down the sides of the bath mainly.

You can try gradually stroking her on her back with one finger occasionally while she's in there. If she jerks to nip at you then wait a bit and try later - or try with an old toothbrush at arms length. She should get used to a stroke on the back without jerking. Then you can move on to cupping a hand under her while she's in there - just lift your hand 1cm or so but don't try and hold her - let her walk off. When she gets used to that try cupping picking her up for a minute or two in the same way - hold her low though - for a stroke. When she trusts you and is hand tame she will be a bit calmer.

Added a little video of when we tamed our feral syrian! It took a while but he was tame as anything afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjyEme2xcq4
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