Ok, so I have spent this half term neglecting uni work and focusing on changing the shelves as the custom made wooden shelves made the cage too heavy to lift safely.
Sturdy cardboard doubled over has replaced the wooden shelves and is supported by wooden beams. Not as aesthetically pleasing but just as effective.
I had also attempted to fit more shelving, just to give my little guy more space, but this is the best I can do without making it cramped...
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The red biscuit box is all that remains of the burrow box, the original having been removed for inactivity.
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Prior to putting the burrow box in the cage I placed Tank inside and though he explored the surface he showed no interest in digging, only doing so when mummy wouldn't let him climb out. (He was VERY shy and skittish when he came home 2 months ago and though he was soon stretching in his cage he took a long time to grow comfortable with me. He'll take food from my hand but won't climb on me so rather than accept mummy's offer of a lift out of the box he chose to dig and find his own way out.)
I used Hugro hemp bedding layered with hay, but digging doesn't seem to interest him. The Kaytee Clean & Cosy gets trodden down instead of burrowed through - they say 6 inches should inspire the mole in him, but he seems to be so lazy!!!!
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Tank is a gorgeous little guy but is typically awake between the hours of 2am and 9am. I'm glad to see progress in his socialisation after 2 months but realise he may never be interested in handling (which sucks) therefore I need to ensure he is happy with other aspects of his life.
He enjoys his food (but doesn't always bother to take everything I hide around the cage), he enjoys his wheel (typical hermeseta), loves his sand bath and overall he seems content, BUT I have found evidence of bar chewing in one area of his cage (where I have since screwed 2 wooden carrot chews).
Does anyone have any suggestions for further enriching Tank's life? After Easter I will be back in the small bedroom so this is the maximum size cage I can accommodate (80 x 80 x 50cm with one full 80 x 50cm shelf, and two 40 x 50cm shelves, each with a 25 x 40cm add-on (the top add-on being a grass-mat hammock).
I purchased a coco fibre brick and put a tub of it in the cage this evening. He came out, had a sniff, ate or pouched some (which is said to be safe) and then went back to bed, so again, this boy seems to have forgotten how to dig.
I also made a couple of DIY toilet roll boredom breakers but when the food didn't fall out with ease he walked away (he'll demolish cardboard boxes but can't be bothered to destroy the boredom breakers (-_-) ).
Any ideas for the cage or entertainment for Tank would be so welcome! Thanks everyone!