[Imogen]

Personally I always remove Remy when I upgrade his hide (he's now currently in a shoebox but I hate it. I want to invest in a Rodipet chamber but I'm not paying that with on top amazon delivery prices). This is because I actually tend to end up shifting the location of it ever so slightly like literally 20 times until I'm happy with it, and wouldn't want to keep moving the surrounded bedding around him.

As well, this gives the hamster a chance to explore the outside of the hide and 'investigate' it. I know one person that decided to just remove the hide off the top and place one over the top of their hamster and the hamster was so confused and stressed she darted out and was seeking out her old hide. So therefore it's better to just remove the ham and then add them back in so they wander in to it themselves.

However, if I'm not messing with the hide and only changing the location of previous items, adding new things, swapping out or removing them then I just do it when they're in their hide. Avoids disturbing and not stressing them out. Same goes with the wheel, I just take it out to clean or replace it when they're asleep.

This is also honestly a bit of a surprise for them too haha, they come out and they're like "ooo, new stuffs" and checks it all out. Even if it's all the same stuff just changed they seem to really enjoy it like once every month. But some hamsters don't like change at all.