Tub Cage

[Jezzas Mummy]

Hi ladies and lads... right well on sunday we went to wilkos and brought the biggest tub we could find... spent hours converting it and making sure the wheel was right - meshing on the front and top ... sorted it all out (i was excited that Jezza would have so much room).

Anyways... popped Jezza in she starts getting very distressed and chewing on the bars (which she never did before) trying hard to dig in every corner etc etc she wouldnt eat or drink so after about 2 hours i had to put her back in her old cage (which is about two thirds of the size) and she is back to normal... any ideas what i can do to get her to like it or is it something she just wont adapt to?

Thanks for your help guys i was so frustrated! :roll:

[souffle]

How old is Jezza? Older hamsters find cage change very stressful and it may be hard to get her to adapt now. You could try taking the old bedding from her cage and putting that in the bin, putting in her little hut and toys all that she is familar with, even putting the whole cage inside for a bit (supervised) and see if she will take to it and settle. I am a great believer in the 'right cage' for the hamster and even if we may feel it is a bit small some hamsters feel more secure in that cage. Also if the old cage was barred she will not be used to plastic sides etc. Quite a few hamsters have trouble changing from barred to tank and vice versa.
If she wont settle I would just leave her be. You just need to get a baby hamster to fill that lovely bin cage :)

[Jezzas Mummy]

Hi Souffle,

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR CONFIRMING WHAT I AM THINKING! Firstly Jezza is only about 6 months so i dont think that should be so much of a problem but yes her cage was barred...I did put the bedding, sawdust, house, toys, bottle and her wheel in (uncleaned so she could sense the smell) however to no avail. I shall leave her for now but i do think she looks huge in that cage i guess the other option we have is to spend pennies on a new pre-made cage? any recommendations for a huge longhaired "tempermental" syrian?

oh and i have Pinky and the Brain the robos... so was thinking that a Chinese Dwarf might like to join our ball rolling house lol

[souffle]

If you like a barred cage the Savic cambridge is popular and there is a Savic Ruffy on the show us you cage thread which looks very nice and a great size. The cambridge is not too huge though and might just be right for her :)

[Jezzas Mummy]

TA!