Had to change his house, now he is freaking out.

[Canim]

Hi.

Since the day I got my hamster (6 months ago) he has been sleeping in this wood braided basket I bought him. It smelled so badly of urin, and was falling apart, so I threw it out and bought him a new bed/house. (Just one of those regular petstore hamster house, which was approx half the size of his basket bed.)
He was really upset by this, and he kept searching for his old house. He tried to make a new bed but it was like nothing could satisfy him and he would not even look at the new house I bought him.

Then I made one side of the cage, full with bedding so that he could dig tunnels and sleep down there, hoping that would satisfy him. But he doesnt seem interested, all evening yesterday he kept trying to dig under this huge wood branch I have in the cage. And when I woke up, he was sleeping in his sand bath. I am a bit worried now..

I am thinking I need to go buy him a new braided basket, equal to the old one. But what happens 6 months from now when I need to change that too?
Should I just leave him there, to find a new bed. Or should I buy the basket again?

I feel like the worst person ever, to have caused him this stress. But the old bed was disgusting.

[Miles]

You did the right thing throwing the old basket away, so don't beat yourself up about it.
Now he could have turned his nose up at his new house because it is too small, as you said its half the size. So try and find him a bigger house that he can feel comfy in, preferably as quickly as possible, like you said you want to cause him too much stress. You could also try buying him a toilet so he dosent wee in his house, luckily my hamster has always dedicated a corner to do his business in, so I never had to train him.

[Kiki_3173]

If you think it was just the size of the house,you could offer him a cardboard box that is the same size as his old basket. If he takes to that & likes it, then you know! Also, cardboard is a lot cheaper to replace than braided baskets

[Canim]

Thank you for your replies. His old house was approx 30cmx15cm so it was quite big. Maybe he was so used to a huge house, that the new small one wasnt good enough.
He is sleeping now so I dont wanna make any noise and risk waking him. Ill give it a couple days so see if he has his sleeping spot settled. And if he keeps running back and forward like a confused soul, Ill give him a shoe box or something.

I am so stupid to not have though about the size difference haha. Thank you guys.

[jesselle]

You could try and find a large house with no base.

I've managed to semi train one of my robos to use a litter dish (dish with some sand in) inside his house. So that's something you could try for the future.

[NotsoLittleOlive]

My syrian used to have these kind of 'tantrums', as I called them, every time I cleaned her bed out. Having to remake her nest was apparently offensive
I wouldn't worry about him - he's just being a fussy bum

A cardboard box as previously suggested is a good idea.
If you want a proper house again, Often beds marketed at guinea pigs are more appropriately sized for a Syrian. I would avoid anything with a base or anuthing wooden if he wees in bed as it would just go mouldy from the damp. if opting for skmething plastic try aomething with decent ventilation holes like the savic rody bed. Or even a shelf that he can make a large nest under may satisfy him more.

[racinghamster]

I always use shoe boxes (take the lid off, turn the box upside down and cut two entrance/exit doors in the box!) My syrian adored his old box and because he peed in the open corner, it never became stinky or problematic and even if it did, I would just change the box for a new one as they come free from shoe shops! Simples..!

You can also do some artwork on the box as they are paper based.

[Canim]

When he woke up about an hour ago, I took him out on the bed and made a wooden bridge into a house with alot of bedding around/on/below it.
That will have to do, untill monday. Cos I am the type of person that has no spare items in my house. Everything is neat so no empty shoeboxes or anything haha.

And maybe if I am lucky, he will settle in at this new house setup.
Here is a picture of the old basket he slept in. As you can tell it was quite big.


And the new wooden bridge setup



I made a trail of treats through the entrance, to kind of lure him in there. It actually worked, so he is sleeping down there now. (I put alittle postcard as you can tell. So the light doesnt disturb him, as he went to the corner of the aquarium)

I hope he is happy now.

[Canim]

Originally Posted by NotsoLittleOlive

My syrian used to have these kind of 'tantrums', as I called them, every time I cleaned her bed out. Having to remake her nest was apparently offensive
I wouldn't worry about him - he's just being a fussy bum

A cardboard box as previously suggested is a good idea.
If you want a proper house again, Often beds marketed at guinea pigs are more appropriately sized for a Syrian. I would avoid anything with a base or anuthing wooden if he wees in bed as it would just go mouldy from the damp. if opting for skmething plastic try aomething with decent ventilation holes like the savic rody bed. Or even a shelf that he can make a large nest under may satisfy him more.

I am happy to know, that my hammie is not the only angry one out there. When he is awake he is an angel. But, if I wake him up during the day. (vacuum clean, music, quests talking) he will scream at me to let me know I am noisy. And then ofcourse, I keep it down.
Also everytime I clean his cage, and his bed and food storage is messed up I can just see the anger in his eyes. My poor baby.
He knows if he gives me the look, I will feel bad and give him a treat.
I think he knows exactly what he is doing...

But yeah, about taking the bottom out of the shoebox/basket. I know I should have done that, but I didnt at the time. If I ever buy another basket bed, Ill take/cut one of the sides of and put it down so he pees on the bedding and not the basket.

[Tutu]

Gosh your hammy sound cute giving tantrums and all. My Syrian hamster finds pet store house too small too. So I basiclly got rid off her houses and bought loads of Easter egg chocolates and ate them and kept the cute boxes. She loves her new house and I loved my chocolate eggs Maybe you should buy box of chocolate or nice pair of shoes surely you gotta love one of those