Thoughts on substrate behaviour

[Pebbles82]

While I was umming and aahing about different cages, I had a thought about the deep substrate thing. I had originally wanted something Charlie could have very deep substrate in, having read the article and the German theory about them needing at least 30cm so they can dig tunnels. But there are compromises with hamster habitats, and Charlie is used to a cage, so it would be less of a change, and what really swayed me towards a cage was the fact that you can hang more things from the roof and those are the things Charlie likes to sit underneath. I guess it makes him feel safe. I still think that a fun cage set up can be good for their wellbeing as well and that wellbeing has many different facets.

But this thought occurred to me - if Charlie likes being under things, maybe the reason the hamsters in the tanks with 30cm substrate dig tunnels, is because they feel exposed from above!

The only time Charlie dug a couple of tunnels was for that reason - when he only had a small house and lots of empty space above him. And then he only dug them to have a burrow/nest at the end of them, and always seemed a bit nervous coming out.

Some hamsters would be less nervous I guess. But I think Souffle once said if you provide them with a house, they don't feel the need to dig a burrow.

Anyway, my compromise is a cage with roof toys and things to sit or hide under, and as much substrate as I can fit in it

[cypher]

I think that's really quite a complex issue!
I honestly have no idea how much syrians differ from dwarf hams although I do get curious about it! I know all my dwarf hams enjoy burrowing for it's own sake apparently as they like their houses too, maybe because they're so much smaller it's easier for them to dig in the shallower base of a barred cage, their liking for burrowing doesn't really seem to bear any relation to how confident or nervous they are either although none seem to like being approached from above so there might be something in that with the tanks & burrowing.
When it comes down to it though like all things ham it probably depends very much on the individual.

[flowerfairy]

Interesting thoughts. I have recently given Woodstock extensive substrate (filled the base of his maxi duna multy) and he has been having a really great time rumaging around in it. He never really liked hammocks or sputniks though.

[Pebbles82]

Maybe it is partly down to individuals then. I'm sure they like lots of substrate. Charlie will only go to the parts of his cage where he can sit under something. Anyway I'm not going to stress too much about not providing 30cm or more of substrate