Interesting..

[Teddy001]

Okay, My Syrian ham ( Teddie) lives in a 55 gallon tank, that connects to a critter nation cage, which is massive! Teddie prefers the tank, to nest in, and she has everything she really needs in the tank, although I connected tubes for her to travel to the cage, she really enjoys spending time in the cage, too.!

In her tank, I set up an sand area, which has a toilet that she uses. I also set up an sand area in the cage, and added a toilet, which I've not seen her use, up to a few days ago. The sand in the toilet in the cage was obviously used, so, she's going to the toilet in 2 areas. When she's in the cage, she is using the sand area that has the toilet set up for her, and when she's in the tank, she uses the sand area with the toilet.

I'm amazed, she's using both toilets, as I thought hamsters typically use 1 area to pee. Anyone else's ham do this? Is this normal? Just curious.. I'm really happy she is using both toilets.. And amazed, too!!

[cypher]

Sounds like a sensible ham to me lol! If there's a suitable spot in both areas why trek all the way back to the other! My hybrids all use litter trays but will also pee in their sand baths sometimes so I guess it's a combination of sand & convenience.

[Willow Wisp]

Willow has two litter trays, each on different levels and she uses both of them As Cypher says why trek all the way down when there is another loo nearby lol
Ebonys Sand bath is on a different level to her litter tray, and bless her she doesn't pee in it she treks down to her litter tray, because she's a poor neglected hammie with only one loo I suppose she has no option but to trek lol

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Willow Wisp

Willow has two litter trays, each on different levels and she uses both of them As Cypher says why trek all the way down when there is another loo nearby lol
Ebonys Sand bath is on a different level to her litter tray, and bless her she doesn't pee in it she treks down to her litter tray, because she's a poor neglected hammie with only one loo I suppose she has no option but to trek lol

I didn't know hams would use multiple toilets. Teddie was peeing on her saucer in the cage, then noticed the other day, she was peeing in the toilet. She digs in the sand area, doesn't really roll in the sand like Candy my dwarf. Do Syrian's really do the roll in sand to bathe? Seems Teddie digs and kicks the sand with her back legs. I have an area that I've put appx 2 inches of sand, and her toilet container in the same area, since I've never seen her roll around in the sand.

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by cypher

Sounds like a sensible ham to me lol! If there's a suitable spot in both areas why trek all the way back to the other! My hybrids all use litter trays but will also pee in their sand baths sometimes so I guess it's a combination of sand & convenience.

They do have intelligence.. She filled her pouches ( huge) then tried to fit her head in the tube...lol. When her head could not fit, she started biting the tube.. When the tube didn't widen, by her biting it, she went to a corner, emptied her pouches, and went on her merry way, in the tube. Lol. Pouching a shelled money nut, makes for a very cheeky ham.. lol.. Was a funny site, and was interesting to watch her figure out how to fit her head in the tube. ( clever)

[Thin Lizzy]

When you need to go to the toilet, you've got to go!
Such clever hammies!

[Willow Wisp]

Originally Posted by Teddy001

I didn't know hams would use multiple toilets. Teddie was peeing on her saucer in the cage, then noticed the other day, she was peeing in the toilet. She digs in the sand area, doesn't really roll in the sand like Candy my dwarf. Do Syrian's really do the roll in sand to bathe? Seems Teddie digs and kicks the sand with her back legs. I have an area that I've put appx 2 inches of sand, and her toilet container in the same area, since I've never seen her roll around in the sand.

Lots of people say Syrians don't roll in their sand, preferring to dig in it
As I have two I can tell you the difference between mine
Willow digs, she throws sand EVERYWHERE lol she digs with her front feet until there is a big pile of sand behind her and then with her back feet she digs and throws it over her back the table her cage is on is always covered in sand, as is the floor
Ebony half heartedly digs, she doesn't really put any effort into it, just moves it around a little and then she lays down and rolls, she rolls on both of her sides and on her back, little legs flapping in the air lol
So I suppose like us they all like different things, some humans like baths and some prefer showers
My Willow is a shower type of girl and Ebony prefers relaxing in a bath lol

[cypher]

If that's the case my Mickle has a bit of a split personality when it comes to sand baths lol! In her cage she's a typical dwarf bath girl but in the playpen she really likes to shower!