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Old 01-21-2022, 07:29 AM   #1
julie020
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 71
Default Cage in living room

Hello - I'm not new here but haven't had a hamster for some years but need some advice if anyone can help. Sorry if this is long!

I have a newish long haired white hamster called snowball (original I know)

I have had him for 4 weeks - he has a hamster heaven cage with 2 wheels and one saucer wheel, 2 sand baths - 3 hideouts/beds and a tube, plus just the one level at the moment.

I've read so many conflicting comments about my first concern!

Here are my concerns:

1.) I have always kept my hammies in my bedroom, but I can't anymore as I don't sleep well. Whilst I have silent wheels, its the rest that wakes me - drinking from bottles, climbing bars - clattering around etc. So he's in a room next to the living room with the TV - but it's an open plan room so he can still hear the TV although he's not too close to it. My mum with Dementia watches TV all day - not loud! The only days Snowball gets a break from this and total silence during the day is Sunday - Monday - and Wednesday when she goes out with carers.

My question: Do you think he'll get used to this? I half cover his cage with a thick blanket to help muffle noise - do you think this is reasonable or right? I worry about blocking natural light.

2.) As I mentioned he is in a hamster heaven - but when I got him home he was quite stressed so I only put the first level on - not the upper level and upper tubes/penthouse etc - in fact I put the penthouse on ground floor which he is using as a bed.

My question: Do you think he'll freak out if I add the upper levels now or too soon maybe! I have managed to play with him in his pen twice but he comes out one day then the next I don't see him at all! So he's semi - tamed at the moment and I don't want to set him back!

Thank you for reading and any comments would be welcome!
Julie
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Old 01-21-2022, 08:00 AM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Hello and welcome. It all sounds fine to me and absolutely don’t put the penthouse and tubes in! It’s usually best to remove those anyway as they just lead to abnormal behaviours (like peeing in the penthouse and nesting in or blocking up the tubes.

They are much better with just the one level cage plus a shelf. The solid shelf is the better one. Or you can use a large flat roofed house instead of a shelf.

They are basically ground dwellers and although they like tubes or tunnels, it’s much better if those are single shorter tunnels at floor level or attached to bars internally. Something like a Pringles tube is a good size for a Syrian. The external tubes are also an escape risk - they can push them apart. And not quite big enough for Syrians- especially the corner ones. Some hamsters are ok if they’re not too big but potentially any hamster could get stuck in them if they have full pouches.

The HH is a good cage with a nice big front door. The best thing you can give him is plenty of substrate at floor level (at least 4” but ideally fill the base), so he can dig, bury hoards and rearrange the substrate (which they like to do - they can build mountains with it or push it against a house to keep themselves warm).

Plus somewhere dark to retreat to.

I would suggest swapping the penthouse nesting area out for a shoebox house or similar. They do very well with a large ish house/nesting box - big enough to build a large nest - that is dark inside and open underneath so they can have normal behaviours like burying their hoards under their nest. A shoebox might be a bit big to fit in the hamster heaven but if you put it at one end (ie along one of the short sides) it can double up as a shelf/platform. Basically you cut the base out of a shoe box - keep the lid as a lift off roof and cut a hole for a door - best place for the door is at one end of one of the long sides (this means the other end is darker). They always nest at the darkest end of the house. If it’s big enough you could put the litter tray inside the house at the door end at the back. They often move their toilet inside the house of the house is big enough. This helps with cleaning and avoiding stress for the hamster as you just take the roof off the house and empty the toilet once or twice a week. And the rest of the cage stays clean and dry.

If the house isn’t big enough for that then the hamster will prinsbky choose a corner of the cage as a toilet and you can just spot clean thst corner at first then put the litter tray there.

You mentioned two wheels and a saucer. I’m thinking they might be too small as Syrian sized ones wouldn’t fit in a HH. Usually there’s only room for one 28cm wheel or a 30cm flying saucer (an upright wheel is better for them). The supplied wheels are too small and can lead to back problems.

How long has your hamster been in the cage? If it’s been over two weeks then I’d do the tweaks now (swapping out the house) but keep the nest and any hoard and move them inside the new house.

If it’s not been two weeks then leave everything as it is for now. They need at least two weeks to adjust to the cage.

However you could swap a wheel for a bigger one if it’s not big enough.

Do you havd a photo of the cage set up? It’ll be easier to suggest things. And hope you weren’t sold “fluffy bedding” for nesting - if you see it needs taking out - it’s dangerous. Best nesting material is plain white toilet paper torn into strips in a pile in the cage - they take it and build a nest with it. And you just keep topping up the pile.

As for the room - unless you’re Mum is deaf and has the sound very loud it won’t be an issue. They do get used to things and sleep all day. It can mean they come out a bit later at night and wait till it’s quiet but they do get used to it and if you put food out around 6pm in the evening they get in the habit of waking up then for the food.
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Old 01-21-2022, 08:01 AM   #3
Ria P
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: Cage in living room

One of our hamsters plus currently two foster hamsters live in the open plan kitchen - lounge area so they're exposed to cooking smells, my OH watching noisy action movies and me dropping things on the tiled floor. I have never noticed any stress behaviours and don't cover their cages.

What they do need is plenty of paperbased substrate to burry themselves in or to close the doors of their houses with. Not sure if they are blocking the cold weather out or us noisy humans. I find that hamsters adapt well to their surroundings as long as their own environment works for them.

A Hamster Heaven works far better without the tubes, penthouse and upper level because you'll have more space to create a more hamster friendly environment.

Have a look on the thread "Let's see your cages".
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Old 01-21-2022, 08:06 AM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

You can keep any extras like the tubes or penthouse for out of cage toys in a playpen eg - but I’d only use the tubes in single runs and keep an eye on them when he’s out of the cage.

Most of the contents are useless! The little pod houses are far too small but again they are useful as out of cage hides. I use one in a letter carrier for if the hamster goes to the vet or if I’m putting him there during a cage clean.

Cleaning - just spot clean for now - you don’t need to do regular full cage cleans and it stresses them. If he pees in the wheel
that can just be wiped out as and when needed (but not too often or it removes all their scent). Don’t worry about poops unless they start taking over in a big way (they are seen as emergency food supplies!). They eat their poops sometimes which is normal.
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Old 01-21-2022, 08:07 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Yes no need to cover the cage. In fact taking the blanket on and off might confuse him as it’s a change - they like stability. Room temperature is important though. If it’s a room that’s used all day then presumably it’s warm enough. Needs to be kept about 16 to 20 degrees. And if it’s freezing temperatures overnight an extra source of heat (I use an oil fired heater with a thermostat or you can use snuggle safe microwave hot water bottles under the cage). Generally a house stays warm enough but depends on the house and the room (and how cold it gets at night).
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Old 01-21-2022, 09:38 AM   #6
julie020
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 71
Default Re: Cage in living room

Oh thank you so much for your replies…super helpful!

I have had him 4 weeks or so and he is still fairly small…lots of long white hair so he looks bigger than he actually is. I will be getting him a big 10 inch wheel when he grows and do have a 10 - 12 inch saucer for his pen. Does anyone have an idea where to get the right size wheel I’ve googled but it’s 7 inches or jumps right up to 12 inches..fit for a chinchilla or rat..I would like one about 8 or 10 inches.

I will try take some pictures later when he stirs (if he does) maybe you could take a look.

No fluffy bedding, I use carefresh and lots of torn up tissues which he loves.

I get a bit obsessed when I get hamsters and go crazy..which is not good for my mental health…Ive put curtains up in open plan to try to block noise from the TV, doesn’t do a thing. I will be glad to get rid of the blanket…I can’t see him if he gets up! This issue about tv noise bothers me the most..I’ve started tip toeing around..

I am grateful for advice about upper levels and tbh my sons hamster did exactly all those things nesting…peeing…food stocks in tubes….now that I think about it! I’m keen on the shoebox idea!

Also does it matter if he doesn’t get up every day. I go to bed early so rarely see him at night…I try feeding at 6pm every night but he just peeps out. Occasionally he gets up about 8.30pm …just when I’m going to bed. I see him more in the morning..but not always!

Thanks very much for advice..appreciated!
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Old 01-21-2022, 09:58 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Which country are you in. An 11” wheel
Is best. The trixie 28cm wheel is popular and costs about £9. A 12” wheel would barely fit in that cage and take up too much room. Not many 10” ones and some aren’t that space saving as they’re deep. They run better in a bigger wheel.

In the US there’s the 10” Carolina storm wheel (but it’s bulky). In the Uk and Europe there’s quite a selection of 11” wheels. I used the trixie wood wheel in that cage.

Trixie Wooden Exercise Wheel | Free P&P on orders PS39+ at zooplus!

He could still grow quite a bit in the next 3 months.
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Old 01-21-2022, 11:11 AM   #8
julie020
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Thanks serendipity….I’m in the uk! I would prefer one that attaches to the cage to save ground space…when I had my Lennie about 10 years ago I had the huge chinchilla wheel…which he loved..but it’s soooooo big! You’re right…barely fits! I had a hamster heaven then as well. I’m struggling to remember how I did it all back then.

I’m trying to upload photos but they seem to be too big..I’ll keep trying to work that out. One shows the distance from the cage to TV…which is really bothering me….I have some OCD problems..…I strive perfectionism and it does my head in. Snowball will be spoiled and have a fantastic life but I need everything perfect…the tv is bothering me. Mum is a bit deaf… but has agreed to keep it down and she’s doing good. Tv never really loud…but on all day….

The blanket has gone..except around the back as he’s used to that. Looking for a shoe box.

Btw..I’m not a young person…my grandchildren visit me every Saturday…so snowball may need to get used to manic Saturday…

Sorry..I love rodents of all sorts…just want to do my best but not stress.

Thank you!!
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Old 01-21-2022, 11:26 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Bet you're younger than me That wood one I linked from Zooplus works well in the HH. It has quite a sturdy base so can either just stand in the cage - or - as I did - screwed it to the top bars upside down. Which means it saves space and has a little bit more space underneath for substrate. Also keeps it quite stable.

Now this used to be easy to achieve. Underneath the base are two screws which you remove. And at one time that released the wheel stand from the base. But these days it seems well and truly glued to the base, even with the screws removed - and last time I had to get OH to part saw the base off.

Anyway once you've got the wood base off, you just use two large washers on top of the cage, put the screws through the washers and the top bars, and screw them back into the holes in the stand that they came out of. It's a quick easy job (once you've got the base off). The only fiddly bit is holding the wheel while screwing the screws in - easier with two people - one holding the wheel in place while you put the screws in. I have photos but not on this computer - I'll see if I can find them.

With it being a wood wheel it's best to paint it with plastikote so it's wipe clean. The running surface is cork (nice for their feet) and you paint that too. I tend to just paint the inside of the wheel - never had a problem with the outside getting pee stained.

The plastikote comes in a little pot and costs about £4. Water based and safe for hamsters - virtually has no smell at all.

This is the plastic trixie wheel - doesn't attach to the bars though - I tried once and it fell off which wasn't very safe.

Trixie 61011 Rotating Ferris Wheel Hamsters, Plastic, o28 cm, Assortment: Random Colors : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

The wood one is silent however (has ball bearings). The plastic one is usually fairly quiet but not silent - some can be a bit rattly.
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Old 01-21-2022, 11:35 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Cage in living room

Here's the photos. This is in a different/taller cage and you actually don't need to remove the base - you can just take the screws out and attach it leave the base on. But I removed the base when fixing it in the HH sized cage because it reduced the height of the wheel a bit.


Attachment 52895

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-26-2022 at 05:39 PM.
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