Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Chat

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-25-2023, 07:03 AM   #1
Chesterspal
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 126
Default My hamster is in the pink....I mean the green!

Wanted to do an update on my male syrian hamster. Was having some concerns as he stopped using his wheel late last year and in general was not as active.

Things are now much improved so thought I'd share a few things I've done.

First, did a very thorough cleaning of his enclosure. Removed him (got bit in the process) to another smaller enclosure so I could remove everything and clean thorougly.

Re-arranged a few details when I "rebuilt" the enclosure for him. I added a curved steel mesh under the bedding so he had a rather spacious room underneath to move around in. You cannot see it in this picture as it is covered by bedding. He has two ways of getting down there. One you can see in the top left, the other down a 3" PVC pipe, not visible in this image.



I added a small area (hollowed out log) where I could place treats for him when he was up and about.

I removed the long stretch of 3" clear tubing I had made for him as a run and replaced it with a shorter section.

Back in December I set up a hydroponics growing system in my home right next to his enclosure, as it turned out. Started growing various kinds of lettuce... mainly for myself, but also to share with him.... if he'd eat it.



That has worked out great !

He loves getting his fresh, organic lettuce every night and he eats every bit of it.

His nightly activity has steadily increased over these past weeks and months. As you can see from the counter I have on his wheel, he is doing many thousands of spins every evening. He was not doing any at all for a long time.



Glad to see things are getting back to normal and maybe evening improving.

BTW: The amount on the counter works out to 2.5 miles in a single evening.

Last edited by Chesterspal; 02-25-2023 at 08:33 AM.
Chesterspal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2023, 08:43 AM   #2
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: My hamster is in the pink....I mean the green!

Any kind of mesh unfortunately should never be inside the cage like that(floors/ramps/shelves etc too for example), covered by substrate or not. You're putting your hamster at risk of a lot of things doing that including bumblefoot, getting a toe or even entire limb caught & potentially completely stuck, and general injury - things that even if you haven't seen yet are always 100% possible and very painful.

I do love that you're growing your own lettuce though, maybe you could see if any other hamster safe plants can be grown in a similar way to give more options for fresh produce!
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2023, 09:32 AM   #3
Chesterspal
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 126
Default Re: My hamster is in the pink....I mean the green!

The mesh is not on the floor. It is curved to create a cover... a tent.... that he can move around in.

The bedding is on top of it so his feet never touch the mesh when he walks around the enclosure.
Chesterspal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2023, 11:40 AM   #4
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: My hamster is in the pink....I mean the green!

Never say never. Hamsters dig very well even if you think he won't, and the risk will always be there. You could replace it with a safe solid material though - acrylic for example would remove the injury risks entirely if it were used instead.
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bit, enclosure, lettuce, share, things

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:05 PM.