CritterTrail 2 - dwarf doesn't use tubes

[shotcaller88]

My girlfriend purchased a Dwarf Winter White a little over a week ago. We also purchased the CritterTrail 2:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2754667
Everything is going well. He's a bit nippy, but no big deal. Hopefully he'll get used to us. The main issue we are having is he doesn't like the tubes. He doesn't want to go up the tubes to the upper levels. If I put him on the level, he will just slowly slide off the side to get down. In the reviews for this cage, it seems dwarfs have no problem climbing the tubes. My dwarf is kind of small, maybe he is too small to climb the tubes? Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[souffle]

I imagine your baby dwarf is too small to get a grip on those tubes. They are very upright. I would remove the tubes and replace with a ladder. You can buy these quite easily in most stores or even make one yourself. You could make a platform step up with the bendy sticks too. Dwarfs are reluctant to launch themselves into 'holes' especially the straight up and down ones. In our experience dwarfs don't really climb much. Be careful that the levels overlap as you do not want him falling off a high level and hurting himself. Have a good thick layer of bedding to cushion falls. You must attach a water bottle to the lower level if he cannot get up the tubes or he will have no access to water. The cage is a bit small really for even one dwarf especially if he cannot use the levels and he will never get up the the nest area. Could you return it to the store and ask to change it for a flatter cage with more floor space or even make a bin cage?

[ellisyellis]

hi, i agree with souffle. the tubes are going straight up. a small hammys going to struggle as theres nothing for them to grip onto. cant think of anything you could do except swap cages??

[shotcaller88]

Thanks for the replies. We did put a water bottle on the lower level. I really like this cage and planned to add a bin cage beneath it connected with tubes. I actually looked at cages for a while before picking this one up. This one seemed to have the best reviews for hamsters including dwarfs. It sucks to hear dwarfs can have issues climbing the tubes? Do you think I should scrap my previous idea and just go with a bin cage? I'm hoping he will use the tubes as he gets older and more comfortable in his new home. I plan to make a bin cage exactly like: http://www.bitterepiphany.com/bin_cage.html
Of course, if I could put the crittertrail on top & connect the two cages, I would do 2 side windows instead of ventilating the lid.

[Bunsey]

dwarfs have fury feet where Syrians have kinda suckered feet. The tube would need to be almost horizontal for a dwarf to climb up it.

I can't stand CT cages myself, but for a single dwarf it should be ok with a bin cage attached.