Changing Cage Tips?

[M3gan]

Hi guys. I am guessing where to post this so sorry if this isn't right.

So if you know I am moving Percy into a tank. I can't find and straight out tips for moving cage, so if someone could just say DO THIS below please!
Thank you so much

[Pebbles82]

Main thing is move all their current substrate over and don't clean anything - even if it's a bit in need of a clean - it should be fine for a couple of weeks. Try and put house, wheel and toys in similar places (ie keep the layout the same as much as possible) although adding the odd new thing should be ok. So you can put some new substrate in the new tank, as it will be bigger than the old cage, but put the substrate from the old cage on top of the new substrate, so it still smells familiar. Try and move all his nest and hoards over in tact as much as possible and resist the temptation to chuck everything, clean everything and start fresh!

Then avoid cleaning or changing anything for the first couple of weeks to let him adjust to his new surroundings. If there is a really wet or stinky patch of substrate then a bit of spot cleaning is ok, taking a handful or two out and adding a couple handfuls of new substrate and mixing it in with the old, but at least for the first week its best not to touch anything, change anything or add anything.

It can help to let them have a play in the new cage a day or two before moving them in, if possible. I did this and I think it really helped and Charlie didn't seem stressed at all when I moved him a couple of days later. He was a little bit apprehensive and nervy for 2 or 3 days but seemed to be enjoying it as well. The difficult bit was having both cages in the room at once for 2 or 3 days!

[M3gan]

Thank you! That all sounds doable. Is there anything that I should look at for that is a sign he is stressed?

[Pebbles82]

They can run round and round frantically when stressed - like doing circuits, or excessive wheel running (or bar chewing!). Don't worry though - providing you take familiar scents and contents with him he should settle in ok.

Changes of environment can stress them - like moving to a different room or cage position, but not doing all the stressful things at once can minimise it.

I scattered food in the new cage as well and put a few treats in - food can distract them from the change/stresses

[M3gan]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

They can run round and round frantically when stressed - like doing circuits, or excessive wheel running (or bar chewing!). Don't worry though - providing you take familiar scents and contents with him he should settle in okay.

Changes of environment can stress them - like moving to a different room or cage position, but not doing all the stressful things at once can minimise it.

I scattered food in the new cage as well and put a few treats in - food can distract them from the change/stresses

Thank you for all your help. Thank god there won't be any bar chewing lol. I still wonder was it the cage move that caused all of this.

[Pebbles82]

Probably a combination of that and the cage clean - he probably thought the world had blown up or something! They are sensitive little things. Because they don't see well, familiar scent is important. Our hamster still goes straight to the part of the room where his first cage was and sniffs around it, when he is in his ball sometimes, and it hasn't been there for over a year. I think they can get used to changes and cage cleans as long as it isn't too much change all at once.

So a change of cage can be stressful, but minimised by taking the bedding, nest and familiar toys etc, plus balanced out a bit by the improved environment and more space.

[M3gan]

Hahah yes I suppose so. I will not miss the chewing! I found a video by ErinsAnimals on the topic which said exactly what everyone and everywhere is saying. I really just can't wait to get the tank!