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Old 10-31-2021, 10:28 AM   #11
raccoonbandit
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

Thank you so much to everyone who responded! Your wisdom and guidance means more than you'll ever know-- It's sounding a lot like the length of the tank is less compromise and more required, so I'll get to figuring something out (I can probably move my clothes shelving into my closet if I plan things out correctly and then have space where I can fit a 30-40 gallon wide)! I'll get to compiling a list of things to get her, and I'll definitely be transitioning her onto a better food next week (she's on an oxbow pellet right now, but that might break the bank). I made her the smallest salad ever last night, which she really seemed to enjoy!
Truly I am once again so grateful for all the detailed and thought-out responses, Thaddeus will be getting a tank upgrade once she gets settled for sure!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilafernim View Post
[snip]
Hope this helps, also can I ask what you use for flooring for your rabbits run? I’m looking into getting a run rather than this hutch to have more open room but I can’t find a clean material to use that’s not to expensive. Thanks if you can help!

How I have my playpen set up for them is, it's most of my room (other than my bed and computer/wires blocked off by an x-pen... I'm the one in the playpen basically) and I have a rotation of LOTS of sheets and towels (this is super individualized for each bun though-- Mine chew but don't eat the blankets and spit them out, but some buns might eat it and that opens the door for potential blockages). The floors in my room are hardwood (which the royalty and their fuzzy paws aren't fond of, of course) so I have a large circular carpet I'm not emotionally attached to down as the base. Beneath their litter boxes, I layer 2-3 beach towels, and then I lay over most of it a large sheet/blanket (my old twin-sized bed's blankets work like a charm and cover most of the area). They also have a big fuzzy blanket on the other side of the playpen that they adore! For me, it makes cleanup super easy (pick up the sheet, vacuum all the poop in the middle or dump it into a litter box, wash everything and set it all back up) and it also doubles as enrichment because they love to dig in the blankets! I know though that a lot of people have had great success with interlocking foam mats, but I'm unfortunately working on a college budget :')
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Here's a pic of their playpen before our litterbox upgrade, but gives you a general idea of the setup -- They do really well in it and also get free reign of the house when they want when I'm home!
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Old 10-31-2021, 12:01 PM   #12
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

Thank you for your response!

For food by the way I just use Harry the Hamster it’s around £1-£2 and it’s one of the few that are approved, they also really like mealworms which are also cheap but freak me out a little 😂 I know you can get more organic ones but it does get more expensive.

Zoo plus is also a really good website to find new hamster things that don’t break the bank, alternatively gumtree and Facebook market place are really good for secondhand things. My cage was only £10 on marketplace and I sold the cage she came in like you could do so then you don’t really lose any money.

I understand the struggles of student life 😂 I have found some foam mats on Amazon for £11 that should cover a basic run. Is yours that dog run one? I’ll send a link to confirm:

Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Pet Dog Exercise Fence Pen With Gate - 30 Inches (76 cm) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075898N...ing=UTF8&psc=1

It seems massive on pictures I wouldn’t mind one same height just slightly smaller if you know of any?

Also unfortunately we’re all carpet apart from the kitchen which is small and the bathroom which she’s currently in and has free roam in but it’s not ideal. There’s no window and we can only let her out in the hallway so not getting much quality bonding time with her like that. Just the hutch is too long to fit in the bedroom.

I was thinking maybe trying to get some off cuts of carpet or wood maybe see if I can get it cheaper, I did also find some canvas cover for another pet cage but think it would work. Just don’t know if it’s too thin for rabbits.
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Old 10-31-2021, 04:01 PM   #13
Pebbles82
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Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

I think the OP is in the US Lila. So Zooplus not available.
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Old 11-01-2021, 04:33 AM   #14
Lilafernim
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Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

Oh that’s a shame I thought it would be available anyway since US and UK normally have linked stores. I get a lot of things on Amazon that I think are the same but I wouldn’t know any US animal stores.
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Old 11-15-2021, 07:31 PM   #15
raccoonbandit
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilafernim View Post
[snip]

I understand the struggles of student life 😂 I have found some foam mats on Amazon for £11 that should cover a basic run. Is yours that dog run one? I’ll send a link to confirm:

Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Pet Dog Exercise Fence Pen With Gate - 30 Inches (76 cm) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075898N...ing=UTF8&psc=1

It seems massive on pictures I wouldn’t mind one same height just slightly smaller if you know of any?
[snip]

I was thinking maybe trying to get some off cuts of carpet or wood maybe see if I can get it cheaper, I did also find some canvas cover for another pet cage but think it would work. Just don’t know if it’s too thin for rabbits.
Absolutely! As mentioned above, I am, unfortunately lol, from the US, but this is the one I have for my buns https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...2?ie=UTF8&th=1
I have the 24 and one bun can jump out (we have a little chickenwire situation going on to make it taller haha) but there's a slightly pricier 36 inch one as an option!
As for the canvas, it would definitely work to deter them, but just know that if they manage to get ahold of it or any leverage, they will probably chew relentlessly! They are little destructive maniacs!!

Also, felt it was only right to update you all on Thaddeus after your advice! This weekend marked her second week with me, and we've made fast friends! She loves giving my hand a sniff and even sometimes hopping onto it! Today I got her a 40-gallon breeder tank and she absolutely had a BALL when she got in! I'm attaching a picture, but be warned there are more decorations and toys (and a bigger wheel) on the way in the mail! Just figured the cage was a big change, so we should take new additions step wise and for my bank account's sake LOL

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Old 11-16-2021, 01:49 AM   #16
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

I'd put a big house in and you don't need to buy one. Just make one from a shoebox or a cardboard box. There's a lot you can do with cardboard. Small cardboard trays from fruit like kiwis, persimmons etc make good steps that can lead up to boxes used as hides.

You can use an empty glass jar on its side as a sandbath or a plastic box. I have once set up a bin cage from recyclables aside from the wheel and substrate of course.

Hamsters don't like to feel exposed and need places to shelter so personally, i'd improvise and furnish the tank with safe items from a bargain shop or your kitchen until you can replace with hamster accessories.

Saying that, cheap oil burners are a favoured hide here and i can use the top as a food dish. I've bought many items in charity shops, used flower pots and allsorts.
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Old 11-16-2021, 02:18 PM   #17
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

Oh I bet she loves the bigger room! I remember with my hamster she came in a small cage and putting her in a bigger cage with a bigger wheel she completely changed within a day!

I agree with Ria also about the hide, I’m currently eating Pringles solely for the purpose of making a tunnel 😂 (okay maybe for food for me too!) but you can make a lot of things for hamsters without costing.

When we go out Thursday I’m buying some kitchen rolls so I can make our rabbit and hamster some Christmas crackers lol ❤️

I can’t find a single picture of just the house I’d made but when I was stuck for my previous hamster I bought some non toxic pva glue and popsicle sticks to make her a house. It took a while since you have to wait for the glue to set but it lasts longer than cardboard and is slightly more natural. It’s also a hardwood so is safe for hamsters just be careful of splinters.

She’s very lucky to have a loving owner now!
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Old 11-17-2021, 06:42 AM   #18
Pebbles82
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Default Re: New Hamster Owner, Inherited 20g deep tank

That's great - just perfect - she will love a 40 gallon breeder tank. I'm with the others - although you have new things arriving, the most important thing right now is somewhere dark. A large hide that's dark inside. A shoebox house is ideal. You just cut the base out of the shoebox, keep the lid for a lift off roof (so you don't need to take the house out and disturb the nest) and cut a hole for a door. I find the best place for the door is at one end of one of the long sides - so the other end is darker (light doesn't go round corners and they always choose the darker end to nest in). And as it's a good size you can even put a corner litter tray inside the house - the end opposite the door at the back. Works every time. They seem to move their pee corner inside the house when it's large enough. I think they like having an ensuite! I use these corner plastic litter trays and put chinchilla bathing sand in it. You then just empty the litter tray once or twice a week (taking the roof off the house to do so). And the rest of the cage stays clean and dry, so you can then just spot clean for quite a long time and save on substrate.

Only thing is, avoid the temptation to keep taking the roof off the house and peeking - at least for the first two weeks - or it can freak them before they've settled and she might move out again.

If you have a bendy stick bridge to put over the house door it makes a tunnel entrance and a ramp onto the roof and makes it even darker inside. I can almost guarantee she would move straight in with the tunnel entrance. Although it helps to tempt them inside it with a tiny bit of smelly food in there (eg a small bit of cucumber or cheese). And putting a big pile of nesting material next to the house (but not actually inside it). Torn up strips of plain white toilet paper.

They do need somewhere dark to retreat to.
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