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Old 12-07-2021, 11:15 PM   #1
BooTheFearless
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Question Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Hey y'all! I've had the idea as of late to try and concoct some kind of small contained "eco-cage" for my hammers. Right now, I'm thinking of purchasing a sufficient sized plastic tub and purchasing (or foraging certain soil types from around the house) soil to try and emulate as close as possible what my hamster would have if he was in the wild. Any suggestions or ideas as to what soil types would most closely emulate a hamsters natural environment? Has anyone tried this for their hammies before?

Right now, I've the idea to lay down some rocky/gravelly substance as a base for the environment, throw a layer of clay/silty soil for water retention (for plants as I'd like to plant some small grasses and other plants that the hamster could eat and forage for), a layer of "regular" soil then a topsoil layer of the type of dirt you'd use for potting soil. Then, I'd plant my plants and let them grow for about a month or so to fully take root and strengthen the soil so my hamster could have sturdy walls for his burrow.

Any input would be appreciated! And I'm curious as to whether or not any of y'all have tried this for your hammies too!
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Old 12-07-2021, 11:30 PM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

I once tried to add a small area of soil as enrichment but could not find any soil that was free from fertilizers or other added chemicals.

I tried eco earth but found it to be too dusty when dry and keeping it moist isn't an option for a hamster.

Always keep in mind that hamsters pouch things and dig so be careful with gravel.

Personally, i'd stick to hamstersafe products like natural Kaytee, safe mosses, Aspen, different type of sands, grasses, millets etc to create a natural look set up.
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Old 12-07-2021, 11:36 PM   #3
BooTheFearless
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Hi Ria!

I'm talking more about something like in the link below.

ep.0) True Naturalistic Hamster Cage (no wood bedding) - YouTube

More like an actual all soil environment in a large enough and deep enough container for the hamster. The gravel/rocky substances would be at the very bottom of the container with all the soils on top of it. Essentially I'm trying to make a "terrarium" of sorts that mimics the hamster's natural environment in the wild.
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Old 12-08-2021, 05:54 AM   #4
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

The short answer - no, don't.

The long answer would be that it's extremely unsuitable, unsafe, and just frankly irresponsible. This kind of approach may work for some reptiles, but it is NOT appropriate for hamsters. Anything within their cage should be 100% safe to ingest or incapable of being chewed up, and that rules out small gravel type rocks entirely already. Soils also aren't going to be safe for various reasons.

Having an environment that is too humid will inevitably lead to serious health and safety risks for your hamster such as mold growth, wood rotting, and respiratory issues. Pure coconut fiber is the best you're going to get, but even that should only be used in small shallow amounts and kept neither too moist nor too dry as both can cause respiratory issues and other problems(overly moist being a risk for mold of course). Coconut fiber cannot be and never should be used in an entire cage!

I'd also strongly emphasize caution with any sort of natural materials you use. Some things like coconut fiber if used properly will be fairly safe, but just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe by any means. Corn cob for example, while natural, is fairly well known to harbor extremely dangerous mycotoxins.
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Old 12-08-2021, 09:09 AM   #5
BooTheFearless
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

I understand that. However, I would say if anything Hamsters in the wild live as nature intended and are able to thrive. Why would emulating something like that be "unsafe" for them? This is anecdotal on my part but I don't think wild hamsters eat dirt or ingest them. A hamster bioactive habitat would simply just emulate their natural wild habitat. Essentially, ensuring that it is dry and that the soil mixtures and substrates match closely to what you'd find in a wild hamster environment.

I should note, I'm not saying I'd want to create some moist swampy environment for the hamster. I know that would be awful for my ham and realize that they come from drier desert/grassland environments. How exactly could soils that are properly treated and free of harmful elements (chemicals, fertilizers, etc.) be harmful to a hamster? My previous post contains a link to a youtube video that I think visualizes what I'd be creating.
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Old 12-08-2021, 09:48 AM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Thing is that our pet hamsters aren't wild hamsters like the black bellied European hamster for example.

I'll have a look at your youtube link now.

Got a thumbs down from me as far too many risk factors, in my opinion.

Last edited by Ria P; 12-08-2021 at 10:09 AM.
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Old 12-08-2021, 03:05 PM   #7
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

I think it is possible with coconut fiber to make a set-up like this.
Maybe try a small area and monitor your hamster's behaviour and health.
Making, sure they are happily using the area.

I'd put a digital humidity monitor, to check that the humidity isn't getting unsafe.
Make sure there is plenty of airflow.
As it's not going to be bio-active, you'll need to check regularly for pee, poop and uneaten food.
Hopefully, they will have a corner they go to often, to make this easier.

I agree to not have any gravel or anything too small that they may ingest.
And clean anything thoroughly that is going into the enclosure.

I've tried this with 2 different hamsters. I used a cat litter base with coconut fibre, grew cat grass in them. One of them loved to use it and played in often. The other didn't really like it, chewed all the grass at the base, used it as a toilet and rarely went in.

So always check how your hamster uses the area and if they actually like it.
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Old 12-08-2021, 03:25 PM   #8
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Wild animals and captive bred ones are not the same. Wild animals in fact if anything live a far less ideal life in many ways, so it'd be best to avoid glamourizing the wild & how wild animals live compared to captive ones.

Wild animals do a lot of dangerous things and are exposed to a lot of dangerous things. They're exposed to predators, disease, parasites, toxins, famine, and many other things that are hardly appropriate for thriving. This idealistic picture of freedom that wild animals seem to have absolutely comes at a cost, and it's very important to keep that in mind with any animal.

While I do believe it is important to do things to allow natural behaviors to be exhibited like foraging, these have to be done safely for our pets with completely safe species appropriate materials and such. Soils do not fall under this sort of standard - there is no "properly treating" soil. Even coconut fiber, while the safe alternative, still carries risk factors if not used properly.

Bioactive enclosures are not for hamsters, period. I can respect that they may work for some species as I've mentioned earlier but hamsters are absolutely not one of them. Anything within their cage as mentioned is perfectly within reason to be ingested, and soil is NOT safe to ingest at all - coconut fiber is but as I've already stated that still has to be used very carefully to be safe.

I know it might seem harsh and crushing to have to see it put this way, but the health and safety of your pet should come before this idea. It's far too dangerous and could quite honestly do massive amounts of harm to them.

ETA live plants also should never be inside a hamster enclosure regardless of plant species safety. They add humidity and a risk for mold. You can however safely grow appropriate hamster safe plants outside the cage and offer cut off safe parts as a form of enrichment!
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Old 12-08-2021, 07:14 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Hi. While hamsters do dig in soil or peat, in the wild, using that kind of substrate in a cage environment isn't good for the health - and it absolutely will create dampness and humidity unfortunately. Just by the very nature of being in an enclosure with a plastic or glass base, that the hamster pees in and in a warm house.

Hamsters have very sensitive digestive tracts and can get respiratory issues. Which humidity will cause - fungal infections etc. Best option for a natural look is go with natural coloured Kaytee clean and cosy for substrate and add some natural, interesting textures. Cork logs or cork bark pieces are good for that, and are safe (and make great tunnels). I think even coco fibre has issues for humidity and wouldn't use it myself.

The key is hamster health and safety rather than trying to recreate a real world environment in a domestic cage. And for the hamster to be happy as well. They love digging in Kaytee clean and cosy! And its nice and soft. Domesticated hamster like soft things Good for nesting.

I would suggest that if wanting to create something eco, it's better to do that for plants or insects rather than hamsters.
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Old 12-11-2021, 01:51 AM   #10
BooTheFearless
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Default Re: Natural Hamster "Eco" Cage

Thanks everyone for the replies! At the very least, it was a fun idea to entertain. Perhaps maybe reduce it to a hammie ranch? So not a permanent home, but a place for the hamster to play and explore as an alternative to "roaming" environments (like right now I let Boo II wander around my small office)! That way, we can avoid Boo being exposed for prolonged periods to high moisture levels. You're right to bring up that humidity in soil would be difficult to control. But, the idea is so appealing to me that I wouldn't want to throw it away entirely.

It'd be nice and satisfying to see him at the least be able to play in it; do you all think that would be better? Furthermore, I'll post a download link to a study of wild Syrian Hamsters in Syria; I found it to be interesting and it gave me a better idea of what type of soil mixture to use, how big to make the box for optimal burrowing, etc. (though, note it does briefly mention flooding the wild hammies burrows/excavating them for examination �� ). The data, however, is quite good if you're into those kinda things. Based on what I read in that study, most of the burrows wild Syrians used lacked any nearby plant growth nearby and were typically made close to farmlands (so they can hoard wheat and chickpeas no doubt!). The soil itself in that study mentions all of them being cambisol which is essentially a dry sandy/clay mixture that doesn't retain moisture all that well.

Hopefully we can at the least provide Boo II with a lovely ranch to explore and play in

Download link for the study I mentioned: (PDF) Notes on the current distribution and the ecology of wild golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Let me know what you all thought of the study as well! I found it quite interesting.
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