Can't find the bathroom

[suby6]

Hi all!

My son and I got a robo hamster at the end of December. We were given a cage but quickly changed to a ferplast fovola cage. The top area is food/ activities space and the bottom has a wheel (replaced to silent spinner) and we keep it stuffed high with bedding around the back area and side perimeter, just not at the wheel area. Added some external tubing for more space.

I'm trying not to mess up its burrows by spot cleaning but I cant seem to find where it pees. I cant find an area that seems to smell more like ammonia or pee. His hidey house is kept at the back left of the bottom area and it also seems to burrow and nest on the back right side. I tried making a bathroom area with some sand and bedding at the front left area but he doesn't seem to use it. The top level has another hidey home that I made into a sand bath which it seems to like hiding and eating food in. Ive also found food stashes in both the nesting areas at the back of the bottom cage.

I cannot find any spots that seem to be damp, stained, or extra smelly so perhaps its just peeing wherever and the bedding is just hiding the smell well? Last night I placed a clear plastic container at the front left corner with some of the old bedding and sand from the bottom. Will see what he/she does with that now but any tips?

Thanks!

[sushi_78]

Robos are so tiny and pee so little that you usually won't notice a wet spot or urine smell. They often pee on their wheels and then I find it doesn't smell exactly of urine but more of a strong musky smell. If you have a plastic (or painted wooden) wheel you can just wipe it down whenever needed though I wouldn't do it more often than needed as they like things to smell of them.

He might also be peeing in the sand. You can sieve out the clumps and replace the sand as needed.

Wherever he's peeing, as long as there isn't a smell or dampness, there's no health concern so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Robos need very little cleaning.

In terms of your cage, I would fill up the base entirely with bedding so he can burrow more, possibly removing the middle platform and suspending the wheel upside from the top of the cage (if that's possible with that wheel). Longer term a cage that's larger but more on one level would be better as Robos are so active but they're very poor climbers. He might struggle with the tubes as they have furry feet that don't grip well.

Does he have permanent access to the play area at the front or only when supervised? I wouldn't recommend letting him in it unsupervised as he might jump over the sides and get lost in the room.

[suby6]

Thanks for the reply and info! Ah yes I do smell the musky smell. Last night I replaced much of the top areas of the bedding but would say still has about the same low level of smell. Its hard to distinguish any area that smells more lol. The lower sand area I just mostly scooped out and replaced with a jar for a potty to see if he will use it. The upper sand bath he hides food in and seems to be keeping it clean though I will replace periodically with baked play sand. I really like the suggestion of raising the wheel. The design is it is mounted on an L bracket that slides into a channel on the bottom of that plastic tray. I may be able to reverse the bracket and will check on that.
The tube opening at the tabletop is capped with a clear tube cover. We only take it off when supervised and really dont use the table anyway as he seems more nervous there than in the big box we use on the floor for taming and play time. I think as its white he feels more exposed. I think I would keep it 2 level though as it gives more overall floor space. It has a plastic ramp that gives him easy access up and down but I like the idea of moving the wheel as it will allow for more lower bedding yet. I do wish that I had discovered the diy ikea cage options before having purchased this cage but will likely do a cabinet case later and sell this one.
Cheers

[suby6]

Almost forgot.. With your advice I also reconfigured the tubes so that the loop is to the side of the cage and not on top as that way there was quite a drop and now should be much more accessible. I had noticed he/she wasn't going to the top as only once the treat I put up there had been taken. Perhaps had a fall getting down that first time. Thanks again ��
Ps I had replied to the suggestions before this comment but that one seems to be awaiting moderator approval for now where this short update didn't