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Old 09-20-2020, 01:15 AM   #1
Otis101
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 1
Unhappy Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

Hi guys,

I’ve had my Syrian, Ellie, for about 3 weeks now and she just keeps trying to escape. She is in a Ikea detolf cage, large sand bath, 28cm wheel, multiple tunnels/hides and bedding almost up to the roof in half the cage (megazorb and kaytee clean and cosy). I’ve put in boredom breakers and she just doesn’t seem interested. She is scatter feed with pellets, seed mix and flower forage, and I have a kebob that I feed her fruit / veg from. I’ve also put in millet spray which she loved for the first night and now doesn’t seem interested in, and wheat spray which she ignored. Hoping to get some flax soon.

She is burrowing down to the bottom of the cage and, from the sound of it, constantly digging and biting the bar at the bottom of the cage. She also stands on the bedding and monkey bars / bites the wire at the top of the cage.

I left her to settle for about 3 days and then began trying to tame her. She is still a bit apprehensive but will take certain treats from me and has climbed on my hand once. I just don’t know what else she needs!

I have plans to revamp the cage and add in even more enrichment and substrates but am worried that if I do this all in one go it’ll stress her out? The only other thing I can think is that the cage was second hand (disinfected multiple times) but maybe there’s still smell that’s stressing her out? My other thought was that if I could free roam her she might be happier back in her cage at night, but I can’t pick her up yet and wasn’t sure if this would also stress her out?

Please help! I just want her to be happy.
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Old 09-20-2020, 05:13 AM   #2
Ria P
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Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

Hi and welcome to HC!

First of all i would check two essentials:
Is the wheel spinning freely?
Is the water bottle working?

You can get her out without picking her up by putting a treat into a mug, jug, bowl etc and let her walk into it then lift her out but cover the "hamster taxi" in case she jumps out.

If you have a hamster proof area or playpen or bath tub then you could try and let her run around but put toys in it and a blanket or towel first in a bath tub and something from her cage like the wheel.

You could also post a photo of your set up to see if anybody comes up with ideas of improving it but going by your description it all sounds pretty good.
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Old 09-20-2020, 06:01 AM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

I doubt she’s trying to escape as such, it’s just natural behaviour to dig & burrow as deep as she can & to explore the boundaries of her new territory, female syrians can be very demanding & need lots of space plenty to keep them occupied, You’re doing all the right things with her detolf, sounds like she has plenty of enrichment in there, she may settle a bit more with time & if she starts to. have some out of cage time or she may just be one of those that needs more space & a deeper tank possibly, I would give it some time & begin out of cage time.
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Old 09-20-2020, 06:01 AM   #4
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

With everything you list it sounds like you just have a very energetic/determined female syrian. Maybe some free roaming in a safe place will help her burn off some excess energy.
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Old 09-21-2020, 01:33 PM   #5
MyHamsterAdventures
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

My hamster has never stopped biting the bars in the early evening. I think he thinks we will let him out if he does it, which to be fair we normally do so its our fault. I don't think this is the same as your situation as you have only had her three weeks. The cage size is fine so it probably is just her settling into her new home and figuring out what she can and cant bite. I would keep an eye on it and see if she settles down or whether she is still chewing the bars after a couple of weeks. As the taming process improves she will burn off lots of energy interacting with you etc which should help too.
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Old 09-24-2020, 06:53 AM   #6
MaryRobinson
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

Our last female was completely full of beans and required daily free roaming time as well as a hugely enriched detolf. I am sure that with the help of a 'hamster taxi' (I use a squared tissue box which is good as they enjoy shredding them which burns energy too - just of course keep a spare intact one for transport if they start this!!) your girl will enjoy free running and this will help a bit.
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Old 10-11-2021, 07:53 PM   #7
GhostBella
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Default Re: Syrian constantly digging in corners / bar biting

How big is ur cage, is there a wheel?
Hamsters will naturally go the corners of anything as they see that as the weakest spot. Mine free runs my home everyday for a good 2hrs yet see has all that space plenty to do i have to put a glass cup coaster in each corner of every room, cos she'll be there destroying my carpet!
As for bar biting that because of bordem or if hes digging the corner, stopping attacking the bars then bk to the corner thats frustration.
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