Hamsters (merged)

spaceman5

we also got a rotastak cage off freecycle, for 2 small hamsters, cant remember there breed, but definetly dont look like your normal hamster, smaller and less hair than normal hampsters, anyway, they also not been in the upstairs compartments, but i think that is mainly because the tubes are too steep, got the main tube from top to bottom at a diagnol rather than a sheer drop, but it is still too steep, they get a quarter way up, then slip back down again.

Lady_Fluff

I'm a hamster owner/geek, and unfortunately Rotastak cages are no good. Dwarf hamsters have trouble with the tubes because they're too steep (and if you're keeping more than one dwarf in a modular cage they can get territorial over sections and fight - bad news, unless you want to have to get another cage or find a dead hammy...), and Syrians have trouble with the tubes because they're too small... Another issue with them is most of the sections are round. Hamsters like their corners, for food, for toilet - their eyesight is bad, so they need the corners to help them navigate.

If I were you, I'd strongly recommend going back to the rat cage - my hammy lives quite happily in one (she's 18 months old, and I got the rat cage on Freecycle too!) - it'll be the best for it!

Sarahjovi

Thanks for your reply's. We do have 2 hamsters, but had to separate them a long time ago as one was dominating the other and biting him. I made a cardboard tube up to the 2nd compartment and the hamster ran straight into it, and I can see he's been in the wheel overnight. I haven't given back the rat cage yet (it belongs to my neighbour) and will consider putting him back in it! Although my daughter will be disapointed!

Thanks again,

Sarah:D

Karensteps

I've a quick question, can a russian dwarf hamster be tamed? I've had loads of hamsters (at one point 13!) and all of them were tame, except the Russian, used to nash my fingers everytime I stuck my hand in the cage, was so quick that when I managed to get a hold of it, it would leap out my hands and scurry off somewhere.

They are cute though!

Lady_Fluff

Dwarf hammies can get cage territorial, so that would explain why you got nipped when you stuck your hand in there! They can be tamed but, as you know, because of their speed, it can be trickier. Probably the best way is, if you have a front opening cage, you can put your hand by the edge so they can come and sniff it on your terms - maybe 'wear' some toilet paper (plain white) around your hand for a bit so it has your smell on it, and then leave it in the cage which they can then use for bedding, and use gloves so prevent any biteyness.
I think the vague rule is that the better hamsters get on with each other, the harder they are to tame - so Syrians and Winter White dwarfs are the easiest to tame, whilst Roborovskis and Campbells (Russians) are the hardest (not sure where Chinese fall on the scale mind!).
Hope that all makes sense! :cool2:

cazac71

I dont know if this has been suggested, but if you have a paper shredder, you could use the shredded paper for Pet bedding.....just an idea:p

Caz

doraexplorer

good idea my thinks, i have a hamster and currently use toilet roll for his bedding.

cazac71

doraexplorer wrote: »

good idea my thinks, i have a hamster and currently use toilet roll for his bedding.

Yeh, i just think its a waste to chuck it out, hmmm, wonder what else it could be used for??:think:

Caz

Karensteps

Shredded paper is fab for a hamster nest, I used to love looking at it when I was cleaning the cage out, looked solid! I do prefer the cotton wool stuff you get for it though, the poo's tend to work their way out of their bed IYKWIM.

angel81uk

Please be careful with hamster bedding as they have a tendency to eat it! Shredded paper seems like a good money saving an environmentally friendly option but the inks (especially from newspaper) can be poisonous. Likewise if you're buying the cotton wool type bedding make sure it says on the packaging that it's edible. Many years ago before edible bedding was the norm I had a hamster who ate its fluffy bedding. It got stuck to the hamsters internal organs, pulled them out the other end and the poor hamster died a horrible and probably very painful death.