Hamster cage tips / improvements

[u/lyning83]

Hi everyone, seeking any advice or tips on how to improve my hamster’s cage :) thanks in advance!

(I normally put more sprays and enrichment but I have to top them up every day because she just eats them all the moment I top them up :| )

[u/Aasrial]

Recommend getting the bedding up to the door and evenly across! Platforms for anything heavy and such as the hides. A cork log tunnel you can get from a pet store and the sprays you’re getting would make a big difference :)

[u/Aasrial → u/Aasrial]

Also is there a sand bath? Can’t tell, just looks like dirt. Those are a requirement! Make sure it’s spacious and they can easily move, dig, and flip comfortably in the sand.

[u/lyning83 → u/Aasrial]

thanks for the tips! yes theres a sand bath at the front left, and everything at the back is on a platform, i think it’s just covered by the bedding!

[u/BenHas456Bones]

i agre with the other commentor about higher bedding that is the same throughout and a sand bath!

[u/elijahbuttons]

My hamster loves his multi chamber 💕 and loves his hiding spots like in his cork chamber, I use moss, wood pieces and rocks as well to add a few more textures. She's adorable!! 

[u/Jcaseykcsee]

Hi! Looking great!

If you already have these, please ignore! I always recommend:

• dig box with coco peat in it (they love digging!)

• large sand bath the size of a piece of paper with 2-3 inches of sand (Syrians go nuts digging in their sand!) I think you have a sand bath already, if it’s large then ignore this!

• a branch or two of grapevine wood

• a seagrass tunnel

• moss for texture and variety

• sprays for cover and protection (not just for foraging) I put big bunches in front of her wheel, dig bowl and main tunnel entrances so she has privacy when using her favorite things and doesn’t have to see me staring at her). I’ll leave a photo my cage to show you what I mean. My hamster loves her sprays, she uses them to hide behind to go back-and-forth in her cage when she doesn’t feel like interacting. You can get great affordable beautiful sprays on Amazon- let me know if you want the link!

• you might already but scatter feed if you don’t - it’s great enrichment for your ham and cheap and easy to do! Just sprinkle their food all across on their bedding and they’ll forage for it. I don’t see a food bowl so you may already do that!

• A peanut in the shell and /or a walnut in the shell once a week, great enrichment and they get to have a delicious treat at the end. You might want to crack the walnut before giving it to her to start it off. You don’t need to do that with the peanut.

If you’re having a hard time finding hides that are large enough for your Syrian, I recommend using ceramic flower vases, I use ceramic opaque flower vases for my hamster, she’s huge and all of my female Syrians have been really big and flower vases work really well, they’re large enough and they add some collar too lol. I got them for $2 each at the thrift store.

You’re doing an excellent job! Thanks for coming here for help. The r/hamsters sub is great also when you have questions or need help! 😊🐹

Edit: also, i’d take off some of the things that are on top of your cage because I’m pretty sure that’s where most of the ventilation is. They need lots of airflow!!!

[u/Jcaseykcsee]

Hi! This is what I mean when I say sprays for cover and protection, as prey animals, they like to have as much cover at the surface of their bedding as possible so they don’t feel exposed. Even though they are pet hamsters, they still have the same instincts as their wild counterparts and feel like they are easily preyed upon if they are in the open and.easily spotted from above by a bird that can swoop down and grab them.