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I've read a few of the q/a's on here and they all seem to say that the cages aren't big enough, or that the hamster isn't getting enough run time in the ball. Well my hamsters cage is on 3 floors - has 2 flights of stars, metal bars AND tubes. Not to mention a wide selection of things to do - a wheel which works, a cereal bar, a house, a grass house, wooden gnaws etc etc. Furthermore my hamster gets approximately 3 hours a night in his ball.. where he gets free reign of the bottom floor of my house. I was just wondering if there is anything more I can do. He is only a baby, I'm a bit concerned that he may be too young to be apart from his mother (he wasn't on display in the pet shop, and was in the back with a litter of others who were all tinier than most I've seen). Please advise, I used to breed hamsters and this is far more excessive than I've ever witnessed before.

Thank you for your time x

2007-01-22 10:50:29 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets Other - Pets

11 answers

Some hamsters do that. Mine had all sorts of chews and a three level cage that was massive, and he still chewed the bars. I put a plastic wine stopper (thoroughly washed, and it was not a cork-type one - it was clear hollow plastic) where he chewed most, and he chewed on that instead of the bars usually. Cut down on noise levels considerable. Maybe try one of those wooden dolly pegs?

http://www.willowandstone.co.uk/asps/uploads/big/276-1.jpg

2007-01-22 10:57:13 · answer #1 · answered by Emily 2 · 1 0

Hamsters by nature are not meant to be caged or confined. Even if the hamster was to living in a 8' x 10' cage he would still try to chew to get out. It is their nature.

The wire cages really aren't that great for the animals for just this reason. It's a constant torture to see and smell the "outside" just on the other side of the bar. It is only his natural instinct to try to get out of what is confining him. The best solution would be to put him in a glass or plastic cage. He will still try to get out but he will do it by digging in the corners. He will also try to climb the water bottle so look for the specific kind of water bottle that is climb and chew-proof. I believe Lixit manufactures these.

A new cage is not the solution that you want but it's a better alternative to putting things on the cage bars that the hamster is going to ingest. Sell the old cage on eBay and use that towards the cost of a new cage set-up (which will only cost around $25-30 for the tank, lid and water bottle).

Also excessive bar chewers are prone to a condition called bar rub. They will wear the fur away where the bars hit their face. In obsessive chewers, the hair loss will be permanent and they could begin cutting into their skin causing sores. If you see an signs of bar rub you need to get him a new home immediately.

-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com

2007-01-25 07:40:03 · answer #2 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0 0

My 4 hammies do the same thing, despite having alot of toys and getting to run in the living room each evening. I've found that wedging some cardboard between the bars of their cages makes a very attractive chewtoy for them - they usually go to it right away. The only problem is it gets chewed up pretty fast, so you need to put several pieces in different places in the cage.
Use the cardboard from toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes - I've found that's a consistency they really like.
However, they often go back to chewing on the bars even if the cardboard is still there. I've resigned myself to letting them do it - just check their teeth frequently to make sure they're not damaged or misaligned - my hammies seem to be just fine anyway.
Good luck!

2007-01-22 19:41:47 · answer #3 · answered by Birdie 3 · 0 0

often when they are under a year they are super active. 3 hours isn't enough for him. r u up so u can add more time in the ball? (i'm assuming u r giving him breaks for water every hr back in the cage.) i have one that 3 hrs is good for but my youngest gets 5 hrs -with breaks. hide his food around the cage when u put him back for the last time so he has something to do. only keep a small amount in his bowl if any at all. that's also the time to give him a new toilet paper roll, pieces of dye-free(scott) tissue. maybe try adding another different type of wheel.

if u just buy a glass container as suggested below the only problem u solve is that u won't hear him anymore. it won't stop his need for more exercise & freedom. eventually his time out will lessen. as long as you're home it's no biggie to let him in the ball more.

they can leave their mom at 4 weeks but about 2 mths is ideal. it can be stressing for them but at this point there's nothing u can do. just make his new life as stress-free as possible.

2007-01-23 16:04:08 · answer #4 · answered by galaxygurl 4 · 0 1

Wow... sounds like you've got it all covered. If only your hamster knew how good he has it! LOL

Only thing I can think of is to put something on the bars he won't like (mustard, tabasco, something bitter, etc.) that he'll taste and not want to chew.

You might also try offering a variety of things to chew on. You said you have wood chews, but maybe he'd prefer a mineral block or pumice stone or even just a cardboard box or tube (toilet paper tubes work good).

That's about all I can think of. Whenever my daughters hamster starts chewing too bad, I usually toss a little fresh veggies in there. It distracts him and he ends up forgetting about chewing.

Good luck.

2007-01-22 11:44:29 · answer #5 · answered by kittikatti69 4 · 1 0

Yeah my hamster did the same thing and it was very annoying. I don't think it would have anything to do with his age, and it sounds like he has everything he needs. Possibly put his cage in another room if it bothers you. I haven't heard of using vaseline before now, but that might work if it's not toxic to hamsters.

2007-01-22 11:33:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

The reason he's doing that is because hamsters need something to chew on, something kind of hard.Like wood.If he has nothing to chew on, his teeth will curve and then he won't be
able to eat.Then they'll keep curving until they go up into the hamster's head, then he'll die.If that's happening now, if you see his teeth curving, then immediately take him to a vet and tell them you need to get his teeth shaved.The same curving thing will happen with his nails, too.So, as I said, just give him some wood to nibble on and then he'll be fine. Hope I helped out.

2007-01-22 11:04:28 · answer #7 · answered by waymon B 2 · 0 0

Hamsters do that to atract atention; If you want them to stop nibbling the fence, take him out of his cage. If that doesn't help you should buy a nibbling wood. Watch out! some wood can be like poison to a hamster and don't buy any painted hamster nibble wood, the paint is most of the time dangerous.

Good luck!

2007-01-24 00:11:46 · answer #8 · answered by Mikomiky 2 · 0 0

sounds like they're well acomodated. they were too young when they sold it, the ones in the back are supposed to be quarateed to see if they are ill.

2007-01-24 09:10:47 · answer #9 · answered by sandy e 3 · 0 0

put vasoline on the cage they hate iiittt

2007-01-22 10:57:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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