I've got two hamsters, both Syrian. When I first got them, I put them into one cage, after a while one became more dominant over living space and eventually they started to fight. I bought an extra cage and seperated them.
Now it's been about a year since I've had them, and for the past few weeks (maybe a month now), they both have picked up with chewing on their cages (one more than the other). Their caged are not the same size, one is larger than the other, upon certain reasons of fear and weight.
The one in the smaller cage (named Pocket), she chews on her cage consintly, I'm scared maybe it's too small for her, but she is a small hamster. I've tried many chew toys, she has a wheel and tubes to play in, her teeth are in fine shape and she gets heapings of food & water. She doesn't get out that often to run in her ball, but I've tried to get her out as much as I can.
Am I missing something? How can I get her to stop?!?
2007-07-02 23:59:21 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
A certain amount of chewing is normal. They do it because:
- they can ... :)
- To attract attention, maybe to get you to take them out for playtime
Excessive chewing though is a sign of something not being well. Small cage, boredom, to little playtime with their humans... Chewing can become obsessive behaviour, try to distract them from it, chuck a new toy in (a box, tissue paper something that attract attention away from the bars) or a treat or take him out for a little.
My hamster and my bunny chew every morning, htey want out and stretch their limbs and some morning TLC. same in the evening. they know, they get out every morning and evening... but they like to remind me :)
2007-07-03 01:34:44 · answer #1 · answered by sannyspain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters are rodents and rodents like to be free. Get a clear hamster ball and let him run around in it. Or a hamster wheel so it can run off some of its energy. My hamsters used to be up all night while I was at work and sleep during the day while I slept. I had a hamster who chewed through the plastic tube that was there to crawl through to the other plastic cage next to it and escaped. My sister found him running up the street outside our house when she came home the next morning. She caught him and put him back in the cage before I woke up.
2016-05-17 06:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alot of people will say that a hamster chews on the bars of the cage to grind their teeth down, this is infact untrue. Their daily diet of nuts, seeds and grains will do this for them. They chew on the bars of their cage because they are bored or they want to come out. Bar chewing should be nipped in the bud, as there is evidance that this causes brain damage in small animals.
You did the right thing by seperating your hamsters, Syrian hamsters are solitary animals and once they reach adult hood they will fight to the death if housed with another hamster.
But the syrian hamsters are the largest breed, so large cages are needed for adequite exercise and to keep them occupied. Re- housing the hamster in the smaller cage would be a good idea. Cages that have at least two levels to explore on would be great.
Hamsters also need daily handeling. I do understand that as you have two hamsters its time consuming, but you must let them exercise out of the cage in their exercise ball for at least 30 minutes a day. this will releave boredom and may have a dramatic effect on the bar chewing.
Hang a hamster cereal chew bar in the cage, and a dog biscuit (plain) They will spend hours chewing on them and they taste alot better than metal bars!! I also give my hamster nuts that are still incased in hard shells, like monkey nuts, brazil nuts and hazel nuts. This is very good for their teeth and keeps them busy. Dried pasta is another thing that is safe for hamster to chew on. I hope this helps.
2007-07-03 01:43:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clearly you've heard that when a hamster gnaws its cage, it's usually bored and you've done what you can with that. I even tried putting lemon juice on the bars to stop her.
Like you, I had a 2nd Syrian hamster in a separate cage. Strange as it may sound, I eventually figured out that the one was gnawing her cage bars purely to get my attention so I'd ignore the other. (That's when the other started climbing the bars and dangling from the cage roof.) I found that as long as I said her name and paid each of them some attention, such as talking to them, picking them up, and handing them treats, they were pretty good. It didn't completely stop her, but she stopped doing it nearly so much.
2007-07-04 08:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by itsallsogoofy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no getting them to stop chewing on their cages. I have 4 hamsters and they ALL do it. It's NOT a sign of boredom as one poster suggests, as I take all mine out for playtime everynight. It's just something that they do, and it's very beneficial to their front teeth too. Mine have all their toys at their every whim, but revert back to chewing on cage.
Don't worry about it, and if you see her doing it, and want her to stop making all that noise. Walk over and talk to her. That's what I do, and it seems to stop them until I walk away..lol.
All of my hamsters have large cages, and they STILL chew on the bars.
Good Luck.
2007-07-03 02:06:14 · answer #5 · answered by Susan C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get an apple branch and then take all the bark of of them, and let it dry. An apple branch is sweeter then the stuff you buy at stores. Also rub lemon on the bars of the cages and they will stop chewing. If you have one of those plastic cages with all the plastic tubes and things, REPlACE IT! THEY ARE UNHEALTHY AND YOUR HAMSTER WILL ESCAPE!
2007-07-03 01:39:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its normal, hamsters love to chew. and since you said you have plenty for her to chew on and some stimulation in her cage, the only thing left to do is trade her cage for a glass aquarium. they can't chew on these. my gerbils live in a glass aquarium and i personally prefer aquariums over other rodent cages. if you don't, eventually she may get to the point where she can escape from her cage.
2007-07-03 04:22:33 · answer #7 · answered by carpetsharks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ITS NORMAL! They love chewing on things! Esp if your cage is the type with tiny metal bars.. They will bite and dangle on it.. It keeps their teeth from being overgrown and keeps them entertained at the same time.
Dont they look cute doing it? A tad noisy i agree.
Good luck~
2007-07-03 02:46:58 · answer #8 · answered by rishi b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a chewing problem......hampsters HAVE to have something to chew other than food or their teeth will grow weak. The do sell chewing blocks..........
2007-07-03 01:37:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had that same problem.
except it was only with one hamster
i think it's normal.
i tried everything too
and he just kept on chewing on the cage
so i left him alone and he seemed fine...
but i put him in his little ball for him to run around in and he liked that a lot! i reccoment that.
2007-07-03 00:08:06 · answer #10 · answered by Alice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋