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My hamster hates his new cage

omgwinnie

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I SPENT ALL DAY YESTERDAY MAKING THIS HUGE CAGE FOR MY HAMSTER and he hates it. When i first put him in he was running around frantically trying to get out but i thought i should let him get used to it. Overnight he escaped which is probably my fault since i didnt hamster proof it enough but i found him and moved him back to his old cage...I'm so sad and i dont know what to do with the c&c cage now. should i return the grids and throw out the coroplast? Why does he hate it? Do you think he has separation anxiety? theres a picture of it..

It has green adhesive felt on the the upper level and white grids all around and yellow coroplast. I dont wanna try to hamster proof it because i can see he hates it. What can i do with the cage?

for anyone who wants to know, i got the grids from target, but be careful not all targets carry them. I got the felt from a craft store, and the coroplast from a sign store. I have so much to say but i'm too sad to say it. will anyone help?

and if you want to see what the cubes look like go to target and search "mesh cube" but be warned one set contains three different sizes but i worked my way around that. -sigh-
 

FoolOnTheHill

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It's a really great cage, but I think it's probably a little too big for a hamster. He probably felt overwhelmed with all the space. I'd make it maybe half the size and fix some grids on top for a roof and add lots of hideys and other toys.
 

heatherbunnie

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Maybe you could make it into a two level cage? Then it might not seem like such a huge space to him. And then it will take up less space in the room you have it in.
 

latchhookdoor

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That is a great cage and it's wonderful you wanted to give him all that space --but in my experience with many* hamsters, they like small tight spaces. They love those cages made out of tubes, secret spots, wheels, things like that (S.A.M, Super Pet CritterTrail, and I don't know if you have seen those aquariums with the wire attachment, making a 4 level house, those are awesome for hamsters, but hard to clean*). Foolonthehill is right, it would be overwhelming for a hamster to have so much space in a cage.

You...could always yard sale it (yard sale the pieces)?! Possibly put up an ad for the cage? Maybe bring some knowledge to someone about guinea pigs and the space they need.
-m
 

standuprookie

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With hamsters really the more space the better if you can fit a cage that big in the room go for it, but first it needs a lid or he will never stay in it (not sure if its just not on in the pic) second add some of his old bedding in a corner so it smells like home.
They love those cages made out of tubes,
I find more or less they love tubes in general, and with a huge cage like that you can add a bunch, just go to a local pet supply store and buy some tubes or go to home depot and buy a bunch of hamster sized PVC pipes then place them around the floor of the cage
 

naturestee

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It looks like a great cage to me. I'm not sure how to keep him from escaping, maybe put a roof on it so he can't climb up. But he'd probably feel more comfortable if you put some things in for him to hide in. Small cardboard boxes and tubes would be great, and maybe some wooden hidey toys from a pet store. I know my last hamster would get really nervous if he didn't have places to hide near him.
 

gpigluver14

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That's a wonderful cage, and it certainly looks like it took a long time to make. But I agree with everyone, since hamsters are so small, there isn't really a need for such a large cage. I hate to see you have to change it, but maybe just decrease the width of it a little. Other than that, all I would say is add lots of hidys/houses, toys, tubes, and let the fun begin! If your hammy has places to hide, she might get to like the cage.

If it doesn't work out though...You have piggys don't you?? How about expanding their cage with the extra mesh grids and chloroplast? Or if you don't want to do that, just sell it, I guess. You could put an ad in the paper about it. I wouldn't throw it out though.
 

this_lil_piggy

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I would add a lid (either by purchasing more cubes, or cutting some of the length of the cage down and using the extra grids), as well as hamster proof those opennigs between each grid, and give him some more time to adjust. Set him up with lots of tubes and such (some cardboard boxes, pringles cans with the ends cut out, pvc etc. I doubt he hates the cage, so much as he isn't used to it and the space might be a bit overwhelming without lots of places to crawl into. I think by making it a little more hamster safe and friendly and giving him time to adjust he would grow to love his new home. All isn't lost. :)
 

banjosnotbombs

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You did a really good job, except hamsters really don't like that much room. They enjoy warm and cozy, and they can't see further than 7 inches. Like FoolOnTheHill said, he probably felt overwhelmed. Also, hamsters are escape artists, I've seen my hamster squish his body through small little spaces, and he could probably fit between the openings where the grids attach. Overall, you did a good job and it was sweet of you but it's not very practical. Do you have guinea pigs? It's great for a piggy.. maybe you could post an ad in your local news paper and sell it?
 

standuprookie

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I agree it is over whelming, but I think it was the smells and switching cages not the size. Hamsters need alot of floor space so the bigger the better, no such thing as "to big".
Like I said, add some old bedding a lid and some toys and let him be for a few days and soon he will forget his old cage and start enjoying his new mansion.
 
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