Change of routine?

[Hammy Chum]

Chumley has started to come out for a drink around 6pm looking quite sleepy then go back in again over the last few weeks - he then comes out again like normal around 9pm. He's never really doen this before! We've never seen him before 8.30pm.

He did have quiet a big clean out a few weeks back but ive noticed he's been going in for naps more often as well these days. is that a natural getting older thing? We think he'd be two around oct / nov (he was 6/8 weeks when we got him mid jan '25).

otherwise seems himself.. just a little slower these days.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, I think it is to do with ageing. Socks would come out briefly for a loo stop and his fresh food quite early as he got older. Once I tried to get him to do the playpen early (rather than at 3am) but he went into a tunnel and fell asleep. He was up at 3am though

 

[Hammy Chum]

im always nervous about putting fresh food out earlier as he would disappear with it and i worry it would go off in a tunnel somewhere if he didn't eat it! I tend to give it to him by hand when he is out and about then he def eats it.

it makes me sad he's getting older!

 

[Socks' Mum]

im always nervous about putting fresh food out earlier as he would disappear with it and i worry it would go off in a tunnel somewhere if he didn't eat it! I tend to give it to him by hand when he is out and about then he def eats it.

it makes me sad he's getting older!

It is sad that they grow old quite quickly Feeding by hand is the best thing

 

[Maz]

I think it might be seasonal. Their habits adjust with the lighter nights and warmer weather. 6pm is too early to get up so he staggers out of bed for a drink and gets up at a more normal time like 9pm That all sounds normal. They do take more naps as they get older but mainly because they're just not as maverick as when they're very young and get into a kind of comfortable lazy routine. Sounds like he is very settled It's possible he might be a bit bored. Does he get out of cage time much? New chew stick or treat parcel maybe?

 

[Hammy Chum]

He still rather dislikes out of cage time!

I put a few new tubes in recently and I'm going to get him a new carrot house tomorow (he loves them!) I'll see what other things I can find!

Thats interesting re seasons Maz I didnt think of that. ALways curious how they know!! (and also how they come out bang on the same time every night haha.

He definitely naps more, it always used to be once he was out he was out for the night but now he goes in and out of his house all eve.

 

[Maz]

It's always made me curious. Mine tend to come out earlier as the nights get lighter - how do they know if they're asleep? Must be biorythms - something in the air. Or maybe it's just a bit warmer.

 

[Hammy Chum]

Nipped to the pet shop to pick up a few new things for him - got a couple new stick bridges (the ones that are nice and close together) and moved a few bits around - wrapped the bridges over a tube (theres a tube coming out of the wicker tube as well!

I need to get something for his sand bath as he gets older as its quite deep to get out of - like a step - wondering about a stone or something? Steps into it take up too much space (he likes a big sand bath haha) Getting in is fine as he has stairs (although being chumley he doesnt use them much and gets in the most complicated way possible. Any ideas?

This is the sand bath

 

[Maz]

Would it be possible to "bury" the sand bath a bit lower? Although maybe it's on legs or a platform and they are a set length?

 

[Hammy Chum]

Yes it is on legs! As he's got quite deep bedding. Not that he's ever bothered to tunnel in that half I dont think! He's never been bothered with digging either really (he's not a very hamster-y hamster is he haha) - despite his lovely deep layer.

Its more the height on the inside for him to get back out if that makes sense? So how low it is doesnt really matter. as getting in fine

 

[Maz]

Tricky - unless you use a different type of sand bath? I use a large shell so it's lower at the front and easier to get out of. The shell itself is on top of a house roof (AKA on a platform) and there is access from the house roof in and out of the shell.

 

[Maz]

Only picture I can find is attached. It's easier to get out of than into! But Tino is easily able to climb in or I could put a small step on the outside if needed.

 

[Maz]

Something like this might be easier maybe. It has a lowered dip at the front and inexpensive. Whether it's in the same location supported or on a house roof eg?

Rosewood cardboard and hay sandbath

If it was sat on a low platform, the front edge could be just above substrate level, then he could easily walk in and out. If no space on a house roof.

 

[Hammy Chum]

He tends to Dislike clay / china or plastic? its a shame as the sandbath is lovely and big which he likes (and also - he uses it to wee and at 18 months in im loathe to mess with that haha and have him suddenly start weeing elsewhere!

I'm wondering if a stone or somethimg inside would work?? Like a step?

 

[Maz]

If there is space inside for a step it might help? How about one of the little rainbow bridges? I've made steps out of cork rounds before, but they were a bit expensive for small pieces of cork round. Presumably a pebble would have to be quite large to sit on the bottom below the sand and also rise out of it?

 

[Maz]

Rainbow bridge

They are quite small and shallow - Tino has one next to his shelf.

 

[Maz]

Or you could try one of these. They're designed to be half in and half out of a sand bath, so one side is shorter and the other side is longer and less steep.

Bridge

It shows a photo of it in use in a sand bath on the link.

 

[Hammy Chum]

Or you could try one of these. They're designed to be half in and half out of a sand bath, so one side is shorter and the other side is longer and less steep.

Bridge

It shows a photo of it in use in a sand bath on the link.

im not sure if it might take up too much room inside? It would almost need to be the other way around ie longer side in sand - the sand bath is quite a bit deeper than most I think?

We basically need a one sided ladder but thin!

Or start again with a new less high sided sandbath on a platform i guess.

 

[Maz]

What are the dimensions of the sand bath please? It's hard to tell

 

[Hammy Chum]

What are the dimensions of the sand bath please? It's hard to tell

Its about 5 inches by 10 inches i think very roughly and about 4/5 deep?