Hamster Qs!

[Hammy Chum]

Hello! This forum is SO good for knowledge I have learnt so much!!

New ham mum here, this is Chum (pic taken just after we got him, he's a bit bigger now!):



We got him on 15th Jan, he's been a good boy so far! Taming not going very fast, but he will take a sunflower seed from my hand when I have the cage door open. He's super skittish though and SO fast!! But more in a playful than scared way.

At the moment he's in a Habitat 2 cage but want to upgrade ASAP - would any of you experts recommend this BUCATSTATE cage?

Amazon.co.uk

He's got lots of toys and enrichment in his current cage which he seems to love but I also have a question re the substrates - at the moment its 3/4 shavings and 1/4 carefresh (in the corner where his nest hut is (with additional nesting tissue etc). Looking at the set ups on here I'm thinking though should it be ALL carefresh so he can dig more?? Or another substrate? For this cage but also for when he's upgraded to his new home?

My last question - I bought a playpen from Amazon (this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087CZM34K?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1) but now I'm worried he will chew it - was thinking of the Omlet one (saw Maz review!) but the walls dont look that high??? He's such an escape artist and so far i have a vision of him getting out somehow!! We haven't put him in the other one yet (when I've had to do any quick cleans / checks we've tempted him into his carry box with treats which he seems fairly chill about).

Thank you!!

 

[Socks Mum]

Welcome to the forum! Chum is a very handsome hammy Carefresh is better than wood shavings as it doesn't smell of pine and has less potential to irritate hamsters' lungs, so you are right, it is a better bedding for hamsters.
Maz has the Omlet playpen and will be able to tell you about it. I believe the Bucatstate is a good cage, but have not owned one. It is good for avoiding bar climbing and bar biting and accommodates deep bedding for enrichment. Avoiding bar climbing and bar biting can make a big difference to your hammy's comfort, and the deep bedding should help to keep him content. Plus I think it is escape proof. Others who have it should be along to comment soon. Well done with your beautiful hammy who is so well cared for

 

[Hammy Chum]

Thank you so much @Socks Mum! I'm going to add in some more Carefresh tonight for him. I also saw this (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CKS938QQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ADEJUH35RNU7B&psc=1) - would this be good too for some variation in another corner? I've seen it in a lot of pics, but doesnt seem to be available in many pet shops?

He hasnt bitten the bars at all on current cage - has done some climbing very occasionally but it seems more inquisitive and was more in first week. Current cage is really hard to access though through small door and really want a top opening one (plus obviously size increase ASAP)

Sorry for all the Qs - we love him so much already so we just want to make it as perfect for him as possible but very much still learning!

 

[Socks Mum]

Yes, the cork granules are fine, and very popular as enrichment. The Q's are wonderful, keep them coming

 

[Hammy Chum]

Thank you! We also tried a litter tray (with hamster litter in), put in in very near his nest and when he discovered it you'd think we'd released a bunch of eagles near his cage!! Second ever peeved angry squeak, trying to eat the sides, digging the litter (in a most irritated way!) and I think the clear plastic bottom annoyed him even more. Not a success haha. I even rubbed it in his bedding first and put some wee soaked shavings and poo in. We took it out and he seemed much relieved! I know he doesnt mind 'new things' as I got him some additional tubes, hides and hes LOVED them.

Was trying to encourage him to wee outside his nest as he's weeing and pooing in there currently. So, now I'm thinking to try a sandbath in it instead?? (he doesnt have one yet). We bought some hamster sand....

 

[Hammy Chum]

Also we tried a bit of enrichment scattering his food in fun places and he pointedly went around, collected them up and put them IN his food bowl to eat haha! Look well narked, just sat there chewing and glaring at us

 

[Socks Mum]

That is funny Chum is quite a character with a strong personality! You can get corner litter trays for use inside the house with sand in them. He might wee in one of those. Rodipet and Trixie make them. Scent marking can be quite vigorous, with the hammy rubbing the scent glands on his hips against things, sometimes rolling right over in the process. Be careful of plastic tubes. The thicker ones should be chew proof, but the thin ones are easier to chew. A lot of hamster keepers are wary of the small bits a hamster might swallow if he chews up the tubes. Also, hamsters have filled up their pouches and found themselves unable to move once inside the tube. It hasn't happened to me, but is something to be aware of. Tubes should be 7 cm wide to prevent hamsters from getting stuck. You can use them in the playpen under supervision though if you are not sure and they will be safe for him to play with there. He seems to have a lovely relationship with you already. No doubt about who is boss

 

[Steve]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Chum sounds like such a funny little guy, already enjoying hearing about his antics. Look forward to hearing more about him as he settles in.

 

[Jain]

Welcome Chum is a handsome little chap lovely photo.

 

[Hammy Chum]

That is funny Chum is quite a character with a strong personality! You can get corner litter trays for use inside the house with sand in them. He might wee in one of those. Rodipet and Trixie make them. Scent marking can be quite vigorous, with the hammy rubbing the scent glands on his hips against things, sometimes rolling right over in the process. Be careful of plastic tubes. The thicker ones should be chew proof, but the thin ones are easier to chew. A lot of hamster keepers are wary of the small bits a hamster might swallow if he chews up the tubes. Also, hamsters have filled up their pouches and found themselves unable to move once inside the tube. It hasn't happened to me, but is something to be aware of. Tubes should be 7 cm wide to prevent hamsters from getting stuck. You can use them in the playpen under supervision though if you are not sure and they will be safe for him to play with there. He seems to have a lovely relationship with you already. No doubt about who is boss

Thank you! We have 3 thick wide cardboard tubes so hopefully ok! Room for pouched food plus him They were from Rosewood I think?? I've also just added lots more Carefresh bedding on top of the shavings we had, thank you for your advice! Hoping to move him soon into a bigger home although he does seem fairly content for the moment (aside from also being a bit bonkers but I think thats just him haha!)

He is 100% boss. Trying to get my daughter more confident with him (shes 11) but he's v jumpy - I know he's still quite young still though (I think he was about 6 weeks ish when we got him so he'd be around 10 weeks now??

 

[Hammy Chum]

his full name is chumlee beefcakes haha

 

[Maz]

Hi and welcome Chum is adorable! He has such a sweet, cheeky look about him and I have a particular fondness for cream coloured hamsters I've had two before and both were completely maverick haha. I'm not saying all cream coloured hamsters are, but both mine were similar personalities to what you describe and great fun

Re the toilet - it needs to be in the right place for them to approve! Anything near his nest, he clearly didn't approve! Maybe try putting it in a corner of the cage - is it a corner litter tray? If he doesn't use it, try a different corner. The usual advice is to put it in his usual pee place - but if he's peeing in his nest ............ you can't really. It's common for baby hamsters to pee in their nest at first, but once it's had to be cleaned out a couple of times (which they don't like at all!) then they tend to get the message and pee somewhere else.

It helps to try and leave a tiny bit of the old nest behind, even if has to be removed because pee soaked - so it still smells like their nest. Maybe a dry bit even if it's a bit whiffy! The same with any hoard. If the hoard is pee'd on, that needs removing too, but try and leave a tiny bit of the old hoard that's dry, so it still smells familiar - and then add a handful of new food as well. They can start having abnormal behaviours if they have no hoard.

I had to laugh at him putting the scattered food in his food bowl But that is the foraging instinct - forage for it and then put it somewhere. It seems he considered his food bowl is his hoard. He maybe hasn't quite got the hang of pouching and hoarding yet Or, if there isn't much substrate, they can't bury the hoard (the tend to bury it under the nest) so he needed somewhere to put it

Cage: Have you seen the cages list on the home page? I'll link it below. I use the Savic Plaza cage. It can be adapted to have more bedding in - either using cardboard round the inside bars (if he doesn't chew it off!) or grass mats or perspex panels. So the bedding doesn't fall out. The Bucatstate doesn't need adapting but there is a limitation of 9" of bedding anyway or the sides bow out. And it's not that difficult to get 8" of bedding into a savic plaza if you put something inside the bars.

I just like the big front opening door on the plaza cages - for interaction with the hamster and spot cleaning, and the cages are easier to move - but that's a personal preference. I do have the perspex panels to attach to mine - but they cost extra and then it would cost about the same as the Bucatstate. But you could use grass mats or cardboard instead. I'll link a photo below of the cardboard bedding panel option - it's not that glamorous but it does the job! Unless the hamster is one who chews cardboard! Not all hamsters do, but my cream one did!

Playpen. Is it too late to send it back for a refund? If it is then it is probably ok for now, although he might just climb the sides. They always need observation all the time in a playpen anyway. There are better playpens but they're expensive. I have the Happy Henry Homes one which is good, but it costs about £50. I also have the omlet one which I prefer (without the wipe clean base) as it is so quick and easy to put up and down (as long as you don't use the plastic base which I find too fiddly - unless you leave it set up all the time somewhere).

I tend to start taming in the bathtub first though With a blanket down and maybe a tunnel and hide and a spare wheel if you have one. There's a whole article about taming on the home page The bathtub is a smaller area to start with hand taming, and then progress to a playpen.

The current saucer wheel will need changing though. It's too small for a Syrian hamster and that may be adding to his pent up energy. Plus not healthy for them to run in a saucer that's too small as they can't run in a straight line properly so they bend their backs.

They need an upright wheel for the cage that is 11" diameter or larger. My view is that a saucer is ok in a playpen, for out of cage time, providing it's a 12" one.

When you decide on a cage to upgrade to, then it might help decide on which wheel to get. They have their pros and cons and some need to stand a platform and some attach to bars.

The main difference between a tank style, like the bucatstate, and a barred cage is - with a tank style you will need to buy or make platforms for things to stand on - like a wheel, sand bath or any heavy ceramic items (or they could squash the hamster if tunnelled under). With a barred cage you can attach shelves to the bars and wheels to the bars. Although I have used the Happy Henry cloud platforms in the Plaza cage instead of shelves sometimes, because they will fit up to the edges of a barred cage with a sloping base, which most platforms won't.

As Socks Mum says, the cork granules are fine - however the listing says coco soil and the photo shows cork granules! So it depends which one you wanted.

For substrate, you don't want to be using the wood shavings really. Even if it says kiln dried and dust extracted on the packet. Pine and softwood shavings contain phenols which aren't good for hamsters long term (that is the pine smell). Kiln drying removes some of the phenols but not all of them). Also if it just says "softwood" on the packet, it could be any kind of softwood and not just pine. So it might include cedar which is a big no no for hamsters as it's very high in phenols.

Most people use alternative substrates. I personally think Kaytee clean and cozy is better than Carefresh. I use Fitch, which is recycled food grade paper and can be bought in bulk. Although it's only white. (Sometimes off white depending on the batch). Hamsters do love paper based bedding though and it holds their tunnels better plus they like it's softness. You could use more than one type of substrate though. There are others as well like Megazorb, Hemp or beech shavings or aspen (beech and aspen are hardwood so no issues with phenols). Although some people find megazorb smells funny. Beech wood shavings can be a bit hard. I find aspen dusty and spiky personally. Hemp was popular for some times (unless you have allergies!) but doesn't hold tunnels. Which is maybe why the kaytee and Fitch are more popular.

I can't wait to hear more about Chum He sounds like he is going to be a lot of fun

 

[Hammy Chum]

Hi and welcome Chum is adorable! He has such a sweet, cheeky look about him and I have a particular fondness for cream coloured hamsters I've had two before and both were completely maverick haha. I'm not saying all cream coloured hamsters are, but both mine were similar personalities to what you describe and great fun

Re the toilet - it needs to be in the right place for them to approve! Anything near his nest, he clearly didn't approve! Maybe try putting it in a corner of the cage - is it a corner litter tray? If he doesn't use it, try a different corner. The usual advice is to put it in his usual pee place - but if he's peeing in his nest ............ you can't really. It's common for baby hamsters to pee in their nest at first, but once it's had to be cleaned out a couple of times (which they don't like at all!) then they tend to get the message and pee somewhere else.

It helps to try and leave a tiny bit of the old nest behind, even if has to be removed because pee soaked - so it still smells like their nest. Maybe a dry bit even if it's a bit whiffy! The same with any hoard. If the hoard is pee'd on, that needs removing too, but try and leave a tiny bit of the old hoard that's dry, so it still smells familiar - and then add a handful of new food as well. They can start having abnormal behaviours if they have no hoard.

I had to laugh at him putting the scattered food in his food bowl But that is the foraging instinct - forage for it and then put it somewhere. It seems he considered his food bowl is his hoard. He maybe hasn't quite got the hang of pouching and hoarding yet Or, if there isn't much substrate, they can't bury the hoard (the tend to bury it under the nest) so he needed somewhere to put it

Cage: Have you seen the cages list on the home page? I'll link it below. I use the Savic Plaza cage. It can be adapted to have more bedding in - either using cardboard round the inside bars (if he doesn't chew it off!) or grass mats or perspex panels. So the bedding doesn't fall out. The Bucatstate doesn't need adapting but there is a limitation of 9" of bedding anyway or the sides bow out. And it's not that difficult to get 8" of bedding into a savic plaza if you put something inside the bars.

I just like the big front opening door on the plaza cages - for interaction with the hamster and spot cleaning, and the cages are easier to move - but that's a personal preference. I do have the perspex panels to attach to mine - but they cost extra and then it would cost about the same as the Bucatstate. But you could use grass mats or cardboard instead. I'll link a photo below of the cardboard bedding panel option - it's not that glamorous but it does the job! Unless the hamster is one who chews cardboard! Not all hamsters do, but my cream one did!

Playpen. Is it too late to send it back for a refund? If it is then it is probably ok for now, although he might just climb the sides. They always need observation all the time in a playpen anyway. There are better playpens but they're expensive. I have the Happy Henry Homes one which is good, but it costs about £50. I also have the omlet one which I prefer (without the wipe clean base) as it is so quick and easy to put up and down (as long as you don't use the plastic base which I find too fiddly - unless you leave it set up all the time somewhere).

I tend to start taming in the bathtub first though With a blanket down and maybe a tunnel and hide and a spare wheel if you have one. There's a whole article about taming on the home page The bathtub is a smaller area to start with hand taming, and then progress to a playpen.

The current saucer wheel will need changing though. It's too small for a Syrian hamster and that may be adding to his pent up energy. Plus not healthy for them to run in a saucer that's too small as they can't run in a straight line properly so they bend their backs.

They need an upright wheel for the cage that is 11" diameter or larger. My view is that a saucer is ok in a playpen, for out of cage time, providing it's a 12" one.

When you decide on a cage to upgrade to, then it might help decide on which wheel to get. They have their pros and cons and some need to stand a platform and some attach to bars.

The main difference between a tank style, like the bucatstate, and a barred cage is - with a tank style you will need to buy or make platforms for things to stand on - like a wheel, sand bath or any heavy ceramic items (or they could squash the hamster if tunnelled under). With a barred cage you can attach shelves to the bars and wheels to the bars. Although I have used the Happy Henry cloud platforms in the Plaza cage instead of shelves sometimes, because they will fit up to the edges of a barred cage with a sloping base, which most platforms won't.

As Socks Mum says, the cork granules are fine - however the listing says coco soil and the photo shows cork granules! So it depends which one you wanted.

For substrate, you don't want to be using the wood shavings really. Even if it says kiln dried and dust extracted on the packet. Pine and softwood shavings contain phenols which aren't good for hamsters long term (that is the pine smell). Kiln drying removes some of the phenols but not all of them). Also if it just says "softwood" on the packet, it could be any kind of softwood and not just pine. So it might include cedar which is a big no no for hamsters as it's very high in phenols.

Most people use alternative substrates. I personally think Kaytee clean and cozy is better than Carefresh. I use Fitch, which is recycled food grade paper and can be bought in bulk. Although it's only white. (Sometimes off white depending on the batch). Hamsters do love paper based bedding though and it holds their tunnels better plus they like it's softness. You could use more than one type of substrate though. There are others as well like Megazorb, Hemp or beech shavings or aspen (beech and aspen are hardwood so no issues with phenols). Although some people find megazorb smells funny. Beech wood shavings can be a bit hard. I find aspen dusty and spiky personally. Hemp was popular for some times (unless you have allergies!) but doesn't hold tunnels. Which is maybe why the kaytee and Fitch are more popular.

I can't wait to hear more about Chum He sounds like he is going to be a lot of fun

Thank you so much!! These are the shavings > https://www.petsathome.com/search?searchTerm=small+animal+wood+shavings (except for a corner that had all carefresh on) we've now just added a thick layer of carefresh on TOP of all the shavings cage wide though as well for now.

He's got additional bedding tissue material (rubbed it on me first after reading about it here!) that he's pulled into his nest.

Ohhh I didnt know that re the saucer!! Crap. Will have to try and get a new wheel ASAP. He loves it haha! Ive positioned it in the bedding so its less sloped which hopefully will be ok for a week or so more??? He's never flown off it or anything thankfully!

 

[Hammy Chum]

Just looking at this one > https://www.getzoo.de/en/getzoo-oe-33-cm-cork-wheel-oe-31.4-cm-inside-with-cork-inlay - sounds silly but will that be stable on bedding?

Think I might get this too > https://www.getzoo.de/en/getzoo-gold-hamster-house

 

[Maz]

It sounds like the pet shop sold you all the wrong things - which is common! If it was from PAH, what some people do, is buy a new cage and wheel and then take the old ones back for a refund, even if they've been used - as long as you don't leave it too long. And just say they weren't big enough for the hamster.

 

[Maz]

Just looking at this one > https://www.getzoo.de/en/getzoo-oe-33-cm-cork-wheel-oe-31.4-cm-inside-with-cork-inlay - sounds silly but will that be stable on bedding?

Think I might get this too > https://www.getzoo.de/en/getzoo-gold-hamster-house

Those are good wheels With the wood and cork ones, people tend to paint the inside with plastikote water based enamal paint which is pet safe and makes the wood and cork wipe clean (the same for houses). I only paint the inside - some people paint the whole thing (I'm too lazy ha ha). I've never had any issues with the outside getting pee stained or marked though. Although do paint the house roof on the outside.

A cheap basic wheel is the Trixie 28cm plastic one. Although that's not a silent one, but it tends to be fairly quiet.

Trixie 28cm plastic wheel - click here

I do prefer the wood and cork ones though. But things can add up!

The Getzoo one might not actually fit in his current cage though, so if you want to get that one you might need to wait until you get the new cage.

The habitat 2 is about 40.5cm tall so while the getzoo one would technically fit, it would very much fill up the cage and there'd be no room for bedding under it. Even the trixie one would take up a fair bit of space.

He'll probably be fine with the saucer until you'd decided on the cage On the other hand you could get the Getzoo wheel now and use it during out of cage time and then put it in the new cage when you're read to set that up.

The wood shavings you linked - you'd need to look on the packet to see what's in them. The main thing is don't ever get any scented bedding. It drives Hamsters crazy and can cause allergies as well. They have an extremely strong sense of smell, and sensitive respiratory tracts, so anything that smells nice to us, is overpowering to them and could affect their breathing. Good move to put extra carefresh on top

I forgot to link the cages list

Cages 2025

Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2025. Whether you prefer tank style or barred cages, front access or top access, there is, thankfully, plenty of choice in the Uk and Europe. Choice in the US is mainly tanks and tank style or diy. Both tank style and barred cages...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Maz]

There's also a list of wheels here

Hamster Wheels 2024

Just to have an up to date guide for suitable Hamster wheels available in 2024. As I'm sure most people on here know already, a hamster needs to run with a straight back. If they run with a curved back they can develop pain and spinal problems. So a wheel diameter needs to be large enough for...

www.thehamsterforum.com

Some will attach to bars, some won't. The ones that won't will need to stand on a platform so there's substrate under them without them sinking. The trixie plastic one you can actually just stand on top of the substrate, if you tie the stand to the bars . The silent runner is an easy one to attach to bars as it has it's own bar mounting plates. The wood ones aren't intended for attaching to bars but I have done so by using a piece of wood with a hole in between the wheel and the bars (as if it was attached to the wood stand!). That keeps it upright and stable. Sometimes I've sawn off the wood stand to do it and other times got OH to find a square of wood and make a hole in it.

 

[Hammy Chum]

Those are good wheels With the wood and cork ones, people tend to paint the inside with plastikote water based enamal paint which is pet safe and makes the wood and cork wipe clean (the same for houses). I only paint the inside - some people paint the whole thing (I'm too lazy ha ha). I've never had any issues with the outside getting pee stained or marked though. Although do paint the house roof on the outside.

A cheap basic wheel is the Trixie 28cm plastic one. Although that's not a silent one, but it tends to be fairly quiet.

Trixie 28cm plastic wheel - click here

I do prefer the wood and cork ones though. But things can add up!

The Getzoo one might not actually fit in his current cage though, so if you want to get that one you might need to wait until you get the new cage.

The habitat 2 is about 40.5cm tall so while the getzoo one would technically fit, it would very much fill up the cage and there'd be no room for bedding under it. Even the trixie one would take up a fair bit of space.

He'll probably be fine with the saucer until you'd decided on the cage On the other hand you could get the Getzoo wheel now and use it during out of cage time and then put it in the new cage when you're read to set that up.

The wood shavings you linked - you'd need to look on the packet to see what's in them. The main thing is don't ever get any scented bedding. It drives Hamsters crazy and can cause allergies as well. They have an extremely strong sense of smell, and sensitive respiratory tracts, so anything that smells nice to us, is overpowering to them and could affect their breathing. Good move to put extra carefresh on top

I forgot to link the cages list

Cages 2025

Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2025. Whether you prefer tank style or barred cages, front access or top access, there is, thankfully, plenty of choice in the Uk and Europe. Choice in the US is mainly tanks and tank style or diy. Both tank style and barred cages...

www.thehamsterforum.com

Thank you again, so helpful!!! Do you think he'd be ok on the saucer for 4/5 weeks more? As it might be that long until we can get new cage ordered and set up? Like you said, I'd want to make sure wheel is ok for new cage and I know he couldn't be without? Or should I try and get the Trixie one now for this cage as a stop gap? It might fit ok along the back with a bit of arranging? Dont want to damage his back! :-(

In terms of bedding, do you think the sawdust under carefresh will be ok too til we change? Its about 2 inches sawdust and 3/4 inches carefresh from what I can measure? Its def plain wood shavings no scent.

 

[Hammy Chum]

And litter tray - yes its a corner one! Was thinking might try again in opposite corner with sand in this time?? Maybe that would offend his lordship less!

 

[Maz]

The bedding will be fine for a while yes I used shavings originally and just gradually spot cleaned them out. When spot cleaning I just aded a handful more paper bedding and took out a handful of shavings each time. But check on the packet. If it says pine shavings you'll be ok for a while but if it just says softwood shavings, it could include any type of softwood, so I would probably change it then.

How long have you had him? It's better to give them chance to settle anyway before upgrading the cage. I think I'd be tempted to get the trixie wheel now. If there is space for it. If you're not keen on the look of it you could maybe keep it as a spare playpen wheel later I've given up caring what they look like! Although I'm not keen on black wheels.

Do you have a photo of what his set up looks like at the moment? It might help to suggest the odd thing or where to put the wheel. He'd be ok on the saucer for a week or two but I wouldn't leave it any longer than that. And I'd also try and get a refund for the saucer!