Not sure what am I supposed to do...

[lilxxx_]

Hi all hammy owners!

So my hamster recently made a nest under a platform where his wheel stands, and I'm not quite sure what am I supposed to do with it. It's impossible to access + the only place he sleeps right now. Anyway, I'm concerned that he might keep some kind of a food stash or pee under there. The only way to check is to completely destroy his nest, what should I do?

P.S My hammy constantly pees on his wheel, I clean it every 2-3 days, but I'm not sure how often should I do that, does anyone have any advice? Tysm

 

[Socks' Mum]

You could try setting out a small sand bath, possibly in a plastic container, or you can buy one designed for hamsters. Often they will have a wee in the sand bath first thing when they get up and it helps them to scent mark. You can remove the damp sand with a special little slotted spade that often comes with the sand bath. Don't clean it out completely, leaving some bits of used sand helps to encourage the hammy to keep using it.

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome Is your hammy a dwarf hammy? (Looking at the photo) I'm guessing so as it's quite common for them to make a nest under their beloved wheel! It sounds like he is sleeping/nesting under the wheel and using the wheel as a toilet . He could be hoarding anywhere - they sometimes have 2 or 3 hoards, but yes there is usually one near the nest as well.

How long have you had him and how long has he been doing this? Because although you'll need to check it/spot clean at some point, I really wouldn't worry for a while. I was going to say you don't need to worry about where he's peeing until you can smell something! But - if he's peeing in his wheel so closeby you can probably smell that anyway so it will confuse your nose as to whether there is a smell from anywhere else.

They don't pee a lot really - very small amounts, and it sometimes just evaporates! I'll wait to hear from you as to how long you've had him and how long he's been nesting under the wheel before suggesting when to investigate

Socks Mum's idea of a sand tray is a good one too. Dwarf hamsters need a sand bath anyway (assume he has one?) and will sometimes use that as a toilet although they can pee in more than one place. Whereas Syrians tend to only pee in one place.

He sounds to be having a lovely time. Generally, in terms of spot cleaning a nest area, you really don't have to do it that often. Unless he actually is peeing in his nest. Then once he finds his nest has had to be spot cleaned a bit he would probably stop peeing in his nest (or might move it somewhere else if it's been interfered with).

What you would need to do, as and when the time is right, is lift the wheel out and carefully start removing the top layers of substrate under the wheel until you find something. It might be right at the bottom of the cage. Then see what you find. But I would hang fire for now as it sounds quite a recent nest.

 

[lilxxx_]

Thank you for your replies!
Yes, my hammy is a dwarf, he's been home for 4 weeks now, but started nesting under his wheel around a week ago, so not that long, and yes, he has a sand bath, he seems to be really enjoying it, altough I don't think he's ever peed there, actually he only goes to the toilet in his wheel and the multi-chamber hideout, in one of the chambers, there are 5 of them in total. Tysm for the advice!

 

[Maz]

Ok you'll probably be fine leaving it for another couple of weeks then. It doesn't sound like he'll be peeing in there. As and when you do have to investigate, he'll probably move his nest again!