So Tino’s Plaza 100 cage is ready and set up. I’ve been putting it off for ages due to various aches and pains but OH helped me today. The clear panel is on the right (so no screwing panels on the bars at that end). I can see why people like the full Perspex as it’s lovely and clear and looks very nice. However I still wouldn’t want it for the whole cage as I’m used to hamsters breathing through the bars and being part of our environment. I know opinions vary on that but solid sides don’t work for me. It might look nicer but I prefer the interaction through bars. They can smell you. And take treats etc.
Tino is still in the pet carrier. Gone to sleep so I’ll leave him till a bit later tonight before popping him in. We’ve just finished disassembling the Aura and cleaning it out and cleaning up as I know Tino would be upset if he could smell remnants of his old cage in the room. Shame but I just can’t manage it. I’m going to donate it if anyone is interested and in the North East (can’t post it as no box).
So instead we’ve had to screw Perspex to the plaza instead which is tedious and awkward - OH did most of that.
Everything fitted except the large hyacinth hide (which he didn’t use) and is the same as before except a bit less space in between things. His coconut hut had to go as he’d been peeing in it.
As we were taking things out of the Aura it disturbed him and he started making the odd squeaky noise from somewhere under the bedding. I felt bad that maybe it was scaring him but after he did it a few times more when I found him and talked to him think he was just cross and saying go away I’m sleeping (this was about 5pm). He disappeared off under another area of bedding and it was hard to find him!
He didn’t exactly have a burrow or nest or any tunnels - it was just a big mess of peed on food and wet bedding he was sleeping in. Just like when he was in a house! Tino has always ignored toilets and sand baths - had only sat in his sand bath once since he arrived.
It was quite easy to move everything across to the same position as before - I just had to change the legs on the platforms and house as he now has less bedding. About 8” at the house end, 6” at the front snd 7” in most of the rest of the cage.
Maybe he’ll start using the house again now but I expect he’ll just sleep under the bedding again. I have tried putting a toilet with some of his smelly bedding in just outside the house but I doubt he’ll use it ans he doesn’t seem to like sand - he ignored one inside the house. But did use the coconut as a toilet near where he was nesting - partly - I think that’s too far gone to clean though.
It looks just the same only less tall and less wide!
Later:
I’d like to have taken the opportunity to do a Christmas photo with him while he was out (he’s in the playpen at the moment for some adjustment between pet carrier and different cage) but thought that was a bit much for him all in one day - so hopefully Higgins will oblige on the next day or so!
Update: Tino is in the cage now. He actually let me pick him up from the pet carrier without wriggling
He seemed ok when he went in the cage. Quite calm, not stressed - investigated the treats round about. Found the toilet with his bit of smelly substrate in and had a good sniff. Then followed a trail of treats into the house
However he may well go awol for a week or so now. We'll see. Or he may adapt straight away as everything smells the same - top layer of substrate anyway - I had to replace almost all of it as he was due a cleanout of the other 2/3 of the cage anyway. Only managed to save a few pieces of newer food from his hoard as the rest was pee'd on
So I put those few pieces in a room in the house with a salvaged bit of bedding from where he was sleeping and a bit more new food. It would be nice if he started to use the house and toilet now - so much easier to spot clean! Anyway he sort of seemed to approve - so maybe he was ready for a clean out.
They are all so different - there's Higgins cleaning his own toilet out and Tino has always just pee'd in his sleeping area! He's only the second hamster I've had who has done that (the other was a breeder hamster as well - Pickle). Although Pickle actually nested in his toilet on top of his pee
Can't tell you what a relief it is to have him in a cage I can manage now - it was getting me down not being able to manage the huge Aura with 10" of bedding. It was the extra depth that was difficult plus so hard to clean out all that bedding - even OH found it a hard job. (He emptied the Aura cage - I did the easy bit - moving stuff across to the Plaza
Oh to be young and fit again! I'm sure Tino will be happy enough with 8" of bedding at one end (as it's deeper at the house end he might start using the house - maybe).
Had a bit of a tidy up of playpen toys as well and the shelf under Tino's cage. Both hamsters now have their own baskets with their own playpen toys in - instead of them being all over the top of the cages! You can just see them at the bottom of the first photo.
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Well done with the cage change, sounds like a busy one and looks fabulous as always 
Tino sounds pretty pleased wt the change himself, so a win / win for you both.
its been awhile i dont see his photo.
. Out in the playpen. Higgins was pawing at the door to come out too - I felt mean as couldn’t have him out at the same time and then it got a bit late - maybe tomorrow.
