Tino's thread
- Thread starter Maz
- Start date
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 5
- Points
- 500
Yay, a Tino sighting! I love seeing him approach you at the front of the cage, he is looking good Maz! It sucks when they want an adventure and the play area isn't ready, good thinking getting the wheel in there.
Took him long enough, but I'm really happy to see he's finally ready to interact again. Excited for the fun times you guys are going to have together
Took him long enough, but I'm really happy to see he's finally ready to interact again. Excited for the fun times you guys are going to have together
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
Tino is a sneaky mysterious escape artist. Tonight I cleaned out a third of his cage at the house/left hand end. I have no idea where he sleeps in the cage but thought he might be somewhere under the house or at that end. I set the playpen up first so when I found him I could pop him in the playpen.
I was busy removing loads of bedding from that end and bagging it, wondering if he was down there somewhere - when I had a "he's behind you" moment. He must have come from the other end of the cage and was standing there watching what I was doing. He didn't look very happy about it. I talked to him and offered him his tube to walk into. He's sneaky because he looks all docile and like he's going to walk into the tube - but then jumped out of the front door! Which is why I have a large cushion on the floor in front of the cage just in case! I couldn't get him to walk into a tube at first and he disappeared off behind a cupboard. But eventually appeared at the edge of the cupboard again and walked into the tube when it was offered. So I popped him in the playpen and kept an eye on him for a bit. The cage wasn't too far away so I'd do a bit on the cage and then come back to keep an eye on him in the playpen. It seems fairly escapeproof - even for Tino.
I think it was a bit early for him as he wasn't interested in anything in there much - stretched a few times, explored a little bit - checking out corners etc, but then sat in his strawberry hide for ages. I think he knew I was doing something to his cage so probably wasn't in playpen mood. A bit more exploring and trying to chew the carpet in the corners. Then sat in his carrot cottage for a while and later tipped it over and had a good wash in it. He wouldn't take any food from me. He looked quite miffed with me actually! But then I was messing up his cage.
I'm still not sure where he's sleeping in the cage - I think he's spread himself about a bit. There was no obvious major hoard or pee area at that end. Some smaller hoards at the bottom along the front and the odd patch of slightly damp stained bedding but no sign of a sleeping area or tunnels.
Anyway after it was all put back together again and a few treats scattered about and some new flax (he'd eaten all the flax), he walked into his tube in the playpen and I put one end in the cage for him to walk out. But he didn't - he sat in the tube seeming a bit suspicious and clearly knew something had changed. So I tried putting that end of the tube onto the familiar smelling area at the other side, on his shelf. He started to edge out as if to go onto the shelf but just as he was about to walk out he did an incredibly fast turn around - and literally leapt out of the tube - I managed to move that end away from the door in time so he ended up leaping over to the other side of the cage onto some bedding!
So another escape attempt! He looks so slow and cautious but it's all an act ha ha. I've been used to Raffy who wouldn't jump off anything and always walked out of his tube and was predictable.
He clearly wasn't happy that something had been done at one end of the cage. Everything was back as it had been before - except it seems I had the house slightly further towards the back than before and he looked really quite dismayed that the gap there wasn't quite so big and sat looking at it for ages (not so easy to disappear down there).
He sat looking a bit miserable and making me feel guilty - and then went off for a run in his wheel. I went to put the playpen away and when I came back a few minutes later he'd disappeared again. There are no signs of any tunnel holes or anything! He really is a mystery hamster!
He didn't seem to want to be out of the cage this time and either sat in a hide or tried digging at the corners or pushing the sides of the playpen (he found they moved).
Anyway here he is in the playpen (after his escape and being retrieved).
Had a chat through the bars while I said sorry a few times.
Not looking happy. He sat and let me talk to him for a while there and kept giving me looks that made me feel guilty.
In the playpen
Two very short clips - this one he was having a good wash inside the carrot cottage
Enjoying his wheel after looking sad
I was busy removing loads of bedding from that end and bagging it, wondering if he was down there somewhere - when I had a "he's behind you" moment. He must have come from the other end of the cage and was standing there watching what I was doing. He didn't look very happy about it. I talked to him and offered him his tube to walk into. He's sneaky because he looks all docile and like he's going to walk into the tube - but then jumped out of the front door! Which is why I have a large cushion on the floor in front of the cage just in case! I couldn't get him to walk into a tube at first and he disappeared off behind a cupboard. But eventually appeared at the edge of the cupboard again and walked into the tube when it was offered. So I popped him in the playpen and kept an eye on him for a bit. The cage wasn't too far away so I'd do a bit on the cage and then come back to keep an eye on him in the playpen. It seems fairly escapeproof - even for Tino.
I think it was a bit early for him as he wasn't interested in anything in there much - stretched a few times, explored a little bit - checking out corners etc, but then sat in his strawberry hide for ages. I think he knew I was doing something to his cage so probably wasn't in playpen mood. A bit more exploring and trying to chew the carpet in the corners. Then sat in his carrot cottage for a while and later tipped it over and had a good wash in it. He wouldn't take any food from me. He looked quite miffed with me actually! But then I was messing up his cage.
I'm still not sure where he's sleeping in the cage - I think he's spread himself about a bit. There was no obvious major hoard or pee area at that end. Some smaller hoards at the bottom along the front and the odd patch of slightly damp stained bedding but no sign of a sleeping area or tunnels.
Anyway after it was all put back together again and a few treats scattered about and some new flax (he'd eaten all the flax), he walked into his tube in the playpen and I put one end in the cage for him to walk out. But he didn't - he sat in the tube seeming a bit suspicious and clearly knew something had changed. So I tried putting that end of the tube onto the familiar smelling area at the other side, on his shelf. He started to edge out as if to go onto the shelf but just as he was about to walk out he did an incredibly fast turn around - and literally leapt out of the tube - I managed to move that end away from the door in time so he ended up leaping over to the other side of the cage onto some bedding!
So another escape attempt! He looks so slow and cautious but it's all an act ha ha. I've been used to Raffy who wouldn't jump off anything and always walked out of his tube and was predictable.
He clearly wasn't happy that something had been done at one end of the cage. Everything was back as it had been before - except it seems I had the house slightly further towards the back than before and he looked really quite dismayed that the gap there wasn't quite so big and sat looking at it for ages (not so easy to disappear down there).
He sat looking a bit miserable and making me feel guilty - and then went off for a run in his wheel. I went to put the playpen away and when I came back a few minutes later he'd disappeared again. There are no signs of any tunnel holes or anything! He really is a mystery hamster!
He didn't seem to want to be out of the cage this time and either sat in a hide or tried digging at the corners or pushing the sides of the playpen (he found they moved).
Anyway here he is in the playpen (after his escape and being retrieved).
Had a chat through the bars while I said sorry a few times.
Not looking happy. He sat and let me talk to him for a while there and kept giving me looks that made me feel guilty.
In the playpen
Two very short clips - this one he was having a good wash inside the carrot cottage
Enjoying his wheel after looking sad
Last edited:
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 28
- Points
- 543
So cute! Hehe, he is an escape artist. I hope Higgins wasn't watching 
Tino may seem quiet, but he's planning his next move carefully!
Tino may seem quiet, but he's planning his next move carefully!
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 28
- Points
- 543
The pictures of Tino in his strawberry hide are very good.
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
I hope so! I'll give him a bit of time to adjust before doing another section (plus I've run out of bedding now). I reused at least half of the bedding I removed and put that back on top. I perhaps should have been more careful about exactly how much space there was either side of the house as I remember he had a little tunnel entrance near the back/side of it at once - although that seemed to disappear. And now the gap looks a bit tight to get down.
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
Oh dear, poor Tino. I think he was really upset by that 1/3 cage clean at that end. Maybe he did have a burrow under there. I just saw him at 5.30pm just sitting in his hyacinth hide and he popped his nose out. I don't think he's been asleep today. Such a sensitive boy.
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
It is funny It's a bit small for him so it tipped over. He was still sitting awake in the hyacinth hide later tonight so I offered him the tube in case he wanted to come out. He immediately dug a tunnel and disappeared.
It's a bit small for him so it tipped over. He was still sitting awake in the hyacinth hide later tonight so I offered him the tube in case he wanted to come out. He immediately dug a tunnel and disappeared.
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 28
- Points
- 543
Socks was monkey barring away last night after his clean 
Oh dear, we are in the proverbial dog house 
Oh dear, we are in the proverbial dog house
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
Tino seemed perfectly fine once the lights were out I watched him on the Nightcam and have a couple of videos to upload I think he was just faking it to make me feel guilty ha ha. Seriously though, he probably was a bit upset that changes had been made at that end underneath if he had been sleeping there. He did look like he was looking for a way out the odd time on the videos, but no bar climbing etc and he seemed quite contented washing on his shelf and using his wheel. So maybe he realised it wasn't so bad after all - his shelf was the same and the other side of the cage was the same.
I know they can get very stressed if their hoard is removed. It becomes catch 22 sometimes as if you remove all of it, they start peeing on it to deter thieves, and if they pee on it you need to remove it again. So there's a need to try and break the cycle - which is why I usually put new food back in the place where the hoard was. Or if they hoard in the potty, I put the new food back next to the potty to train them into hoarding next to it rather than in it. But no hoard at all will drive them completely frantic.
I watched him on the Nightcam and have a couple of videos to upload I think he was just faking it to make me feel guilty ha ha. Seriously though, he probably was a bit upset that changes had been made at that end underneath if he had been sleeping there. He did look like he was looking for a way out the odd time on the videos, but no bar climbing etc and he seemed quite contented washing on his shelf and using his wheel. So maybe he realised it wasn't so bad after all - his shelf was the same and the other side of the cage was the same.I know they can get very stressed if their hoard is removed. It becomes catch 22 sometimes as if you remove all of it, they start peeing on it to deter thieves, and if they pee on it you need to remove it again. So there's a need to try and break the cycle - which is why I usually put new food back in the place where the hoard was. Or if they hoard in the potty, I put the new food back next to the potty to train them into hoarding next to it rather than in it. But no hoard at all will drive them completely frantic.
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 28
- Points
- 543
I think you are right! I'm glad hoarding in the hamster loo is quite common. I did make quite a clean sweep and Socks is upset about his hoard
- Messages
- 18,892
- Reaction score
- 35,881
- Points
- 1,373
So as mentioned previously I’m planning to move Tino into a standard Savic plaza - same layout as now. It’ll be some time in the next couple of weeks.
His partial clean out the other night helped me finally decide on this.
Firstly, with all my aches and pains and recurring rib issues, I am actually struggling to manage with such a large cage and the extra height and 30 cm of bedding. It half killed me removing a third of the bedding the other night! And I still have two thirds of the cage to do.
Everything is much higher up than a plaza 100 or 120 due to the deeper base so a lot of reaching down with 30cm of bedding. And awkward to reach into the back of the cage. Now I could have the cage standing on something lower - but then it would be more bending.
I had been deliberating between using Raffy’s old Plaza 120 or my spare 100. Obviously the 120 has more floor space - the same as his aura. But again I am slightly struggling with such a large cage depth and the reaching. I can manage much better with the plaza 100.
I considered keeping the Omlet cage and moving him into that. As he’s less likely to be able to jump out if the door and I wouldn’t need to fiddle about trying to attach Perspex to the bars. I have been having a battle with myself over that as I’d really like to keep it! I only sent for it to review it though and already have quite a few cages! But the main thing that decided me is the Plaza 100 is more familiar to Tino as it’s basically the same cage shrunk down a bit with the same front door. So less of a big change for him.
I do really like the Omlet as it’s much easier with Perspex already part of it - and easier to manage - smaller bars to lift off eg. And Tino less likely to reach the door to jump out. Much easier to clean if I had another moth outbreak! (Hopefully I won’t!)
I even considered buying a new tank style cage for Tino but I don’t think he’d like a hand from the top and I find it easier with front access. And also the main thing is to keep familiarity.
So after a battle with myself I’ve arranged to send the Omlet back (which I had intended to do straight after reviewing it but kept having a battle with myself!)
So will use my spare plaza and fiddle about attaching Perspex panels to it! Once they’re on they stay there so it’s only a fiddle at the start. Instead I’ve sent for a full screen for one end of the plaza. So that’s one less side to screw things to! I need the bars on the other three sides to keep his layout the same. He loves his corner shelf - which he has had since he came to me - and that attaches to one side and the front. Plus his wheel is screwed to the bars at the back.
Although it will be a slight upheaval for him I have rationalised it will be better than two upheavals with two more 1/3 cage cleans. And he’ll settle in quite quickly I’m sure - with everything the same layout and items.
Although he’ll only have 20cm of bedding in the plaza, I can manage spot cleaning better which overall will be less stressful for him.
I’m also thinking he is the type of hamster who will just hide away permanently unless I make things more accessible for him and me. I considered just accepting that but I missed how he was in his previous cage when he interacted with me and used to come to the door to come out. He has always been shy but he had just got familiar with me and after all this time hiding away and only coming out at night - it’s very clear he’s not remotely tame any more. He pinged a couple of times the other night and a secure hamster wouldn’t do that. Plus it’s almost impossible to find him to do a health check.
Raffy was different and would have loved that cage with 30cm of bedding and still wanted to be out every night! He created his own 30cm of bedding by piling it up where he wanted it! Maybe Tino will do the same but the main thing is that I can manage the clean outs better and with less drama for both of us.
Anyway it won’t be happening overnight as have other things to do in between.
I’m working out platform leg and house leg changes as the current ones will be too tall with 20cm of bedding.
The legs from Raffy’s old platforms should do it as they were in the Plaza 120. So just house leg length to work out
His partial clean out the other night helped me finally decide on this.
Firstly, with all my aches and pains and recurring rib issues, I am actually struggling to manage with such a large cage and the extra height and 30 cm of bedding. It half killed me removing a third of the bedding the other night! And I still have two thirds of the cage to do.
Everything is much higher up than a plaza 100 or 120 due to the deeper base so a lot of reaching down with 30cm of bedding. And awkward to reach into the back of the cage. Now I could have the cage standing on something lower - but then it would be more bending.
I had been deliberating between using Raffy’s old Plaza 120 or my spare 100. Obviously the 120 has more floor space - the same as his aura. But again I am slightly struggling with such a large cage depth and the reaching. I can manage much better with the plaza 100.
I considered keeping the Omlet cage and moving him into that. As he’s less likely to be able to jump out if the door and I wouldn’t need to fiddle about trying to attach Perspex to the bars. I have been having a battle with myself over that as I’d really like to keep it! I only sent for it to review it though and already have quite a few cages! But the main thing that decided me is the Plaza 100 is more familiar to Tino as it’s basically the same cage shrunk down a bit with the same front door. So less of a big change for him.
I do really like the Omlet as it’s much easier with Perspex already part of it - and easier to manage - smaller bars to lift off eg. And Tino less likely to reach the door to jump out. Much easier to clean if I had another moth outbreak! (Hopefully I won’t!)
I even considered buying a new tank style cage for Tino but I don’t think he’d like a hand from the top and I find it easier with front access. And also the main thing is to keep familiarity.
So after a battle with myself I’ve arranged to send the Omlet back (which I had intended to do straight after reviewing it but kept having a battle with myself!)
So will use my spare plaza and fiddle about attaching Perspex panels to it! Once they’re on they stay there so it’s only a fiddle at the start. Instead I’ve sent for a full screen for one end of the plaza. So that’s one less side to screw things to! I need the bars on the other three sides to keep his layout the same. He loves his corner shelf - which he has had since he came to me - and that attaches to one side and the front. Plus his wheel is screwed to the bars at the back.
Although it will be a slight upheaval for him I have rationalised it will be better than two upheavals with two more 1/3 cage cleans. And he’ll settle in quite quickly I’m sure - with everything the same layout and items.
Although he’ll only have 20cm of bedding in the plaza, I can manage spot cleaning better which overall will be less stressful for him.
I’m also thinking he is the type of hamster who will just hide away permanently unless I make things more accessible for him and me. I considered just accepting that but I missed how he was in his previous cage when he interacted with me and used to come to the door to come out. He has always been shy but he had just got familiar with me and after all this time hiding away and only coming out at night - it’s very clear he’s not remotely tame any more. He pinged a couple of times the other night and a secure hamster wouldn’t do that. Plus it’s almost impossible to find him to do a health check.
Raffy was different and would have loved that cage with 30cm of bedding and still wanted to be out every night! He created his own 30cm of bedding by piling it up where he wanted it! Maybe Tino will do the same but the main thing is that I can manage the clean outs better and with less drama for both of us.
Anyway it won’t be happening overnight as have other things to do in between.
I’m working out platform leg and house leg changes as the current ones will be too tall with 20cm of bedding.
The legs from Raffy’s old platforms should do it as they were in the Plaza 120. So just house leg length to work out
Last edited:
They say the quiet ones are the worstTino is a sneaky mysterious escape artist. Tonight I cleaned out a third of his cage at the house/left hand end. I have no idea where he sleeps in the cage but thought he might be somewhere under the house or at that end. I set the playpen up first so when I found him I could pop him in the playpen.
I was busy removing loads of bedding from that end and bagging it, wondering if he was down there somewhere - when I had a "he's behind you" moment. He must have come from the other end of the cage and was standing there watching what I was doing. He didn't look very happy about it. I talked to him and offered him his tube to walk into. He's sneaky because he looks all docile and like he's going to walk into the tube - but then jumped out of the front door! Which is why I have a large cushion on the floor in front of the cage just in case! I couldn't get him to walk into a tube at first and he disappeared off behind a cupboard. But eventually appeared at the edge of the cupboard again and walked into the tube when it was offered. So I popped him in the playpen and kept an eye on him for a bit. The cage wasn't too far away so I'd do a bit on the cage and then come back to keep an eye on him in the playpen. It seems fairly escapeproof - even for Tino.
I think it was a bit early for him as he wasn't interested in anything in there much - stretched a few times, explored a little bit - checking out corners etc, but then sat in his strawberry hide for ages. I think he knew I was doing something to his cage so probably wasn't in playpen mood. A bit more exploring and trying to chew the carpet in the corners. Then sat in his carrot cottage for a while and later tipped it over and had a good wash in it. He wouldn't take any food from me. He looked quite miffed with me actually! But then I was messing up his cage.
I'm still not sure where he's sleeping in the cage - I think he's spread himself about a bit. There was no obvious major hoard or pee area at that end. Some smaller hoards at the bottom along the front and the odd patch of slightly damp stained bedding but no sign of a sleeping area or tunnels.
Anyway after it was all put back together again and a few treats scattered about and some new flax (he'd eaten all the flax), he walked into his tube in the playpen and I put one end in the cage for him to walk out. But he didn't - he sat in the tube seeming a bit suspicious and clearly knew something had changed. So I tried putting that end of the tube onto the familiar smelling area at the other side, on his shelf. He started to edge out as if to go onto the shelf but just as he was about to walk out he did an incredibly fast turn around - and literally leapt out of the tube - I managed to move that end away from the door in time so he ended up leaping over to the other side of the cage onto some bedding!
So another escape attempt! He looks so slow and cautious but it's all an act ha ha. I've been used to Raffy who wouldn't jump off anything and always walked out of his tube and was predictable.
He clearly wasn't happy that something had been done at one end of the cage. Everything was back as it had been before - except it seems I had the house slightly further towards the back than before and he looked really quite dismayed that the gap there wasn't quite so big and sat looking at it for ages (not so easy to disappear down there).
He sat looking a bit miserable and making me feel guilty - and then went off for a run in his wheel. I went to put the playpen away and when I came back a few minutes later he'd disappeared again. There are no signs of any tunnel holes or anything! He really is a mystery hamster!
He didn't seem to want to be out of the cage this time and either sat in a hide or tried digging at the corners or pushing the sides of the playpen (he found they moved).
Anyway here he is in the playpen (after his escape and being retrieved).
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Had a chat through the bars while I said sorry a few times.
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Not looking happy. He sat and let me talk to him for a while there and kept giving me looks that made me feel guilty.
View attachment 8557
In the playpen
Two very short clips - this one he was having a good wash inside the carrot cottage
Enjoying his wheel after looking sad
