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What would you do with a hamster who wont stop chewing bars? (read details)?
I have a golden Syrian hamster, with a multilayer cage. A few days after we got her last summer, we noticed that she was chewing the bars of her cage, and since have tried everything to dissuade her; we have given her chew sticks, apple wood hamster log type things, cardboard, forage balls... She wont chew the logs after she has taken the bark off, on the most part, and will easily get through a whole cereal box of cardboard in an evening, but does nothing with it, doesn't move it to her bed or anything. I'm now thinking that we have no option but to move her into a cage without bars, but I really dont want to do that, as she loves climbing. Whenever she comes out of her cage, she will climb anything we let her- me, cushions, obviously nothing she could fall off and hurt herself. And despite having a wheel (she does fit it, btw) she barely uses it, opting instead to climb and do acrobatics on the bars and levels of the cage. In addition, the only none bar cages I can find are much smaller. So what would you do to stop her hurting herself? Thanks!
6 Answers
- daniel gLv 73 years agoFavorite Answer
The only thing I can think of is perhaps your hamster feels insecure in its cage. That is their home and sanctuary and have to feel safe there. What about hides and deep enough bedding for burrowing. What type of bedding.
Any stressors in the cage, but they usually run in their wheel to destress.
Are you waking your hamster in its sleep period, they are mainly nocturnal.
In the cage, are you chasing your hamster with hands or grabbing it, that can seriously stress them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_2-RG_UIKs
- 3 years ago
Try giving him a wooden chew toy. Buy a few different kinds, each rodent has their own preference. If that doesn't work, apply pepper to the bars. Also try giving him more time out of the cage.
- NamelessLv 73 years ago
Hamsters are not climbers (the exception being Chinese hamsters). They should not have multilevel cages (unless the hamster cannot fall from a shelf) and they do not need to have bars to climb. Its actually dangerous. They can fall and hurt themselves.
Bar chewing is a sign that the cage is too small. Minimum recommended (in the US) is 360 square inches. Other countries recommend even larger cages and I tend to agree. Get a nice sized tank or make a bin cage. There are some other options like a detolf cage.
Bar chewing can also be a sign of boredom. Hamsters need lots of bedding to burrow in. The more the better. They need a proper wheel. It needs to be solid. No wire or mesh. It needs to be large. Syrians need 12+in wheels and dwarf hamsters need 8+in wheels. Their backs should not arch. They also need toys. Chew toys don't offer much. Give them toilet paper tubes, cardboard boxes, make popsicle stick houses/structures etc.
- Anonymous3 years ago
Give her something else to chew. They need to chew on something for their teeth. Get some wooden chew toys. Consult a pet shop.
And block the bars.
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- Anonymous3 years ago
Get one of those exercise balls..
