7/26/2023 0 Comments Hides for hamstersSome beddings marketed as ‘suitable for hamsters’ are unsafe, such as: Soft hay – hay is a great addition to any of the beddings above, and will help add extra structure and stability to your hamster’s burrows.Toilet paper – unscented, and the cheaper the better because thick toilet paper can cause gut blockages if eaten.However, they aren’t great at supporting burrows, so you’ll need to add a paper-based bedding for extra stability. Aspen, spruce or hemp bedding – similar to sawdust/wood shavings but made from hardwood and dust free.Paper-based bedding – this is a really good option and can be used on its own or with other types mixed in.They use the burrow for sleeping, hiding and storing food so it’s important to use a bedding that will hold its structure when tunnelled into. 25cm/10 inches) layer of bedding so they can burrow like they would in the wild. It’s really important to give your hamster a deep (approx. Toys to keep them entertained – read more about hamster enrichment below.A secure lid and doors – hamsters are fantastic escape artists!.Nest boxes to sleep and hide in – read more about nest boxes below.A deep enough solid base to accommodate 25cm (10 inches) of suitable bedding for burrowing, sleeping and storing food – read more about suitable bedding for hamsters below.Places to climb such as branches, ladders or shelves.A large, usable floor area with plenty of space for exploring - there isn’t a lot of evidence to say exactly how big a hamster cage should be but the ‘Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare’(based in Germany) states a minimum cage size of 100x50cm.Wherever you choose to house your hamster make sure it has the following: Most hamster cages sold in shops aren’t big enough to even meet a hamster’s most basic needs, so instead, we recommend providing them with a much larger space, such as an extra-large cage, glass tank, or home-made enclosure. This is to replicate the natural burrow system, and to give the hamster the option to dig down and expand their chambers if desired.In the wild, hamsters make burrows, climb and walk for miles each day, so their living space needs to be large enough to allow them to behave as naturally as possible. The house should also be level with the substrate, bottomless and placed in an area with deep bedding. The lid must be untreated (varnishing or waterproofing will drastically limit the breathability, thus creating problems with condensation build up) and easily removable to give you access to the toilet & food chambers without having to lift up the house itself to cause minimal disturbance to the nest. The house must be made out of a breathable material, such as poplar plywood or cardboard. These minimums are just to give the animal enough space to keep their food, toilet and nest separately. Remember: a minimum is just a guideline to draw a line at what is considered acceptable, it is not restrictive and you can absolutely go bigger than this if you wish. The minimum house size for all dwarf species is 30cm x 20cm. Hamsters are very clean animals and just as you would not want to sleep and eat your dinner in your bathroom, your hamster does not want to either and so they should be provided with an appropriately sized hide to demonstrate natural nesting habits. It is for this reason that when considering what hide to provide your hamster with, it is important that you take the size into consideration.
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