It is known that hamsters are great pets. They are territorial creatures that love to dig and burrow but are very active and energetic. Hamsters are also very clean animals, you only provide a clean habitat and a hygienic home. It is important to provide your guinea pig with the best possible habitat so that they do not feel bored and stressed. A hamster cage is an important investment you will make for your hamster, so think about what your hamster needs to have a healthy and happy home before you buy it. How to set up your hamster cage.
1. Catch a Hamster Cage
1.1 Understanding guinea pig cages
First, think about the type and size of cage needed to make the hamster. The minimum floor area required for guinea pigs is 450 sq inches. Most pet stores sell guinea pig cages that are too small and expensive.
Cages are cheap and large; look up "how to make a cage for a hamster bin" and lots of videos. They are both cheap and easy to make, and definitely worth the time. Make sure the cage is a cage with a solid floor that can provide enough litter for digging and burrowing. Wire or mesh floors also can cause the painful disease called Bumblefoot.
On the other hand, connecting multiple smaller cages is 360 sq. Inches do not count, as does in Habitrail Ovo or Crittertrail. Hamsters run for miles in the wild, so they need a constant running space, not many small interconnected compartments.
It is not possible to keep a Syrian hamster and a Chinese hamster in the same cage because they are very territorial or kill each other.
1.2 Choose a large cage
Includes three of the most common minimums, and while that's not a rule, it's a good idea to have a large enough cage. The American minimums are on the small side. The German minimum is best, whereas the RSPCA minimum will do. Furthermore, you cannot connect multiple small cages to achieve the bare minimum, as hamsters need space to run around like they would in the wild. The minimum is:
Minimal American Forum / Hamster Hideout - 360 sq. Print
Minimum RSPCA / UK - 80x50cm
Minimum German - 1 square meter
While recommendations vary, the basic rule is that bigger is better.
1.3 Using old cages
You should start with a new cage, if you buy or use an old cage, clean it with baby soap and rinse throughout. To get rid of the smell of previous occupants, a mixture of white vinegar and water can be used, but this should only be done occasionally. Alternatively, you can also purchase some pet-safe disinfectant sprays or wipes.
1.4 Where to place the cage
Care should be taken when deciding where you will place the cage, as this will contribute to your hamster's overall health. Furthermore, want to avoid overheating, so keep it out of direct sunlight and don't place it next to a radiator or other heat source. Similarly, don't put it too far away. If you don't want to keep it indoors, you can put it in a frost-free garage or garden shed, but provide an extra bed.
Hámter is a creature that is very sensitive to light and high-frequency sounds. So don't put it in a room with lights on and off at night, and keep it away from things like televisions, computer screens, running water, and vacuum cleaners. These produce ultrasonic waves that can make hamsters nervous.
Furthermore, if you have a wire cage and want to avoid the floor getting too cluttered with the flying substrate, cut a cardboard box so the cage can comfortably sit in (with a few centimeters of space around the sides), so that It side is no higher than 10cm, and put it in there.
2. Equip the hamster cage
2.1 Choosing a wheel
Hamsters are very active and need a lot of movement in the cage, you should start with the wheels. Dwarf hamsters need 6.5 - 8 inch wheels and Chinese hamsters need 8-inch wheels. Large hamsters including Syrian hamsters need 12-inch wheels. Therefore, the wheel is large enough for a hamster. A flying saucer cannot replace a normal upright wheel, most of which run naturally, with bars or nets, as hamsters can get stuck in a limb or get wasps (painful sores on the feet).
2.2 Add a bowl of water or a water bottle
If buying a bottle, buy a good one that doesn't leak too much. If it's a bowl, buy something like a small bent wooden bridge to rest it on so your guinea pig doesn't bury it or get caught in wood chips, or you can place the bowl on a small shelf.
2.3 Deciding whether to get food bowls or scattered food
Using a bowl allows for good monitoring of your hamster's food intake, and can also be clean and easy. However, using scattered food will promote the hamster's natural foraging skills. Alternatively, the two that can be combined. If there is a pair of dwarves, it is advisable to disperse feeding as it can prevent fighting. The Syrian guinea pig should buy a food bowl so that he can check his eating habits.
If you have a bowl, buy a small one so it doesn't take up too much cage space.
2.4 Choosing a house
Most houses are suitable for dwarf guinea pigs and Chinese hamsters, but the house is too small for Syrian hamsters. Trendy bridges can be turned into cave houses under the subfloor. Some guinea pigs make nests, but they nonetheless need somewhere to hide and store food.
2.5 Toys
Hamsters are very active and need lots of toys. Make sure to chew as their teeth are constantly growing. Hamsters love toys they can climb on and hide-and-seek toys. However, make sure they are large enough - many tubes are not large enough for Syrian hamsters. Also, check that they are ventilated because if they are long tubes, guinea pigs can have trouble breathing.
3. Provide substrate and nesting material
3.1 Select the type of substrate
The substrate is a disposable material that can fill the bottom of the cage. You need to pay attention to how they absorb guinea pig urine and what they dig into. In addition, several options differ from traditional planters, and several expert websites have reviews of different planets. However, you should stay away from substrates like pine or cedar, as they can cause serious breathing problems. Use a 6cm, or 3in, or more substrate, because hamsters love to dig. Carefresh is a beautiful bedding and fern.
3.2 Nesting materials
Similar to the substrate, some specific litter or nesting material is also important. While the bed is like a carpet, the nesting material is like a blanket. Avoid materials that can separate into small fibers like soft bedding and cotton wool. This problem can cause serious problems for guinea pigs when it comes to swallowing, entangling, and trapping a limb.
The hamster's instinct is to pull the limb until it dislocates. In this case, tissue or shredded toilet paper is the best nesting material.
3.3 Changes
It is advisable to rotate the stock of good substrate and litter at home, so be prepared and able to change them often. You will need to monitor the cage and keep it clean. You should remove the urine-wetted substrate weekly, called spot cleaning, which should only take a few minutes. The number of times you clean the cage completely will depend on the cage size. Cage 1000 sq. Inches or larger can last a year or more without cleaning the entire cage, but smaller cages may need to be cleaned once a month.
Furthermore, with a regular cleaning schedule, guinea pigs can suffer if the cage is cleaned too often or too rarely. Clean the coop in place to remove manure daily to avoid wet tails.
4. Keep the cage in a healthy and stimulating environment
4.1 More new things
In addition to keeping the cage clean, it is also important to keep the cage refreshed with toys and things to chew and dig. You can try feeding them empty cereal boxes or granola bars with a print on the outside to avoid contact with the ink. Hamsters also love empty toilet paper tubes and will love playing in them until they chew them to pieces. Make sure to cut them so the Syrian guinea pig can fit.
4.2 Treating guinea pigs daily
Do not hold them by foot and wheelbarrow. It strains their little legs and can injure them or, in severe cases, break a limb.
Give your hamster a chance to get used to the new cage before handling them (preferably about a week). Moving into a new cage is a big event for hamsters and they will be more interested in human attention once they are happy.
4.3 Letting Hamsters Into the House Every Week
Provide an environment for the hamster, but you can also check their health by listening to their breathing and if wheezing occurs, call the vet. Also, check for tears on the feet; check teeth; Check the skin for any signs of peeling or irritation. Make sure your nose is dry and your eyes are clear. Also, consider weighing them to see if they gain or lose weight, which can cause problems.
Conclusion
All things we shared in the article How to set up the hamster cage show you an open mind while caring for your pet. Moreover, you never get critter trails or other cramped cages with many tubes and plastic items as they are too small and your furry pet won't enjoy them.
Besides, if you have a very active hamster, then hold them just above its cage. And hamsters get thirsty quickly and need a lot, so make sure you have a decent size bottle.
