HammyWhammy wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:45 pm
He's returned to sleeping behind the wheel, and started to use the house he was sleeping in as a toilet. He is burrowing just a little behind the wheel. Really just covering himself with bedding. I'm not sure if I should just accept all of this and give up on him 'being normal'.
Well, give him some time, hamsters change their habits all the time and can randomly change for seemingly no reason (to us).
Maybe a burrow clean is in order, if he peed in the house, maybe he decided to move and cleaning it out would be helpful.
Also does he have a mult-chamber hide? Cardboard or otherwise? That might encourage him to find a home other than the wheel.
It has been almost a year and HE WILL NOT BURROW!!!! He has done it a handful of times and that's it. He'll either sleep in a corner house, behind the wheel, or in his Niteangel burrow. He uses that the most but this boy won't dig even a little bit. I just don't understand. I just got him a 75 gallon tank so maybe more space will change his mind.
It's ok! As long as he's happy. I've had two Syrians who didn't much like burrowing. They wouldn't really burrow unless I put a tube slanted downward into an empty spot of bedding. Then they _might_ crawl down and make a burrow. I guess they didn't like making tunnels but they'd make burrows? If that makes sense.
He's an old man now too? Almost 2 years old. You've taken good care of him.
HammyWhammy wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:47 pm
It has been almost a year and HE WILL NOT BURROW!!!! He has done it a handful of times and that's it. He'll either sleep in a corner house, behind the wheel, or in his Niteangel burrow. He uses that the most but this boy won't dig even a little bit. I just don't understand. I just got him a 75 gallon tank so maybe more space will change his mind.
What kind of bedding does he use? I've started to use a mix of paper bedding and aspen from Nite Angel (instead of all paper) and I feel like it's really nice for burrowing. I do layers of each with some hay on the bottom of the cage.
Also, I agree that if he's happy, don't fret too much.
HammyWhammy wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:47 pm
It has been almost a year and HE WILL NOT BURROW!!!! He has done it a handful of times and that's it. He'll either sleep in a corner house, behind the wheel, or in his Niteangel burrow. He uses that the most but this boy won't dig even a little bit. I just don't understand. I just got him a 75 gallon tank so maybe more space will change his mind.
What kind of bedding does he use? I've started to use a mix of paper bedding and aspen from Nite Angel (instead of all paper) and I feel like it's really nice for burrowing. I do layers of each with some hay on the bottom of the cage.
Also, I agree that if he's happy, don't fret too much.
Okay I know that was January...and the situation is the same! No burrowing! Makes for easy cleaning at least. He uses Full Cheeks. We've had a hard time with Carefresh having weird chunks of paper pulp and other quality issues. We do product testing and got some random Amazon brand to try that he loved in his nest, but the boy still won't burrow lol. He has his Nitenangel burrow starter that he uses for his burrow, and that's it.
HammyWhammy wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:47 pm
It has been almost a year and HE WILL NOT BURROW!!!! He has done it a handful of times and that's it. He'll either sleep in a corner house, behind the wheel, or in his Niteangel burrow. He uses that the most but this boy won't dig even a little bit. I just don't understand. I just got him a 75 gallon tank so maybe more space will change his mind.
What kind of bedding does he use? I've started to use a mix of paper bedding and aspen from Nite Angel (instead of all paper) and I feel like it's really nice for burrowing. I do layers of each with some hay on the bottom of the cage.
Also, I agree that if he's happy, don't fret too much.
Okay I know that was January...and the situation is the same! No burrowing! Makes for easy cleaning at least. He uses Full Cheeks. We've had a hard time with Carefresh having weird chunks of paper pulp and other quality issues. We do product testing and got some random Amazon brand to try that he loved in his nest, but the boy still won't burrow lol. He has his Nitenangel burrow starter that he uses for his burrow, and that's it.
Have you tried burying any treats? But if he's happy just hanging out, he must feel safe!
I've had two Syrians who didn't much like burrowing. They wouldn't really burrow unless I put a tube slanted downward into an empty spot of bedding. Then they _might_ crawl down and make a burrow. I guess they didn't like making tunnels but they'd make burrows? If that makes sense.