Q: Hamster Chewing
March 2, 2009 | By Calerina | 5 answers | Expired: 1526 days ago
My hamster has four different types of chews currently in her cage (two different mineral chews, a paper towel roll, and an apple orchard stick) and is insisting on chewing on the bars of her cage instead of her chews. I feel that this can't be healthy at all for her poor teeth, and I am just wondering if anybody has advice on how to get her to stop chewing the bars and start chewing something else. She has never been very responsive to chews, and had to get her teeth trimmed because of it, and has just started the bar chewing. What can I do for her?
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Mar 03, 2009
Bar biting is usually an indication that it's asking for snack, attention or is bored. I think you are still better off with a cage with bars with good ventilation, than with an aquarium. The lack of air circulation in an aquarium can lead to more upper respiratory infections and more surfaces that need to be cleaned to keep it free from bacteria which can cause diseases. I would add as many things of interest you can including a pigloo, any time of huts that can be washed, toys, toilet paper rolls that are slit lengthwise so they don't get stuck in it, empty oatmeal boxes with the color paper removed. Go to your local hardware store and look for inexpensive PVC pipes that they can run through but can be thoroughly washed. Make sure you spend a lot of time with it to keep it happy. Good luck!
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Mar 02, 2009
It's possible that your hamster is bored. Try giving it other chewable things. Mine loved toilet paper rolls! Also the suggestion of housing him in an aquarium may be a good idea
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Mar 02, 2009
Hello! I have a wild mouse not a hamster but I agree with Beth that an aquarium cage might force her to chew on something else. I also give my mouse those hard wooden treat pieces and he likes those. Best of luck!
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Mar 02, 2009
It is unlikely that your hamster will stop chewing on the bars of his cage, so you might want to consider switching to a glass aquarium tank. Also, with an aquarium, the bedding won't be kicked out of the cage.
Only, if you do switch to a glass cage, make sure there is still something left for the hamster to chew on.
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Mar 02, 2009
You should try those big seed treats, it is a bar that hangs on the cage with tasty seeds and treats on it with a glaze over it that they like alot. Or you could always just put her in a 10 gallon tank instead of a wired bar cage, thats what i did with my last hamster, it was easier to clean too.
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