Friday, May 8, 2009

Hamster Housing in Bathroom?

I have a syrian hamster. She has a cage (not the "biggest", though, since she's gotten bigger). My parents have allergies and they don't like the smell. They won't let me keep her in any room at all, not even mine. They do allow the bathroom though. So is it okay for me to put my hamster's cage in the bath tub? I let the cage door open so she can have some running space in the tub. Is that okay, or is outside preferable? But if she stays outside, the cage would be closed and she'll have a little room to run around.
Answers:
Bathrooms are very humid + can create bacteria + mold. Mold isn't good for any living thing. Heres' what I found online :
"Some things that can harm a hamster, such as bacteria, viruses and mold, can easily penetrate a hamsters' safe haven. Weekly cleaning with a cleaning solution that is effective against all pathogens is essential in efforts to keep a hamster healthy. Veterinary supply stores often carry virucides such as Virkon that are effective cleaners. A ten percent bleach and water solution can also be used. Make sure all washed items are thoroughly rinsed, and product directions carefully followed."
for odor :
you could change the shavings daily.
making a Toiletcorner
Removing shavings with pee on them once a day is not very nice. You can use a glass big enough for the hamster to turn around in but if the cage is smallish this is a good solution.
* A small plastic tray is placed at the bottom of the cage and you fill up with shavings as normal till the tray is covered - see the picture. Now its easy to empty the tray every day. See : http://www.aub.dk/~zannie/hamster/tipsen...
I also read on one of the links below, that a female hamster in heat can also cast an odor. It was suggested to give it a cucumber + the smell disapeared.
But hamsters, rabbits + guinea pigs will smell + need to be kept clean. Maybe when you are putting in clean shavings rinse the cage out with plain tea, no sugar, not herbal. This eliminates the smell in the cage itself. : ) I've tried it + it does work !
How do you take a bath then?
That's smooth, and germy. :-(
That's not much of a life for the Hamster.
Can't you give it away, and get a Turtle?
You can place a hamster anywhere in the house as long as its out of direct sunlight and away from draughts and loud noises. Infact your hamster has a lot of freedom racing around the bath tub. Just make sure she never gets wet. This could kill her.
Never house a hamster outside.
no way dont ever put her/him in the bath tub. even if the bath tub is dry, when your out of this room, you never know if it just might happen that the shower may drip and mind you hamsters just hate water! and if the cage is open and it goes all the way to the botom of the tub were the water is drained out, hamsters are wild so it might fit its self inside the holes and never come back, i think you have to think this through and if there is just no place for your hamster then give it to a close friend of yours who you are sure that they will look after and get a differnt pet that just dosnt smells as bad eh! hope that worked any way ;)
That's fine because most likely she would not be able to get out of the bathtub! Have fun with your hamster!
That is pretty unhealthy. All pet rodents have potential for carrying diseases. DO you really want a disease?
Not much fun for your syrian. She is locked up all day, and then scared to death of falling down the drain. Where do you put her when you take a bath?
Indoors is perfectly fine. Just let a little sunlight in once in a while. The bathroom is actually a marvellous place, as it is usually quiet in there.
I don't find a problem with it as long as the hamster doesn't get wet and make sure that the bathroom is clean without mold and mildew. And also make sure that you rinse out the tub before you take a shower or bath.

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