vertical tubes

Question
Hi, we have just bought our first syrian hamster, she has a robostak cage with tubes.  She can use the 'bendy' tubes really well but can't / won't use the scary vertical ones - any advice?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Jan

Rotostak cages look great fun, but unfortunately some hamsters don't get on with them because of having to climb.  I have never been able to persuade a hamster to climb up a tube and for this reason I always opt for wire cages (also because I keep so many hamsters I find that I don't have time to dismantle and clean loads of tubes, plus the ventilation in some of the tubular cages is poor).

Is the type of cage you have one that you can assemble in different ways?  If so, rather than build upwards, would you be able to build sideways to give your hamster more space and add on some more compartments?  My first small animal rescue was a gerbil who was in a cage that had a vertical tube to a feeding station - he struggled to climb it (gerbils really can't climb as their paws are very different to hamsters).  I transferred him to a big glass tank with a platform and he was much happier and put on a lot of weight.  Therefore it is very important that if your hamster isn't getting on with this cage that you don't put all her food/water at the top of the tube, but instead keep this in an area that she can easily access.  You could try putting some of her treats at the top of the tube to see if she will climb it. Once she has climbed it and put her scent on the tube, this might encourage her to climb again, especially if she knows her favorite treats are at the top. Hamsters are quite quick learners and get into routines, so you might find this will work.

If you can get her to overcome her fear of climbing this tube then she may get on OK with it - but I don't think there is any easy solution to this.

I have often bought fancy toys, hammocks, hanging ladders etc. for my hamsters, thinking that they will love them.  Unfortunately they are very choosy and if they don't like something it is very difficult to get them to use it.   

I do hope you get on OK and have some luck with this.

Regards