Strange hamster habit?!

Question
Hi
We bought a 4-5 week old syrian hamster 2 days ago. It has a rotastak 3 storey cage with tubes. However, it seems to have decided to put it's bedding and all of it's food into the excercise wheel!! First it was just the food which constantly landed on his head when excercising but this afternoon the bedding is in there and he poos in there!!
I thought they did  these things in seperate areas. He has only been 'upstairs once'! I know it is very early days but should we put some of his bedding somewhere else to encourage him to move or leave it up to him?!

Answer
Hi Angela,

Your hamster is nervous in his new habitat, and he wants to keep his food, nest, and bathroom in one place.  Most hamsters do this.  However, you need to clear up his exercise wheel.  Try putting unscented cat litter (or hamster litter, which is more expensive and is basically the same thing) in a corner of his cage (it can be in a hamster potty or not) to encourage him to use the bathroom there.  Then, try moving his nest to another enclosure.  (That's why he likes the wheel - it's relatively small and safe.)  Don't try to move it in the middle of the cage.  I've never seen a hamster sleep in the middle of a cage.  They like corners and enclosures.  If your hamster moves all of his nest back to the wheel, move it again.  If he does this longer than 5-6 days, then you have done all you can do.  Eventually, he should separate his potty and nest when he gets accustomed to his new surroundings.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly