Emptying & Moving My Huge Hamster Cage 

Makes all the work worth it to see her reaction!

Lmao!! 😂😂

I went looking for this comment 😂 I ❤ Ross

Haha, oh I wish that wasn't copyrighted it would be perfect! 😂

I won't tell you how many times we almost dropped it 😂

Same house, but April of last year my pet room became badly damaged after a water tank on the roof burst so I ended up building the cage downstairs in the living room which is where it's been ever since. The pet room was repaired early this year and I've just been delaying moving the cage up there since I knew it would be a massive job, very glad it's done now though and we finally have our living room back! 😄

He's off on his holidays right now, but I'm sure he'll be back and causing trouble in the new year! 😜

She seemed to be, I had a camera on her in the bin cage and after a few failed escape attempts she disappeared into her chamber hide and didn't come back out. I was expecting her to protest a lot more than she did 😅

@@SomethingAnimal I see! Thank you for letting us peasants know ;) Hope her majesty enjoys the new location of her kingdom and the winter holidays!!

Are you asking how often I clean this specific enclosure, or how often any enclosure should be cleaned? If you're asking how often I clean this one I answered a similar question further down in the comments, I'll copy/paste my reply from there as it might be helpful for you. "Generally speaking hamster cages aren't supposed to be fully cleaned out as the constant change is too stressful for hamsters, it destroys their burrows and is just an unnecessary task. There are a few exceptions like if your hamster gets ill with something very contagious or gets mites. In those cases everything in the enclosure has to be sterilised for the wellbeing of the animal. Other than that a healthy hamster in a suitably sized enclosure never needs a full clean, only partial cleans and regular spot cleaning. I typically follow the 1/3 cleaning method which is the most popular way to maintain a hamster cage, you remove and replace just 1/3 of the substrate at a time. People with larger enclosures than mine may chose to only clean 1/4 at a time and those with smaller cages might do 1/2. The bigger your enclosure the easier it is to maintain and the less often it needs cleaning. The type of substrate you use can also impact how frequently it needs to be cleaned out, I use a mix of safe shavings, hay, and tissue which allows this specific cage to last 3 months between cleans. Spot cleaning is the main method for keeping hamster cages clean the rest of the time. That involves regularly (maybe once a week) cleaning out the toilet corners, any little spots that your hamster has soiled, and disinfecting flat surfaces and wheels. Some people might also remove and replace the very top inch of bedding every few weeks to easily clean out all the little droppings and any uneaten food. Everyone's methods vary slightly based on enclosure size, substrate type, needs of the individual hamster, and preference of the owner, but as a general hamster care rule there's no reason to fully clean out the cage of a healthy hamster"

@@SomethingAnimal great, thanks so much

The only reasons to entirely empty an enclosure for cleaning would be to sterilise after a contagious sickness (eg. wet-tail, mites, etc) or after the passing of the resident to prepare the enclosure for a new animal. The current standard for keeping hamster enclosures clean is to only replace 1/3 or 1/4 of the substrate at a time depending on the size of the enclosure. The frequency of cleaning also depends on the size, but can range anywhere from every few weeks for very small enclosures to several months for large enclosures (this one gets a 1/3 clean every 3 months approx). In between these partial cleans spot cleaning is done regularly to keep the toilet area and nests hygienic. A partial cleaning method with regular spot cleans ensures the hamster's home stays safe and smell-free without disturbing their habitat too much, removing their territory scent or regularly destroying their important burrow systems, which helps them to always feel safe, calm and unthreatened in their familiar surroundings :)

Thank you for the response! I learned something new

Yes it's my own build, it's 125 x 71cm and 91cm tall excluding the wheels :)

Generally speaking hamster cages aren't supposed to be fully cleaned out as the constant change is too stressful for hamsters, it destroys their burrows and is just an unnecessary task. There are a few exceptions like if your hamster gets ill with something very contagious or gets mites. In those cases everything in the enclosure has to be sterilised for the wellbeing of the animal. Other than that a healthy hamster in a suitably sized enclosure never needs a full clean, only partial cleans and regular spot cleaning. I typically follow the 1/3 cleaning method which is the most popular way to maintain a hamster cage, you remove and replace just 1/3 of the substrate at a time. People with larger enclosures than mine may chose to only clean 1/4 at a time and those with smaller cages might do 1/2. The bigger your enclosure the easier it is to maintain and the less often it needs cleaning. The type of substrate you use can also impact how frequently it needs to be cleaned out, I use a mix of safe shavings, hay, and tissue which allows this specific cage to last 3 months between cleans. Spot cleaning is the main method for keeping hamster cages clean the rest of the time. That involves regularly (maybe once a week) cleaning out the toilet corners, any little spots that your hamster has soiled, and disinfecting flat surfaces and wheels. Some people might also remove and replace the very top inch of bedding every few weeks to easily clean out all the little droppings and any uneaten food. Everyone's methods vary slightly based on enclosure size, substrate type, needs of the individual hamster, and preference of the owner, but as a general hamster care rule there's no reason to fully clean out the cage of a healthy hamster :)

Currently using spruce though sometimes I use aspen, just depends on whats available to me at the time :)

Of course! No point in having a pet unless you enjoy caring for it 😅

Same, makes me feel bad for them 😔

It would, but this is the only time I've ever had to clear the entire thing out (and wont need to again until Lemonade passes) so I don't think it's worth buying a tool that will only get used once every 2-3 years :)

Yes adult hamsters in captivity typically live safer, happier and healthy lives when housed alone. Syrian hamsters in particular do not have social needs and thrive in solitude in both domestic and wild environments.

Yeah I custom build all of my cages

My enclosures are always designed with safety as the first priority, all shelving is either well within the safe drop limit (which is 20cm for syrians, 10cm for dwarfs when the landing is soft) or anything higher than that will be constructed with a sturdy barrier to prevent any accidents. Individual behaviours are also taken into account, I don't install high shelves in a new enclosure for an unknown hamster, only after getting to know the hamster's behaviours and quirks will I make a decision about whether high levels will be appropriate and safe for them. Hamster who have demonstrated risky behaviours, or jumping habits are not given high shelving. Hamsters with able-bodies who demonstrate the ability to navigate shelving and drops safely, and who I believe would benefit from the additional physical enrichment earn the new shelving. After installation, if the hamster in question ever demonstrate that they are no longer able to use that shelving safely then it is simply removed from their enclosure. In this specific set up the only shelf that is slightly above the safe drop distance is the long shelf at the back. This was installed after several months getting to know Lemonade's behaviours and determining that it would be in her interest to have that additional area. The shelf is equipped with a strong barrier (it's clear perspex which may make it harder for you to see on camera) so there is no possible way for her to unintentionally fall. Lemonade shows sound judgment when it comes to deciding if she will jump from certain heights, and has never given us a reason to believe that she will intentionally act against her own safety (though some hamsters will which is why I make these decisions case-by-case). Lemonade is now a senior hamsters so we're anticipating changes to her physical abilities, and her enclosure will continue to be adjusted accordingly I hope that clears up your concerns, I've been building enclosures and raising hamsters for quite a long time and I'm careful about prioritising their safety while ensuring they get to live physically active and enriched lives :)

I know you mean well, but it's really, really annoying when people choose to not watch a video fully and jump to incorrect conclusions instead. It was mentioned more than once in the video that half the substrate was saved and returned to the enclosure in order to keep her home smelling safe and familiar.

I wish I could spoil my hamsters too, but my hamster care is quite basic. Their shorter lifespan doesn't make them less deserving of a good quality life, it actually makes their time much more valuable than ours since they have so little of it.