Getting my Robo to get to Food?

Question

So I bought a starter kit for my two Robo's new house/cage, whatever you want to call it. In the package, there was a little tube with a little platform that could cling unto the wire cage. In the picture, the food was placed on top of the platform, and the only way to get to the food was for me to take my hamster up there myself with my hands, or let it climb up the tube.

I've been trying to get those hamsters to climb the tube, which included putting it in and blocking the other entrance just to make it clear that it had to go up the other end. It just scratched and bit me until I had to let the block go. Maybe not the smartest idea, or the nicest.

Then I tried to put it at the end of the tube, and kind of encourage it to climb it. It just slid right back out.

I have no idea how to make my Robo's know that they have to climb the tube to get to the food. I have some extra food placed in the corner, by the way, so no harm. But I want them to be able to climb the tube.

Help?

Answer 1

you should just let them go around their cage for a week, and then put a trail of treats to the tube, and then put one n the food dish at the top. keep the other food in the corner.

Dont worry about your hamster burrowing. it is totally normal. they just do that because it is comfortable to them. if the bedding gets messed up, dont worry about it. if it really matters to the hamsters then they'll fill their mouths with bedding and then put it in the empty spots.

hope this helps!

Answer 2

Let your hamster find the tube on it's own.  It's got nothing to do but explore it's cage, so it'll definitely find it.  Also, sometimes robos have a hard time with tubes at first, so it can take them awhile for them to be comfortable going up (and getting the courage to go back down).  

There's no way to get them to stop flinging the bedding around.  I have tanks and bin cages though, so I don't have this problem anymore.