I need big time hamster help!?

Question

So anyways, I made my teddybear hamster, (named Lewie) a potty made out of a big wide glass jar. I put white printing paper and folded a large piece of paper towel and put those two things on the bottom of the jar so it soaks up his pee. I trained Lewie to go pee there by putting pee covered shavings in there. And whenever he goes pee, I reward him with a treat, a hug, and a kiss. But I don't want my hamster sleeping in the jar like he always does!! When I take him out in the evening, he stinks like pee and poo! ewww! so yeah I don't know why he sleeps in there, I just bought him a perfectly good hamster sleeping tube. It's definatly big enough, and I also put soft hamster fluff I bought from Pet Value (only like $4.00) and I put soft toilet paper in it too. All he does is transfer the toilet paper from his sleep house to his potty! When put him in his sleep house the next hour or so hes right back in hes potty again. He also poops in his sleep house and stores food in his potty. What is wrong with my little dude???

I am pretty annoyed right now.

But I still love my little fluff ball!!! :) he is adorable.

please help me and I am sorry that was soo long... :3

Answer 1

It's hard to change a hamsters mind when he has his home all planned out (I know I've raised a lot) it sounds like he likes the jar and not the bed you got so why not just let him use the bed for a toilet and the jar for a bed (I'm not sure if there's a way to make him like it the way you want...hamsters usually keep things a set way.

Answer 2

Well sometimes animals just like to sleep in their liter box! :D

Maybe you could put another homemade potty in the cage and see what he does. Maybe he'll sleep in one and poo in the other?

GOOD LUCK DEAR. :]

Answer 3

nothing he does not understand hygene take out potty

Answer 4

unfortunately most hamsters in my experience move every aound like you want the toilet area in one area and sleeping area in the other place and the hamster changes it round or uses both areas for both things they just have a mind of their own i dont think a glass jar is a good idea you can buy plastic potty areas which are safer and more hygenic you should just use the sawdust in the whole cage area and bedding material where you want him to sleep this might help but unfortunately not all hamsters will use a potty area you want them to they usually choose their own corner of the cage.

Answer 5

before you go to sleep you should see if hes in the jar if he is than take him out and close up the jar

Answer 6

hamsters will be hamsters

thats all i can say

Answer 7

Your hamster probably prefers the jar compared to the tube. My hamster likes to sleep in her wheel and she smells too, but there isn't much a can do about that. You could try getting a real hamster litter and she might not like it so much, and won't sleep in it. Something like this:

http://www.petco.com/product/5273/Super-...

See how its more open? Usually hamsters don't like open places.

Hope this helped!

Answer 8

Take the glass jar out.  If he is urinating in there and keeps sleeping in there it's not good for him.  It's too much of a contained space with little or no airflow and the odor from his urine etc is not good for him.  

He probably feels secure in there but for him to sleep and keep his food right where he uses the bathroom isn't healthy for him.  This is my opinion at least!

Answer 9

It sounds like, you rewarding him for peeing in their, encourages him to go and sleep in there. my advice:take the toilet/bed thing out, and then when he sleeps in his house again, wait two weeks then put it back in there. and your problem should be solved!

Good luck xx

Answer 10

use something like a lid. you don't have to have something so elaborate. if you don't want him to use it as a nest just put in a lid from something like pringles. you waited to long for him to use a nest box. if it is not used when he is little, he will not use it. don't worry about it. he will do what he is comfortable with. you cant make him do anything he doesnt want to. that is normal hamster behaviour.