why you need a Christmas Tree Bin
I’ve used the exact same set-up for several, aging hamsters - this photo I took while Peggy, my elderly Roborovski hamster who got daily heart medication, lived here.
That magical time of year is finally here! Of course I’m referring to the limited time of year that Christmas Tree Bins are available for sale at your local Lowes, Home Depot and so on!
But you already have your hamsters in species appropriate enclosures… why would you buy a Christmas Tree Bin? It’s arguably a lesser enclosure - although the floor space is nice at about 900 sq inches, it has limited vertical depth, and, unless you are willing to build a domed lid, won’t be great for most of your hamsters… so then WHY…?
Well - I’ll tell you why! It is the PERFECT enclosure for an elderly, but active dwarf or robo!
I have now transitioned three of my aging, but active, hamsters in this enclosure - hamsters who were formerly in larger and deeper enclosures (like a Niteangel Vista, 40” Prolee and even a 200 qt bin cage), and it was exactly what I (and they) needed.
Here’s why:
As dwarf hamsters get older (typically you’ll start noticing signs of aging at about 1 1/2 yrs) they often lose the ability to climb up vertical distances. Even with a bendy bridge, they will struggle if it’s at too much of an angle. They are typically still active and want a lot of enrichment and activity, but they just might not have the ability that they used to.
I also often find that elderly hamster burrow less. They often spend more time in man-made hides or tunnels, but less time making intricate tunnels in their bedding.
Because the Christmas Tree Bin does not have a lot of vertical depth, you can easily have a set-up without a lot of vertical climbs. Of course, this comes at a loss of burrowing space, but an elderly hamster won’t mind that.
The other great thing about the Christmas Tree Bin? It’s easy to find your hamster! If you have a hamster who needs more surveillance - lets say they need daily meds, soft foods or more checking-in-on, it is a LOT easier to achieve this kind of care in a Christmas Tree Bin.
You don’t need to hurt your back, digging through bedding to find a hamster in the Christmas Tree Bin! It’s a nice, open space that’s easy to navigate.
I like to place my Christmas Tree Bin on an 8-cube, Ikea Kallax. It’s the perfect size, AND the Kallax makes a great storage unit for hamster wheels and all the little things you acquire :)
The Ikea Kallax is fairly inexpensive and sometimes is even available second-hand on Facebook Marketplace or the like.
While we are talking about aging dwarves & robos…
I have to tell you about another one of my essentials - stick-on nail files.
I have watched aging robos and dwarves struggle to pull themselves out of sand-baths, onto platforms etc. Sometimes adhesive cork can help with this, but what is even MORE effective are these little, stick-on nail files!
They are gentle enough that I’ve never had a hamster have an irritated paw from them, but strong enough that any aging ham can get themselves up with the help of one of these little stickies.
The best part is that they are water soluble and come off easily under water. So, this isn’t a permanent decision, it’s a temporary add to help your hamster, that can be undone easily!
I like to use the stick-on nail files on the Niteangel corner sandbath- it works great to help these hams not get stuck in their sand bath!
They come in a pack of 50 and are fairly inexpensive!
Okay, but what about the lid??
That’s a great question! Full disclosure, I do not typically use lids, nor do I use a lid with my elderly hamsters in the Christmas Tree Bin (although I have used lids, it very much depends on the hamster).
This question IS very important, and your hamster’s safety should not be taken lightly.
For elderly dwarves and robos, it’s quite unlikely that they will be able to get out of their enclosure (since they tend to be less energetic and agile), but you should take some precautions to ensure they cannot get out:
DO NOT hang anything from the sides of the enclosure - this is like providing a ladder out of the enclosure to your hamster. Instead, opt for free-standing water bottles and use banana stands for hanging treats.
Place the wheel in the center of the enclosure - when the wheel is too close to a side, a hamster can shimmy up the close space between the wheel and the wall of the enclosure
Use an enclosed wheel - I like the Niteangel Dark Clouds Wheel (although it looks like it might be discontinued soon… so get yours while you can!) - I am taking a risk by putting a wheel up on that platform, but the hamsters I put in this enclosure are elderly and not going fast or flipping off their wheel ever. I definitely would not take that risk with a younger hamster.
Don’t allow any seed sprays to stand straight up - they give your hamster a nice ladder to climb out of the enclosure on!
Ensure your hamster(s) are in a child-proof, other-pet-proof room of your house. If you cannot guarantee that other pets and unattended small kids will not be in the hamster room, then ALWAYS have a secured lid in place on your hamster’s enclosure. I have heard way too many tragic tales about a dog, cat, or small child. They might be the sweetest dog or cat, but dog and cats are hunting animals and cannot turn off their natural instinct.
If you have ANY WORRY WHAT-SO-EVER, USE A LID - it isn’t worth taking a risk with your hamster’s life. Although I mostly do not use lids with my hamster enclosures, I don’t actually recommend that anyone forgo a lid. Lids are an important safety factor and well worth using.
If I wanted TO Re-create Your Set-Up, what Do I need?
notice the angled spray to keep a hamster from climbing up it!
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