Spot Cleaning My Naturalistic Hamster Cage

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• If you have a pet question please ask in the video comments and I'll do my best to help, I don't reply to pet questions in my emails.
My Video Making Equipment:
+ Canon G7X II (Main Camera)
+ Nikon D7000
+ Sigma 35mm F1.8 (Lens)
+ Behringer C-1 (Micrphone)
+ EpidemicSound.com (Royalty-Free Music)
+ Final Cut Pro (Editor)

[@acommonkestrel]

Nitro has no business being THAT cute omg

[@jacindaleedy6392]

Yes he doessssss

[@aterryadg]

Haha so true!!

[@aterryadg]

Does he burrow in the soil ?

[@aterryadg]

I love this natural enclosure. I’m going to change mine to natural too!

[@333pinkelephant333]

I love that you're so respectful of your hamsters' personal space. I come across people who think just because they're human and they're the ones in charge, they can do whatever they want to their pets.

[@jessieely5363]

Iii iiiiiI iiI high

[@superfanTAZtic]

This!! I saw a video where someone pulled their chicken out of its hut by the tail feathers.. someone commented that that seems rude and A bunch of people attacked the commenter saying that’s how they all do it and it’s fine .. like yeah if I get you out of bed in the morning by your hair you’ll be fine but is that what you’d want? Lol people

[@rat5800]

I watched all of the ads without skipping so you can buy Nitro all of the banana chips he wants

[@SomethingAnimal]

Nitro says thank you very much! 😊❤️

[@MM-oy1uq]

Awwww how nice of you I will do that to for Nitro!?!

[@anthonymcdonnell6615]

@@SomethingAnimal Nitrogyen is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute

[@sophierichardson9812]

@@SomethingAnimal If you get another mouse please can you call him chromium? I just really like it

[@sudo5319]

@@sophierichardson9812 its a hamster

[@annatsiatsou4544]

So here is a hack which has been working perfectly for my hammy, I scatter some tissue in the cage so she can collect it herself and make a nest,which provides enrichment as well as natural instincts! It can also work as a boredom breaker,especially when I "hide"the pieces of paper,into toys,tunnels and sometimes I burrow them in the bedding. She loves it and I highly recommend it!

[@sophierichardson9812]

I do this too its very enriching my hammy loves that she can make her own nesting area

[@ghemi507]

I love doing this with toilet paper! Sometimes when I clean my hamster's cage, I will put some toilet paper, and she'll come out to see what I'm doing and bring all of it to her burrow!

[@1ksubswithnovids2]

Ty for the idea!

[@Borostyan4]

It's a good idea, but I worry, that it will hurt the hamster if she starts chewing on it. Or do u use a special type of tissue or toilet paper for it?

[@furzehillm2921]

Thank you! I will do this, it's very helpful thanks! I do scatter the bedding but I will hide it into it in toys! Thank you!

[@Merrymouseis13]

I am so jealous that Nitrogen doesn't pee in his wheel. My Syrian , Theo pees in his wheel every day. And he hordes his food under his wheel. He's a bit odd

[@skyespasa1316]

Meredith Choate my Syrian,sapphire and dwarf,coconut pee on their wheels 🙄😆

[@avatucker780]

My does felix does that too

[@maddierose131]

MerryMash my hammy doesn’t really pee in his wheel but my mice do like crazy. It’s so annoying to clean all the time but it’s worth it

[@pineapple3555]

Pft atleast yours pees in one spot... 😭

[@dontuse6890]

MerryMash exactly the same with my robo dwarf his cage is always smelling if I don’t clean his wheel out every 2-3 days

[@norapope2127]

I laughed way harder then I should’ve when he fell

[@listychick]

me too lol

[@behappy9591]

Wish I knew to only spot clean at first cause man I went through so much bedding 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ now I know better

[@sarathomas8499]

When she said 3 living spider plants I thought she said 3 living spiders...and I was like ... what?!

[@numb3r0101]

😂😂

[@jencameron8124]

It's so cute that he likes to supervise, lol. My husband and I are new to your channel and very much appreciate all your tips, tricks and advice on hamster care. Thanks Erin - Cheers!

[@meganholton2403]

You should call your next hamster Iron so you can nickname him or her ironham (Ironman)

[@toweypat]

I AM IRONHAM dadadadadada dadadaaaa!

[@MM-oy1uq]

Yaassssssss!!!!!

[@tiayanamogensen4469]

Megan Holton omg i’ve been planning on getting a hamster within the next few months and naming him hamthony stark!

[@brayden2701]

Lol

[@PamelaLUSAF]

I appreciate your love and care for Nitro. His home is so very nice. I love it and Im sure he does too.

[@rowdyrats7035]

Will you do a full cleaning video on this cage? :)

[@krischa7]

This is the best hamster cage I have ever seen! Don't ever thought about the possibility to make a naturalist cage for a hamster. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@JeremyGoneWildPets]

I’ve been learning so much about hamsters from you!

[@No1Melody]

I LOVE how you love your hamster...I wish pet shops would stop their cruel practice and promote what you are showing here. If we are to keep animals in enclosures and in cages, then WE ARE obligated and responsible for providing nothing but the most appropriate environment possible for that living creature to live a life at it's best, while being in captivity. So thank you for your wonderful videos. Please keep on posting them because you are making a big difference for all the little furries by educating their owners. Thank you

[@orange5308]

I loved this so much! His cage is absolutely amazing!! 💖

[@Ratcrafts]

Fab video as always! I am so jealous of your cage!

[@charlieping1898]

Aw! Love the cage and Nitro!!!

[@symphonysonic8643]

That set up is beautiful 😍😍

[@drewbert83]

You have inspired me to make my own hamster garden. I used a big storage bin, put a screen on the lid. I got a 24inch grow light from how depot. Millet and sunflowers are hitting the lid at this point. Can't wait for him to see it at Christmas. It isn't as cool looking as yours, but I plan to tube it to his current cage.

[@CuriousinNY]

I love your channel. I’m new to it so here are a few questions you have probably answered many times before: 1. Do you coat the painted wooden shelves, nesting box, etc with something so that the urine doesn’t get absorbed by the wood or does the paint work well enough? 2. After you have removed the dirty substrate do you use any kind of cleaner to wipe down the area peed and pooed in? 3. What kind of paint did you use? I look forward to reading your reply or whoever knows the answers.

[@kathavry]

i absolutely love how u respect hamster privacy and space! Ik im a little late on the commenting, but I love your channel! My hamster is quirky as well, with his little food nibbling area :)

[@stevef1264]

Only thing missing is a little girlfriend hamster called helium with a higher pitch squeak

[@adammusiatewicz2598]

We watched it together with my 9 y. old daughter she will have her first hamster as a Christmas present. She (and me ) loves the film about the Nitrogene especially the one he recognized his new home. We love it, maybe we will do that type of cage in next year

[@sniffthehamster452]

Awsome video. This one was so fun to watch❤️

[@rat5800]

Hi Niteo is fricking adorable and not to be dramatic I would literally die for him

[@MM-oy1uq]

Mirror ME TO! I WOULD LITERALLY DIE FOR HIM!

[@koreykrause8589]

Hi Erin love you channel and your videos also Nitrogen is an adorable hamster!!! Loved how you redid the test tube cage 🐁🐹🐭

[@buttertoast778]

I am so happy you also use Mr Johnson’s because I recently got a hamster and they came with mr Johnson’s and she refuses anything else, but I was very concerned because even for me it smelled extremely sweet. Also thank you for helping me give my hamster her best life and you have amazing pet DIYs. Thanks xxx

[@Holly-zv7pl]

Loving the red hair!

[@lauragrace5622]

This is my comfort-video, haha! I don't know how many times I've watched it :)

[@stephaniekao8831]

Another Awesome video!! 👏 😊

[@yasknao5349]

Thank you, Erin! Wonderful video, glad to see Nitrogen again :) My new hamster is quite shy. How can I weight him without stressing him? He doesn't want to be held yet.

[@muhammadfirman8112]

Your video is very helpful. Thank You.

[@lila9295]

I don't even have a hamster, yet I enjoyed watching this alot!

[@lindasapiecha2515]

Brilliant Habitat x

[@letmedownslowly5667]

YAYYY! NEW VIDEO!!

[@lucyriegert4931]

I LOVE THIS!!!

[@athghost2256]

This is the first time your video has been in my subscription box in almost a year. What the heck

[@cantfiteveryheart]

I had a Syrian that chose the one place with her litterbox to be her hoard place and also a nap places. I gave her plenty of other nesting options and finally had to move the litter tray into an open space because I couldn't imagine how sleeping next urine was healthy.

[@cait159]

I’ve only just realized how pretty your eyes are!

[@Heelsandholster]

Love this!

[@katrinberge4828]

Fun and educating video!

[@honeymustarrd]

First 😉 And I like the video, I have a natural part of my cage for Darthy and I wanted to know how to clean it ❤️

[@aetes]

Man... I thought I wicked good pet owner and my Hamster Mercedes had a great life... Watching this video made me feel like a trash-lord. I need to up my game... After this Covid-19 thing is done, I am building a new enclosure from scratch.

[@Neuryn]

Dude I'm currently building a diy themed cage during the quarantine. You wanna share progress with each other? It'd be so much fun

[@hestermaurice8548]

@@Neuryn how did it go?

[@drewmcauley8451]

Hello, which soil do you use for this kind of habitat? I am off to Ikea today to buy the Detolf and want to go for a natural set up. I shall definately be getting a spider plant too! :D

[@meisterbreiti1163]

How often do you change the garden soil?

[@jammydable]

Hi Erin 👋🏼 thank you for the video. I have found a wheat weevil in my Syrian’s cage. I found some in some packaged oat sprays etc that I bought, luckily they were in air tight containers. But some must got in to his home because I have found a live one a month or so later in there and I’m freaking out! Do you have any experience with this or advice please? I’m super worried. Thank you! Oh ever since my discovery I froze all his food for a week before using it, so I guess there must be survivors or eggs from before unless they came from his bedding 😓

[@eris4265]

I'm planning on getting mice in the future and plan on building something similar to the test tube. Do you have any suggestions for bedding that will hold tunnel shapes?

[@antonellagagnacci6163]

Eris I use kaytee clan and cozy mixed with orchard grass hay and the tunnels hold well.

[@mondraymondo]

So adorableeee

[@1andrearoe]

When you do a full clean out, is that all materials?

[@autumnsmith6201]

Nitrogen is a lucky boy 💓 but he deserves it!!

[@addiebourgeois3467]

Love the cage!🥰😇

[@Melissa-pj6oi]

Love you and yours videos! Can you do a hamster hal video next???❤❤

[@theredroom_12]

how often do you water your spider plants? Just got a first time spider plant and don't know much about them. Thanks! :)

[@lula.ss_3603]

hi erin! can i use washed and dried grass in my hamsters cage to use layered for sustainability in her burrows

[@DaisyStalls]

Hi erin! I have recently got a campells hammy, and she is extremely energetic! She seems a little frantic chewing on her chews and running on her wheel. It might just be that im not used to it, but do you have any suggestions of toys or stuff i can do to burn off her energy?:) (she lives in the largest ikea samla bin)

[@dominosia107]

Is soil bedding good for burrowing? Using paper bedding at the moment, and my Fred loves to burrow in it. Thinking of trying soil when I get a bigger cage for him, but am worried that he wont like burrowing in it. Thoughts?

[@JakeSmith-nv6dz]

Hi do you keep the soil dry and how dry

[@ruth7934]

if anyone is wondering where the watering can is from, i saw it on ikea

[@lydiapenuelaz2413]

Hi Erin! I was wondering if you could tell me where i can get the big wooden hide with the removable lid? And will the openings fit a Syrian? Thank you :) Great video as always!

[@kane2906]

What's the best kind of sand to use for a hamsters sand bath?

[@FanFav101]

How do I go about cleaning eco earth with the addition of springtails?

[@The_Ramzi_]

우와 우리 설이도 저렇게 만들어줘야 겠어요!! 너무 좋아보여요🤍

[@sarahc8482]

Hi Erin! 😊

[@HisbellsEnd]

Did you make his nesting box with the chambers and lid? I am building a cage and I LOVE that idea!!

[@SomethingAnimal]

Yes! I have the tutorial for it on my channel 😊

[@raven5144]

In this cage version what is the substrates you are using?

[@LaVida5]

Do you water the dirt because mine gets realy dry. I live on the 4th floor. Yes my little pearl was really stressed out for 2 days, because I removed to much of her sent. Finally after 2 days she was willing to return home

[@VixxTheFoxx]

Erin:*Talking* Nitrogen:Yeahhhh dooooiiiinnnggg a cclllliiiiimmmmmmmbbbbbb...Ahh save ...oh NVM Erin..don't save me,I'm fine

[@racqmeghoo5137]

Inlove with this hamster home.....How often does the potting mix needs to be changed???

[@sigridmasterbard7295]

Where did you buy that water bowl?💕🐹

[@cassidymiller163]

what soil do you use?

[@Eskah.Mof0]

Awesome 👌 👏 👍 very nice home you rock

[@BlueSnowLeopard1]

where do you get your bowls? they are always so cute and lovely

[@SomethingAnimal]

That one I found in a thrift shop! Novelty ashtrays also make cute hamster bowls :)

[@BlueSnowLeopard1]

@@SomethingAnimal tyvm! I will keep that in mind

[@elizabethkloc7959]

Im going to start to Build my Bin Cage im very happy

[@masochistarch1311]

*How often do you have to change the whole soil?*

[@defnekahraman9042]

Oml my class owns the same exact watering can.

[@coberrypets710]

what dirt do you use for his cage? x

[@tallingray7294]

Nitrogen is the cutest little floofball! 🐹😁

[@ScousePets]

hi erin I just recently bought a long haired male Syrian and he is currently on woodshavings their kilndried and dust extracted they are starting to stick around his skirt Im thinking of changing his bedding wa bedding do u recommend I was thinking of back to nature and carboard bedding but its not the best for digging so should I give him a deep soil digging area etc

[@hynoid.snightmare9393]

How do you clean this cage? Not spot-clean but 'deep clean' because holy moly that looks like a lot of work!

[@ava_a313]

Honestly, if you spot clean you'll never have to take out the bedding.

[@oliviatuthill7754]

how often do u spot clean ???

[@ddm6779]

Hey Erin my hamster Rico has lived a long and happy life of 3 years. I just want to thank you for all your help and I'm pretty sure your the reason my hamster has made it this far.😂 Love aLongLostBro.

[@welluhm3426]

I dont think my mom researched much when she got my brother's hamsters because they lasted less then a year😢😯😥😣

[@ddm6779]

@@welluhm3426 yeah research is key,maybe they were just sick.

[@braxufo6108]

i moved my hamster into an ikea detolf over a month ago and she started biting she never did before and that’s the only thing that has changed in her life she doesn’t bite hard it’s like a curious bite but she will do it continuously throughout handling not just once to see if i’m food i wash my hands ect. so i have been thinking about moving her back into her bin cage for a month or so to see if that helps i’ve had her for 6 months is this a good idea also i changed her bedding to aspen and she hated it and didn’t tunnel at all and she used to all the time so i changed it back to paper and it been a few weeks and she hasn’t started again i tried putting some tunnels in the better to encourage it but it hasn’t worked

[@giraffierose5494]

My hamster only does not eat the little hay pellets but he eats every thing else

[@danicazurenko3077]

Giraffie Rose same here

[@C.Woodford]

Those pellets have no nutritional content, they are purely used as a bag filler! My hamsters never eat them either

[@armoredwings4182]

Hamsters can't digest hay so they don't eat them. Maybe try getting a food that doesn't contain hay pellets?

[@giraffierose5494]

Thanks guy for the help

[@C.Woodford]

@@armoredwings4182 most of them do as it's a cheap way of making the bags fuller without costing the company much, they are hard to avoid!

[@hugoweaving6275]

Good food tips. My hamster used to leave the pellets

[@FragileInfinity]

I have a similar nesting box but with 8 rooms/chambers, and I have a porcelain corner toilet fit for that nesting box and now he almost always goes peepee in there. Have another one with three rooms as well where I also have a porcelain corner toilet but bigger than the one in the 8 room one and he uses that one for eating/grooming and rarely goes pee-pee in there. I also have one square sandbath ''outside'' (that's not inside a nesting box) that has a bendy bridge as roof, there he usually groom, chill, eat and occasionally goes to the bathroom in. He also has a round bowl made of clay with curved semi roof and he only grooms and chill in there :) the inside of the bathing bowl is glazed, whereas the outside is unglazed so if he climbs he will trim his claws and get a nice foothold as well : 3 Also, How do you spot-clean a cage that has a LOT of burrowing substrate (carefresh etc) if the hamster has tunnels etc? Since often they want to be as close to a wall/floor/roof etc and burrow pretty deep in the burrowing substrate, and even tho you want to spot clean... It feels ''wrong'' to go and ruin his tunnels every day... even tho that's where he goes peepee the most, and spend most of his time running around and chilling. Now I changed cage setup tho because I didn't want to ruin his tunnels every day.... I have a detolf and ill try to create a ''pic'' so you see the proportion of the substrate placements. I made the symbol detolf cage here as it would normally be seen from when you use it as a hamster cage. That is laying down on its back with the open part faced to the roof and from the side so you can see in thru the glass. #_____oOOO# # = cage walls o/O = burrowing substrate ___ = substrate (aspen) I do have a good cage setup now tho but he really likes to create and run in his tunnels...He has a burrowing substrate place right now but he isn't using it very much. So how would you spot clean that set up? He has(would have) a chamber for toilet needs that needs to be cleaned out but I can't think of any other way to clean it/remove the dirty substrate than to ruin his work and I don't want to do that since it's so deeply located it's hard to get it out WITHOUT demolishing his tunnels.... Anyone here with similar thoughts/problems or that have tips regarding this? Or maybe I am the only one that uses a lot of burrowing substrate lol Thank you in advance for answers : )

[@robinisacatto7052]

I wouldn’t go out of your way to clean the tunnels unless something really smells. Poos are completely hard and scentless when dry, and urine is easily absorbed into the substrate. Just pick out the parts on top that look dirty :)

[@LapeceradeMaria]

Hi !!! Can I make my little house made of pinewood? and can I use acrylic paint to paint? Thank you😊👍

[@ExcaliburOfYuletide]

Pine is okay if it is kiln-dried, but do not use paint. Food safe food coloring is good for making colors. Not as bright as paint, but much safer!

[@blahbloh6456]

Hi! Is it oke to use cocoships from the reptile section? Can you tel more about it?

[@hyakki5287]

Evy Meijerink yes, it’s safe!

[@blahbloh6456]

alpacassei thank you so much, Did you also used it for your hamster?

[@maddierose131]

Blah Bloh I’ve personally never used it but I know people that have

[@ritaholmes6962]

What would be a great cleaning habit of your using nice and cozy paper bedding instead of dirt?

[@ritaholmes6962]

I love your set up!

[@13juniper]

My hamster Maple wasn't a wheel peer for a good 4 months and then bam... constant wheel pee. I thought I got lucky but nope lol. However she does keep the toilet business to her nest area and the wheel, so I suppose that's helpful. Even when I do big enclosure cleans, I keep a good chunk of the cleaner bedding to put into her nest space so that it's still familiar. We are also on about 2 or 3 months now of having a water bowl in addition to her bottle and she heckin loves it. She seems to prefer the bowl. I am kicking myself for not trying it sooner lol.

[@jillwilliams1669]

idk if you still have this but you should invest in sprays and spreading/ burying the food so they will have to forage and search for it, helps them be active and use their ssenses

[@SomethingAnimal]

I don't have this specific enclosure anymore, but the reason I don't use sprays etc in any of my enclosures is because I've yet to find anywhere in my country that sells them. Online shopping is extremely limited here so until I find a physical store that sells them I just don't have the option

[@taraleenorin1467]

Do you change the whole cage or just keep spot cleaning? Cause theres no litterbox.

[@izabelbraga4388]

Doesn't he dig the land? And does it create paths from the ground?

[@LordFlashheart1]

Great video, Nitro’s so cute. Could you tell me what chamber house that is please? Is it a Niteangel? ❤

[@SomethingAnimal]

It's a DIY, you can find the tutorial on our channel :)

[@LordFlashheart1]

@@SomethingAnimal fantastic, just watched it, what wood did you use?

[@AbisAnimals]

ERINS ANIMALS can you help me I have a problem my hamster is 1 year and 6 months and I want to upgrade his cage is it safe to move him to another larger encloser its double the size of his current cage I would put all of his bedding in the cage so he would feel like he knows where he is or should I slowly introduce it to him? since he is older I was wondering if he could pass from all of that stress if he did not fell safe enough like I said I would put all of his current bedding into the cage so it smells the same. can you help.

[@kaykay9384]

Does anyone know if the Detolf leaks urine? Given that it comes in pieces and is not glued together, I am wondering if the urine can leak through the cracks making it difficult to keep clean like a tank?

[@ollieyoutube]

Da da, da, da daaa! I’m Lovin’ It!

[@mr.majestic.3]

Whoa this video is very life changing for me. I had a hamster a few years back who unfortunately passed from old age. I had him for about 2 and a half years and the original owner had him about 6 months. His name was Joker. I cleaned Jokers cage once a week, and I mean fully cleaned it. I have never heard of spot cleaning. I recently got another Hamster whose name is FurBall and I havent had to clean her cage yet because I have only had her 5 days, but was planning to clean it Saturday. If I need to use this spot cleaning method, how do I know that she has used the bathroom in a particular area? Also how do I know if she is peeing on the wheel because I have a metal wheel with little holes instead of a plastic wheel this time?

[@_Calliegraphy_]

Hey Erin, is there a reason you use so little substrate? Hamsters do normally make their own holes and make their own trenches/burrows..

[@SomethingAnimal]

It's because I had done a full clean out a week before and didn't have as many replacement soil bags as I had thought, he normally has at least 15cm+ which you can see in his past cage tour. I got the extra soil a few days after this video was filmed to top it up :)

[@cait159]

Hey Erin,I recently got a baby Syrian hamster and she’s very jumpy and agile,could you give me some advice on how to handle it?