Why do my hamsters push bedding to lower levels? Is it normal?

As long as the toys are "hamster safe", there is no cause for concern. Hamsters are burrowers. They like to dig through and under bedding. You can use aspen shavings or recycled paper bedding. Do not use pine or cedar shavings.

Care fresh bedding is what is recommended. It is the safest, healthiest bedding. Controls odors up to two times longer than traditional bedding. Absorbs up to three times its weight in liquid. Made from reclaimed wood pulp waste, not recycled paper. *99% dust-free for easy cleanup *Natural paper small animal bedding *CareFresh pet bedding with 10-day odor control formula *Absorbs 3 times more liquid than wood shavings Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Just let her set up the environment that way she likes it. You can't force her to use the house. Some hamsters just prefer to sleep in an open nest in the corner of their cages rather than choosing to sleep inside a house/hideout. This is pretty normal. If you want to try a different house you could do that. Some don't like those clear, see-through houses. They prefer something darker.

It is possible that placing your hamster on your bed is a stressful experience for her which is why she is chewing. If you have other pets that get on the bed their scent could be on the blanket making her feel territorial or stressed out. Placing her on a freshly washed blanket and offering a few favorite treats may help her relax some. If the behavior continues or you see other signs of illness or behavioral changes then I suggest you have her examined by your vet to rule out health issues (like a dental issue). Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Gerbils come from a desert environment, but sand as a substrate is not practical and difficult to keep clean. Instead, you can use aspen shavings, hay or recycled paper bedding. Make it deep enough so they can tunnel through it and make little nests.

According to the Purdue University Veterinary school handout on hamsters, Timothy Hay can be used as bedding for hamsters. It will absorb some urine, but it does not control odors and will mold when wet. You can use it as a top dressing over a paper-like bedding, and change the hay every one to two days. The bedding underneath will have to be changed once a week. Fresh Timothy hay is best, as pre-packed hay bought in the pet store is dried to prevent molding, which makes it harder and less suitable for bedding. Marie can also nibble on the hay as a supplement.

It is completely normal for a hamster to chew and chew and chew! Just be sure you are offering plenty of safe options for him to chew on, which it sounds like you are doing already. You may need to move him to a metal/wire cage that he cannot chew on and remove the plastic housing so he does not ingest any plastic. It is also normal for him to be a little jumpy as he is still getting used to his surroundings. Just continue working with him and encouraging him to come to you. Using his favorite treats can help too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!