the Hamster Playpen of the Future

Jan 10

Written By Rachel

Little Peggy looking towards a bright future ✨

The new year has arrived and it was time to take down the hamster Christmas tree!

…But what to put in its place…?

I recently read an article, I think on Vox (of course now I can’t find it!), about the use of the term, “season”. If I’m in a season, I’m in a season of iridescence! Or maybe I’ve been in that season my whole life and am finally embracing it…. either way, I’m a sucker for something shiny, sparkly, clear & colorful. And what better time to celebrate cool tones and sparkly whites than the coldest, most dreary part of winter?!

I gathered all my sparkly & pretty things, including an antique asparagus dish I thought would make a gorgeous hemp foraging area!

I also splurged on a few items to make the playpen a little more exciting- like the iridescent, Bucatstate Hamster Wheel, some iridescent lights, an iridescent hide and a little icy-looking mountain hide.

The Bucatstate wheel was a little less colorful than I thought it would be, but I still appreciate the excuse to buy it- I’ve be wanting an excuse to!

I also decided that a new year should include some fresh greenery, so I grew some chia seed sprouts. If you remember, Maurice & Thor were not very interested in them last time I grew these… but with the new additions to the hamster tribe, I figured it was worth another shot.

For this playpen setup I used a slightly more fluffy blanket than the usual fleece - it gives a nice, snowy effect without getting caught on hamster nails. I use the blankets in my playpen to keep my hamsters from chewing on the nylon the playpen is made of - they can quickly chew a hole and escape! But use fleece or any fabric liner with caution- some hamsters can chew and ingest it. I am always there with my hamsters while they are in the playpen, and rarely if ever do they show interest in chewing on the blanket.

For lighting I use these simple, white twinkle lights from Target, clipped onto the edges with some binder clips. I like the soft glow they give, and allow me to keep the overhead lights off.

I also purchased some “disco ball” lights, which are a little too blue in color when on, but do add some nice reflections!

Do you have any fun themes in your playpen this January? Please share!