elderly hamster can't get up tubes in cage

[southeastastra]

any suggestions on what i can do to make this easier for him?

Buy a basic cage rather than one with vertical tubes.

extend it lengthways instead of up?

extend it lengthways instead of up?

Agree

I have no idea OP but came on to say that your thread title made me go "awwwwwww" out loud.

I do hope you solve the problem.

StairMaster?

I used to have a Russian hamster that couldn't get up the tubes as he wasn't big enough, you can buy a little metal ladder which hooks over the end of the tube that he may be able to use. The brand I bought was Rotastak (not sure if trade names are allowed on here?? sorry if not!)

Perhaps look at a new layout, or maybe a new cage with less tubes. Put bedding, food and water closer together that doesn't involve a tube journey.

When my hamster became elderly and struggled with vertical tubes I converted his rotastac cage from highrise to bungalow. Still had one horizontal tube between sleeping and living pods. He seemed to like it and as I recall spent several happy months in his retirement home :-)

I had this problem with elderly hammy as well. Solution is as others have said to convert its cage to a bunglalow so it doesn't have to struggle and it's bed, food and water are all on the level.