Is this suitable for a Syrian hamster?

[thornyhousewife]

After lots of thought, I'd like to get a Syrian hamster.

I like the look of this tall rodent home but would love some advice from an experienced hamster owner please.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01442DOKW/ref=mp_s_a_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1504986848&sr=8-21&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=rodent%20house&dpPl=1&dpID=41ru14ldVGL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

The footprint is 60cm x 40cm.

I went to p@h today but their cages were tiny. Another local pet shop has 5 week old Syrian babies which I could collect next week when they turn 6 weeks.

Any advice or tips very much appreciated!

[LadyDeadpool]

The only thing that would bother me about that is the possibility of the wood absorbing the urine and ending up stinking and rotting. Oh and I can't quite figure out where you'd attach a wheel. it'd need to be of a good size to stop the back from arching.

[thornyhousewife]

Thanks LadyDeadpool. I was hoping to line the bottom with plastic/lino before covering with substrate.

Apparently it's possible to litter train them too, so fingers crossed for that..

I am hoping to get a large wooden free standing wheel. I hope it doesn't tip over? Perhaps I can lean it against the side?

[peachandplum]

No it's not

[peachandplum]

also you can't keep Syrians together so I don't know what you mean by collecting 5 pups. They fight to the death, they have to be housed alone.

[Gribbie]

Won't it chew it's way out? Disclaimer: my only hamster knowledge is 35 years out of date!

[thornyhousewife]

Thanks peachandplum. I meant one hamster which is five weeks old sorry.

Can you tell me why you think it's not suitable? Thanks.

[thornyhousewife]

Gribbie - good point, that would be rubbish!

[peachandplum]

Sorry I didn't read it correctly!

Firstly you can't waterproof it and the bacteria will settle and make it ill. They will also chew and damage their gums with splinters.
We never ever recommend wood for hamsters. I've been breeding them for 15 years.

[crazycatgal]

Have a look at the Hamster Heaven cage, it's perfect for a syrian hamster.

[thornyhousewife]

Ah OK, that's really useful, thanks!

Would you recommend a glass tank ikea hack? Or is plastic best? Thank you!

[swapsicles]

80cm is a reccomended size for a hamster, so that's not quite big enough.
Zooplus have the alaska/barney/Alexander cages which are a great size and I've heard many people using the Ikea deltof shelving on its side as a large tank.
I'd also worry about a hamster chewing it's way out on the wooden cages, nice as tbey look.

[thornyhousewife]

Yes saw the hamster heaven recommended on here earlier, I'm off to Google again now..

[thornyhousewife]

Thanks swapsicles

[BuzzKillington]

Our syrian, recently departed at a grand old age, had a hamster heaven cage which was perfect.

[peachandplum]

You need a cage with bars as wood/plastic/glass doesn't provide enough ventilation!

[MrsMooks]

I've got a Qute from the company Omlet, rubbish at links so have a Google. It's brilliant. Had a Syrian in it for 2 years and 9 months.

[thornyhousewife]

This is great thank you, have ordered a hamster heaven. Getting excited now!

[peachandplum]

Show us a link! I love cages!

My top tip is handle her straight away with small treats! Don't leave them too long to 'settle in' as they become solitary and very scared and prone to biting.

If she won't come to you just keep giving her sunflower seeds or plain unsalted popcorn BY HAND. That's how you'll tame her. Please ask me any questions you think of!

[colouringinagain]

Find a hamster breeder, that way your hamster will have been handled from day one and be like ours - super friendly

[SophieGiroux]

Are the rotastak type cages not recommended anymore? Don't see them around as much as i did 10 years ago when we had a space station one that was pretty cool.

[thornyhousewife]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

The pet shop I'm going to today is a Pets Corner chain. They were really knowledgeable on the phone and use local breeders.

I will make sure to ask if it they've been handled regularly.

[burntoutmum]

We don't have a hamster but found Pets Corner to be fab since our recent puppy arrival! They seem to know everything!

Good luck, post pics please!

[BuzzKillington]

We had a rotastak type cage a few years ago and it was a complete pain. It took about 2 hours to clean every week and the hamster barely used any of it.

[rightsaidfrederickII]

I know you've made your decision (and the hamster heaven is entirely suitable), but for anyone reading this in future, all cages must be a minimum of 80x50cm unbroken floorspace (shelves are bonuses, not replacements for footprint)

Zooplus Alexander - 100x50cm - www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/174238

Zooplus Barney - 100x50cm - www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/189303

Mamble 100 - 100x50cm (there's also a Mamble 80, which is 80x50cm) www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk/products/mamble-rat-hamster-narrow-bar-100cm-cage.html

Zoozone 2 / aka Zoozone Large - 100x50cm www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=456&pf_id=59760 (you'd need to cable tie wire mesh over the top to reduce bar spacing and prevent your hamster from going on an adventure)

Ferplast Maxi Duna Multy - 100x50cm www.portonaquapet.co.uk/-M58956?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlsfriqSf1gIV6rXtCh0e5QuAEAQYAyABEgLHMfD_BwE

Zooplus Alaska - 80x50cm - www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/284288 (if you're on a tight budget, this is the one I'd recommend, but otherwise go for a bigger one if you can)

Savic Hamster Heaven Metro - 80x50cm - www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/197362

Ikea Detolf with homemade mesh lid - 163x43cm - i.pinimg.com/originals/f3/98/d1/f398d15b2093cbb479b0dccf98955e92.jpg (plenty of other pics out there!)

Nothing sold in store as a hamster cage at Pets at Home is suitable. The Omlet Qute is designed for people who are more interested in their cage blending with the Ikea furniture than they are in the welfare of the inhabitant.

You'll also need a 28cm diameter wheel - any smaller and they will need to bend their back / neck to run and start to develop painful spinal problems. This is one example of a suitable wheel www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/accessories/exercise_wheels/609617?rrec=true

[Patchouli666]

We use a hamster heaven. Our last little lad got to nearly 4 and a half and carked it on his wheel going for it like he always did ( we have a pasta bowl shaped wheel that is horizontal not vertical )
It's a great cage.
And get some leather gardening gloves if the hammy is a bit nippy initially - and he or she will quickly get used to being handled.