Hamster toys for a syrian

[Rach]

When I bought Summer a few months ago, I had only had enough money to give her a house (since Dusty killed the last one and she's using his old cage, R.I.P Dusty). She seems to be getting very bored now and so I'm on the search for hamster toys. Has anyone got any idea's? I'm waiting for a tube for her when we finish the kitchen towel but I need ideas for something I could buy her, if anyone knows anything free and fun then even better! :D

[Hana]

My hams arn't syrians but it would still work, to make a swing out of a toilet roll tube and a peice of string going through it. Then hang it from the top of the cage, does that make sense? :wink:

[Rach]

She'd love that! Thats a great idea, and would just need me borrowing string. I'll give it a try. Thankyou :wink:

[Jill Bayles]

I came across that idea today but it wouldn't work in a tank cage like the one I'm getting would it? Hmmm....

[souffle]

I would not suspend a tube too high as they might fall out and hurt themselves. Just put it on the floor. They love any type of card box to trash. You can cut holes to make little doors in and out and they can chew it. Some of the fancy toys are a bit of a waste really as they are too small for syrians and though rather cute to us they dont really know what to do with them. The best toys are things they can get inside and run through and of course a wheel. Also chewy things. Ours spend hours on a dried sweetcorn, stripping and storing it. They like to scramble on large smooth beach pebbles and a sand bath in an ice cream tub (not too deep) is loved. They like egg boxes too. We fill a hamster potty with sand and they dig, bathe and wee in that. Use the chinchilla sand (NOT DUST) or childrens play sand. Plastic pipe offcuts from a plumber are strong and fun tunnels.

[Jill Bayles]

A mental note has been made and is now safely compartmentalised up top...along with the advice re the virtues of loo roll for nesting :lol:

[Hana]

Yeh don't make the swing too high, mine is just a little step down not so he could hurt himself.

I was getting some funny looks the other week when I was picking up large, flat pepples of the beach! They are also good in the summer to keep the ham cool! :)

[racinghamster]

It is quite frustrating when you see so many toys and they have very small holes that a hamster might get stuck in. Loo rolls/kitchen rolls are too narrow for many hamsters, so I buy a chube tube from the pet shop with the bright coloured parchment on the outside! Scooby can run through this no problem. I`m planning an egg box for him too and will cut a hole in one of the turrets and a door on the front for him! This should be fun..... :lol:

[Jill Bayles]

I have a lovely big smooth pebble that came from the beach and I'm hoping to put it in Hammy's cage but before I do I need to know if I need to bake it first. I think I read a post on here about doing this but I can't find it anywhere. Either that or I've dreamt it :lol:

If I do, what temperature do I heat the oven to and how long do I leave it in there for?

Thanks x

[SnuggleHam]

I use large flat rocks to hold my gerbils wheels down.. otherwise they flip them on their side the little rascals! I just put them in a pot of boil water for maybe five or ten minutes. Thats what I would recommend doing. :)

[souffle]

We have never baked ours Jill. Just a good wash. rinse and drying is fine.

[Emms]

Twinkle has a hammock, a bridge, a wheel, a cool wooden playhouse and this mini climbing frame. They seem to be keeping her occupied for the time being but she still prefers cuddles to anything else.

Emma x

[Jill Bayles]

Lucky Twinkle :wink:

I'm sure that this little hammy must have lots of fun and stimulation with all those toys!

We've got tubes, a ball that tinkles, an eggbox, a pebble, an igloo and 2 wooden gnawing toys plus bendysticks...I'm sure we'll add to that as we want to keep changing the toys to make for variety and plenty of stimulation. I've seen some online that aren't in the shops so I'll order some soon, along with some chinchilla sand if what I've got is no good.

Aidan is looking forward to choosing the cage toys when he gets home from after-school club and placing them inside :wink: