Best Cage for Syrians? - Page 3

AprilPearl · 04-14-2017, 09:27 AM

Will do. I guess I am nervous that Mushu will stop being the lovely calm tame little boy he has become over the past week! But, I want to do right by him

it's just annoying that Pets at Home didn't either A) sell bigger cages or B) allow me to reserve him as I requested so that I could go away and buy a bigger cage elsewhere!

AprilPearl · 04-15-2017, 04:28 AM

Have just ordered Mushu an Alaska cage and a silent Runner wheel. I know the Alaska us not as big as many people's cages here, but my mum absolutely would not allow me to buy a bigger one. She thought even the Alaska was too big. I hope I haven't done a bad thing?

cypher · 04-15-2017, 05:21 AM

The alaska will be fine, it may not be quite as big as some other cages but it's still a really good size, lots of people do use them for syrians & I'm sure Mushu will love it.

AprilPearl · 04-15-2017, 05:55 AM

Oh good. I am glad it is fine for him size wize. Also, are syrians at risk from falling in it, or is that just dwarf hamsters?

cypher · 04-15-2017, 06:37 AM

They can be, not so much as dwarfs & they are a lot bigger so don't have so far to fall if they do climb but it is something to think about when you set up the cage.

Humphrey_hamster · 04-15-2017, 07:42 AM

Climbing: My hamster climbs his bars, he doesn't generally fall but when he does he's nearer the bottom of the cage and lands on some soft paper bedding. He doesn't usually fall though as he's a good climber. As long as you make sure that he's got thick being, and especially just under the bars, he should be fine. The only thing you've really got to worry about is him landing awkwardly. Watch him in his cage to see if he's limping or favouring a leg. When you get him out give him a bit of a check over and all should be well

New cage: with the New cage I got for Humphrey, the base was large enough to put the smaller cage inside it. When he got more comfortable, I took the cage out but put the being that smelled like him in there. There was a little shelfy bit in the old cage so I put that in too you should make the transition quite gradual and if your hamster gets stressed, go back a step. Make sure you don't change his food mix or type of substrate at the same time.

I hope all goes well, good luck!

AprilPearl · 04-15-2017, 08:31 AM

Thank you for the advice. When the cage gets here, I will do my best to make the switch over as stress free as possible. I just changed Mushu over from wood shavings to paper paper substrate today because the shavings were getting caught in his long fur. He seems a bit miffed by that so I will let him get used to that before putting him into the new cage - which probably won't arrive fir a few days anyway.

Humphrey_hamster · 04-15-2017, 08:50 AM

April pearl
It's alright! The last thing you want is Mushu getting stressed and developing wet tall or something horrible like that!
I use some wood shavings with a thick layer of paper on top so his paws don't get sore. Humphrey doesn't seem to care that much about what substrate he has- I think it helps that I've given him many different ones, but now I tend to stick to unscented, safe wood shavings and carefresh bedding on top- with some SOFT and cosy stuff for his bed.

AprilPearl · 04-15-2017, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humphrey_hamster

April pearl
It's alright! The last thing you want is Mushu getting stressed and developing wet tall or something horrible like that!
I use some wood shavings with a thick layer of paper on top so his paws don't get sore. Humphrey doesn't seem to care that much about what substrate he has- I think it helps that I've given him many different ones, but now I tend to stick to unscented, safe wood shavings and carefresh bedding on top- with some SOFT and cosy stuff for his bed.

Wet tail is literally my worst nightmare!!!!

I have come to the conclusion that Mushu may actually have been excited about the new substrate as he was burrowing and tunnelling right through it. If he was upset, it may well have been because it is the first time I have cleaned out his cage and therefore 'robbed' him of his store

he is now sleeping happily.

Even if he was temporarily unsettled, I think the long term benefit is worth it as the woodshavings were on their way to tangling his fur. And I kept his bedding material the same.

AprilPearl · 04-15-2017, 09:13 AM

I do worry with the Alaska that he isn't going to be able to reach his water bottle, or the wheel as I plan to attach it to the cage wall. The tray base is 2.5cm taller than his current cage's base, which he can barely stretch his front paws up to as it is.