Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Chat

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-18-2016, 05:22 PM   #11
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

If you have a good depth of substrate and use a potty, you can manage with spot cleaning and not need to do full cleans very often at all. I only do a full clean about once every 2 or 3 months now . And even then it's a 'partial' clean rather than a full clean. Some of it depends on the hamster, and how much they wee and where, but most Syrians tend to have a main toiletting spot. This video on cage cleaning from Erin's Hamsters explains it really well - full cage cleans stress them out. I followed some of her advice and it has worked really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVnEjrXbww

Good point about a deep cage base being like a gerbilarium! Except I think most gerbilariums are too small, or they might be quite good for a hamster. There is a cage called the Falco cage, which I really wanted at one time but it's very expensive, and even if it wasn't I have an issue with the fact that it only has a top opening door and no side doors. It's basically a 100cm glass tank with a cage top (popular with gerbil owners!). The only way it could safely be set up really would be to fill the whole tank base with substrate and treat the top bit like a standard cage.

Hamster Cages: great selection at zooplus: Small Pet Cage Falco

Here is a list of Southern Hamster club breeders

Breeders

If nothing near you or no hamsters currently available, then another option is to check out your local RSPCA via their website. You put in your postcode and select 'other' under type of pet and it comes up with all the pets available for rehoming at your nearest RSPCA - there are usually a few hamsters!

Find a pet to adopt - Find a rescue dog, cat, rabbit, horse

But if you're interested in rehoming I don't suppose it really matters where you get the hamster from - Gumtree or pets at home, they will all need a nice home Although if getting one privately (eg gumtree) it could be an idea to have a vet check when you get them and rule out any illnesses or conditions that might need treating.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 06:35 AM   #12
don
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 68
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

Hi IMoT.
We're relatively new hamster owners, and your questions are essentially the same as the queries we had when first getting our little fella.

We went for the zooplus Alaska cage - I think it's a great cage for the money.
We got rid of the black shelf & slide, and I made some of my own shelves to go inside. It's also big enough to house a 28cm Karlie wonderland wheel - we have ours permanently fixed to the back of the cage. It's also got plenty of height to mount hammocks in there - we've got 2 of the grass type hammocks in there, again from zooplus.

We started off using carefresh, then as we've been cleaning him out a bit, we replace anything we take out with fitch. It's probably a 4:1 carefresh/fitch ratio at the moment. The Alaska cage enables you to put LOADS of bedding in there, for digging. There's 5 or 6 inches in places in our cage.
Carefresh seems to be softer, but messier than fitch. However, we'll slowly move over to fitch over a period of time as we clean him out, because fitch is a lot cheaper if you buy in bulk.
don is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 06:40 AM   #13
don
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 68
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

Unfortunately, I find it difficult to talk about our hamster without posting a picture.
So here you go . .
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0053.jpg (89.7 KB, 10 views)
don is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 09:30 AM   #14
ImoT
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 93
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

Serendipity I loved that youtube video!I want to watch the litter training one now! Yes all the gerbilariums i've seen are either far too small or far too expensive!! I think the Alaska is still winning.

Thank you for the list of hamster breeders, are they likely to be reputable?? There aren't any on the list super near to me but i'm willing to travel to get one from a reputable breeder. I have been keeping an eye on the RSPCA website, in-fact I visited the closest branch to me at the weekend. There aren't really many about on the RSPCA pages! I agree to an extent with your point about it not mattering where you get one from, on the one hand buying one from a pet shop prevents someone else buying it who then ends up having to rehome it or mistreating it, but then it does just perpetuate the cycle of breeding that pet shops have!

Don your hamster is gorgeous!! I love your shelves, how did you make them?
ImoT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 11:23 AM   #15
Coco61
GrannyHam
 
Coco61's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 4,261
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

If you can reach Borehamwood, I would highly recommend Tuftyfluffs. Top class breeder of Syrians (mine came from there) and she is also a hamster show judge. There won't be litters born right now (too cold) so there is time to email and get on the waiting list. Be patient for a reply! Email via the website.
Also if you visited a hamster show, there are often babies for sale there. If you go onto Towyvale Hamstery website there is a list there of all the shows. It is great fun visiting a show anyway.
I know others have posted about Fitch already but I use it too and it is great stuff.
Coco61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 11:30 AM   #16
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

I got the Southern Hamster club list of breeders from the National Hamster Council website, but if there is a particular one who is nearby and you want to know more, some of the breeders on here may be able to give you more info
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 01:52 PM   #17
ImoT
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 93
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

Coco I have just emailed Sue from Tuftyfluffs Borehamwood is about an hour away from me but I travelled over an hour to get to a reputable rabbit rescue so I'm willing to travel! I'll look up shows too

I can't decide between using Fitch and Aubiose!

Serendipity there aren't any near me, the Borehamwood one is probably the closest!
ImoT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 02:03 PM   #18
Coco61
GrannyHam
 
Coco61's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 4,261
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

Tuftyfluffs is a good hour plus from me but it is well worth the trip. Beautiful animals with lovely calm temperaments. She also breeds winter whites. As I said be patient for a reply. You can always send a polite follow up after a couple of weeks.
Do update us here to let us know what you do!
Coco61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 02:14 PM   #19
ImoT
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 93
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

I can be patient, I can't really get one until May anyways because we are away in Paris and Australia in between now and then, and although we have house sitters organised I would rather be around to make sure the hamster settles well for the first few months. If I don't hear within a few weeks I shall send a follow up email. It does say on her website that she has about 100 hamsters so I am guessing she is quite a busy lady!! I will update everyone

If anyone has any more advice or recommended breeders/rescues then please let me know!
ImoT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2016, 04:48 PM   #20
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Thinking of getting a Syrian...advice please!

You could actually mix Fitch and Aubiose Aubiose is just another name for Hemp bedding and I believe people prefer the Hugro one from Zooplus these days.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
hamster, thinking, litter, syrian, people, good, aware, cage, post, links, health, advice, issues, house, ferplast, rabbits, food, train, switching, megazorb, accommodate, substrate, harvest, called, pelleted

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:59 PM.