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Old 08-03-2019, 08:06 AM   #1
Franny
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
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Default Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi, im hoping to get a hamster for my sons birthday next week,
But now im not sure which type would be suitable for the cage i got

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Hamster-Cag...iABEgLft_D_BwE

It looks like this and the bars are spaced 1cm apart, we were looking to get a dwarf but now in not so sure as when we went to the pet store apparently id have to buy a pair 😫
This cage seems too small for a golden hamster so now i have no idea what to do, any advice would be really appreciated else im going to have a very disapointed little boy
Would i still be ok getting one dwarf hamster?
Sorry for the spelling mistakes as well, My keyboard keeps getting stuck 😂
Thank you in advance!
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Old 08-03-2019, 01:11 PM   #2
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Definitely don't buy a pair of hamsters regardless of species. It's unnatural to house even the dwarf species socially and it often still ends in fighting if not severe injury or potentially at worst death to both hamsters.

Pet stores often give horribly outdated or just generally inaccurate advice, so I would ignore pretty much everything pet store employees tell you. They don't have any real knowledge on proper care, their job is to make sales!

That being said I would not use that cage for any hamster. It won't allow for even the bare minimum substrate depth, and it's very small in actual floor space. Hamsters aren't natural climbers and can seriously injure themselves trying to climb, so you want to focus on a long and wide cage rather than one with more height. 100 cm x 50 cm is a much better size for a dwarf species and tends to work out perfectly for them, but you will want a cage that can hold at least 4 inches of substrate(preferably 6+, but even the best available cages don't often allow that depth without some sort of DIY modification).
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Old 08-03-2019, 01:27 PM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi and welcome!

Please don't buy this cage, its not suitable for any hamster.
You can get a better cage for the same price or less from zooplus.

My Syrian hamster lives in the Alaska cage which i bought online from zooplus. It was delivered quickly and they have a good selection of cages.
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Old 08-03-2019, 01:56 PM   #4
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

I agree that the cage is a no I'm afraid, and that one single dwarf is the way to go. Something at least 100x50cm length x width would be my recommendation for a dwarf. I would also recommend a barless cage personally as there is no risk of bar chewing which is very dangerous, and the fall risks are minimised. A meshed zoozone is a cheap option or the maxi duna multi is similar. Zooplus sell the eco habitat for a bit more money or quite a nice barred option could be the Alexander which has a lot in the way of shelves to break falls. You cant go wrong with a converted ikea detolf cabinet either which gives a good amount of floor space and works like a tank. Lots of them second hand so it can be very cheap. Plenty to choose from.
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Old 08-03-2019, 02:06 PM   #5
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi Franny and welcome.
I hope you can return the cage as it really isn't fit for purpose, like others have already advised.
Have a look on zooplus, I think the alaska would work out around the same price and is a far better cage than that. I started with the Alaska for my syrian, but to be honest I ended up getting the Savic PLaza cage which is 100cm x 50 cm.

Don't take advice from the pet store, it is better to just have 1 hamster of any type. They won't fight or hurt themselves that way, or potentially even ending up with one of them killing the other if you got a pair.
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:14 AM   #6
10Minutes
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi Franny!

1. I agree with the others that one dwarf hamster is fine, and they are supposed to be happier and healthier if kept alone.

2. That cage is not suitable for any hamster. I hope you can return it, but if you can't, maybe you can keep it as a temporary cage for when you need to keep it somewhere while you clean out its real cage. Please do not set up the platforms if you do so as it may fall and injure itself. Also, do not clean out its cage too often (We can elaborate more on this if you need help).

If you have the budget for a big cage, great! If you'd prefer to minimise expenses, I suggest you start out with a cheap huge storage bin (preferably 100cm X 50cm or larger as recommended by others here). Cut open the sides for ventilation and cover them with wire mesh and you are ready to go. If you need more elaboration on this, feel free to ask, as everyone here is very friendly and have helped me a lot too.

3. An exercise wheel is compulsory for hamsters. The wheel in that photo is quite small. For a dwarf hamster, you need a wheel that is at least 6.5 inches or it will injure its back, and the wheel should not be made from wire mesh or it will injure its feet. A golden hamster will need a bigger one.

4. Please ensure that you do not buy pine or cedar bedding, or any kind of fluffy bedding such as anything from fabric, wool, etc.

5. Please do not bathe the hamster in water at any point in its life unless it is an emergency, such as if there are any toxic substances (glue etc) stuck to its fur that cannot be cut out. Even so, take a few minutes to research the details of how to do it and be very careful about it, proceed with caution. If in doubt, get a vet's assistance.

6. Please do not play with the hamster during its first week with you. You should leave it alone except to provide fresh food and drink, and after that, you can slowly introduce yourself to it.

It sounds like a lot of trouble at first, but really, once everything is set up properly from the start and the proper supplies are found (food, bedding etc), all you need to do is ensure it has food and drink and check on it to make sure it's healthy and well. You need to be able to get it to a vet if it is ill. It's actually relatively low maintenance, because it can be left alone (for reasonable time periods) if it has proper supplies and a good cage, unlike a cat or dog that might get lonely when there are no humans around.

If in any doubt about what to do or what to get for your hamster, feel free to ask, as people here are helpful and friendly. I am new to this and have learnt a lot from them too.

Last edited by 10Minutes; 08-04-2019 at 10:49 AM.
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Old 08-04-2019, 03:54 PM   #7
Franny
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Smile Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi thank you so much for all your replies, its really helped me alot.
the sad thing is i got that cage second hand from a dwarf breeder who said it was fine,

So ive taken all of your advice onboard and bought a barney cage as it has the floor space and was a bit cheaper than the alexander, but is it ok to keep the plastic attatchments from the other one to stick toys from the bars, they were originally used to stick the wheel on the bars in the old one. Obviously i would get a bigger wheel but i have a few toys as well i can use.
We are getting a syrian instead as its still seems to be that i need to buy two dwarfs from that pet store which I dont think my soon to be 10 year old can handle 😂 and i dont really like the other pet store in my area.
I seriously cant wait, i think im more excited 😂😂 Thank you for all of your lovely advice it really helped and i will definately be checking out the bin cage idea that sounds amazing!
This isnt seeming so scary now, weve even planned a hamster cake for him which I will try to take pictures of.
Once again thank you so much xx
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Old 08-04-2019, 05:07 PM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Hi there. You’ve had lots of good advice already. The pet shop should not insist you take a Airedale of dwarf hamsters and it’s not recommended for new owners to keep a pair. It needs a special set up. If you do get a pair of dwarf hamsters you would need two of everything - two houses, wheels, water bottles, food bowls and no shelves or levels . To avoid them becoming territorial and fighting (and they do fight to the death if that happensŁ. Houses also need more than one entrance (same reason). You also need to be prepared to separate them quickly if squabbling breaks out as that quickly leads to fatal fights and that means another cage available as well.

If you can, I think it would be much better to get a Syrian Hamster as a first hamster and the Alaska, Barney and Alexandra cages from Zooplus are all good for a Syrian. If you get a single dwarf then you need a cage that isn’t too tall as they can get easily injured if the fall. Something like the duna multi Perspex tank style cage is a good option. For a pair I would suggest the maxi Duna multy.
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Old 08-04-2019, 05:09 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

https://www.portonaquapet.co.uk/shop...SABEgItvfD_BwE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Ma...xi+duna&sr=8-1

Here are some examples of set ups in a duna multy cage

duna multy set ups

Last edited by Pebbles82; 08-04-2019 at 05:15 PM.
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Old 08-05-2019, 05:18 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: Hi new and would like some advice please

Your future Syrian hamster will enjoy living in the Barney cage. Great choice.

Personally, i wouldn't use plastic tubes. They don't have ventilation and they look too small for a Syrian anyway.

Have a look at the thread " lets see your cages" on the Forum under Housing for inspiration on how to add enrichment to hamster homes.

I think the Barney cage you have now is far better than any bin cage but that is my personal opinion because i dislike plastic so don't take too much notice of me, lol.

It is exciting to set up a hamster home and you will enjoy it as much as your son. I've just added moss and wheat sprays from Rodipet to my hamster's cage. He came out to check what i was doing! I bet he would roll his eyes if he could.

Hamsters are lovely little creatures and full of personality.
Can't wait to see a photo of your hamster.

That's my Henry.
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