I have a few concerns about my Syrian.

[kayred2000]

I have a long haired Syrian hamster, male, I'm not quite sure of his age as I got him at PetSmart awhile back and all, but I'm a little worried. I've had him for a few months and lately I've been noticing these problems and I'd like advice on how to solve them preferably without going to a vet as I'm only fourteen and my mother probably won't take me.

#1: So he has a crittertail cage that is small for him and a lot of tubes and a large bin that's connected. Well the cage came with this square water bottle and all and that was great but I found out during some hamster research that it's too low for him to drink from properly. I'd like to fix this but the cage won't allow it, the bars are too small so you cannot adjust it, you can only put it through the hole that was build in for it. I tried to get him another one recently when I had the chance but it turned out to be extremely leaky, emptied within the hour everytime no matter how much I filled it up or messed with it. [So I'd like to know what I should do with his square water bottle that won't fit in the wire for the round one I bought, or how to stop the other one from leaking.]

#2: I'm worried that he may not be eating enough, I got him a big ol' bag of wal-mart brand hamster food and it has little colorful loops. Recently I noticed that when I hand feed him he won't take it, and the only things I can get him to take directly are corn, cranberry, carrot, nuts, or little things that I believe are peas. I've never seen him eat the stick like things or the small seeds within hamster foods and I just want advice on what to do to make him eat more.

#3: Because of the water bottle problem I fear that he may not be drinking much, I've tried to put a bowl in his bin but I've never seen him drink from it so I took it out, how can I make sure he's hydrated.

#4: He is nocturnal so he does spend a lot of time all day sleeping in a round, purple tube that he's filled with bedding and probably food, it's so full I can't open it currently without making a mess and I haven't cleaned it yet. But then I'll notice at night he'll be curled up and sleep in his smaller cage instead of playing.

#5: The wheel that came with his cage it kinda small, he runs on top of it so I got him a flying saucer one that is a good size for him, but I don't think he recognizes it as a wheel and I don't know how to make him run on it.

I'm not expecting anyone to know all the answers but if you can help with any of these or have any ideas, please share some information with me.

[Pebbles82]

Hello and welcome. I think the problems are largely due to the design of the Crittertrail. It's easier to create a good hamster environment with a large cage with open space and put the wheel, house and water bottle in suitable places so the hammy can roam a bit and not nest in tubes for example. Sorry - I'm a bit anti Crittertails just because they're not really big enough for a syrian to have natural behaviours. You said it was attached to a large bin though - as an add-on to a larger cage they are ok and can be fun. Could you attach another water bottle inside the bin with velcro? Or make a water bottle stand to go on the floor of the bin with another bottle in. (You can make one out of an old plastic bottle or paper cup with a hole in the side for the spout). Meanwhile maybe pile some substrate under the current bottle so he can reach it.

I wouldn't worry about him not eating - he is probably hoarding food and eating from his hoard when you can't see him, and sometimes they don't take food from the hand - depends what mood they are in or whether they are hungry or whether they sense a trap! He might learn to use the flying saucer, but a larger wheel would be the best thing. A Syrian hamster needs a 27cm to 30cm wheel - if that won't fit in either of the cages then the cages aren't really big enough.

I would suggest, if you want to keep the Crittertail, either make a large bin cage to attach to it (if you haven't already), or get a detolf or a cage that is minimum 80cm by 50cm and sell the crittertrail or keep it as a play cage. They need a good depth of substrate/litter on the bottom of the cage - minimum 3 to 4" and there is no maximum really - ideally at least 6" of substrate as they like to dig. This needs a cage with at least a 6"/15cm deep base really. A 3 or 4ft glass tank or terrarium could also be good, providing there is enough ventilation.

If you have the space, a detolf is a fantastic hamster cage and works out much cheaper than most store bought cages. It costs £40 in the Uk - but you need some pieces of wood and mesh to make a lid or have someone else make a lid.

It's an Ikea glass cabinet turned on its side

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Ha...IVRxfbCh1kUgwh

Are you in the Uk or the US?

[Pebbles82]

These are also good cages (if you are in the Uk)

Alaska Hamster Cage | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

Barney Pet Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

This is a great cage, but I'd take the tubes off the top and block the holes - more tube nesting and escapes otherwise! It's best to have tubes as a play toy inside the cage rather than as a route from one place to another really, and Syrians are better with rat sized tubes which are about 7 to 10cm diameter. You can buy the plastic ones or use a strong cardboard one,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Savic-Hamste...ords=Savic+Sky

I have one of the cardboard ones tied to the roof of my cage, My cage is similar to the Savic one in the link above. It looks a bit Heath Robinson but he loves it - he has a route from the top of his wood house, through the tube to his sputnik and out the other side. Or climbs up the front of the sputnik and through the tube to his house roof and then into his smaller sputnik.



If you are in the US a 40 gallon tank or this cage are good options. The Marchioro cage already comes with a good rat tube.

Small Pet Cages & Habitats: Marchioro Goran 82 Rat Cage

Foodwise, I would get something more reputable and nutritious so he eats most of it. I'm guessing you are in the US when you mention Walmart. Some US members will be able to advise best on a Hamster mix but I believe whichever Hamster mix you use, US members supplement with Oxbow healthy handfuls which contain all the nutrients required.

http://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Healthy-...s=Hamster+food

[kelza]

Hi kayred! I won't go over cages to much as I think Serendipity covered that pretty well. But if you need or are going to have tube for a Syrian I recommend the OVO tubes. They are compatible with the Crittertrail system.

Habitrail OVO Trail Accessory at PETCO

Regarding the food though, if I remember the food from Walmart it is mainly small seeds. Many Syrians prefer larger seeds and pieces. We feed the following brand to our Syrian and cost $6.99 at Petco. Lasts us 5 to 6 weeks.

Vitakraft Vita Prima Sunscription Hamster & Gerbil Formula at PETCO

We do use the Oxbow Healthy Handfuls as a mix in (as Serendipity mentioned) as well as meal worms. Fresh veggies are also offered with the occasional boiled or scrambled egg for extra protein. Blueberries, apples bits and banana chips are also occasional favs in our house. Cucumbers are a good veggie to be offer and help hydrate hammies, so you could use this if you are concerned he is not drinking.

Hope this helps!

[Jen250]

I have the Savic Sky that Serendipity linked and removed the tubes to prevent him from nesting in there. I've ended up with a set-up kind of similar to what she has as well, and my hamster, Hubble, absolutely loves it. He loves climbing into his hammock, going to the rat tube and then into the sputnik, and then down onto the lava ledge.