New cage or not?

jadalmation · 01-10-2011, 06:37 AM

Hey everybody, we recently got a new syrian! Pongo. (taking the count of hamsters to five!

) But the poor thing was in the adoption centre, nobody wanted him and he was 4 months old

but he is adorable, has been in new house for 3 days. Seems really friendly, lets us stroke him, but a bit jumpy so not tried to pick him up.

My question is that we haven't had a syrian in a while, and the cage he's in at the moment is by pets at home.

Peggy Metro Hamster Cage by Savic | Pets at Home

but i was wondering if i should move him into a Large Leon 3 cage?

Large Leon
Narrow Bar Spacing So Ideal For
Pet Rat - Hamster - Mice - Gerbils
Includes House - Seesaw - Toys - Wheel
Size Approx - 67 X 37 X 65 Cm

But would this cause him distress? what do you think?

(he seems really happy at the moment

, but he was in a shoe box size cage before we got him!)

**Hope** · 01-10-2011, 06:49 AM

Well done for adopting little Pongo

Im sure he is happy to have found a nice new owner!

The Peggy metro is a little small for a fully grown active syrian, but its not too bad as long as he has an 8" wheel he should be ok. If you want to upgrade him I would leave him to settle for a couple of weeks at least before moving him again, the leon is a good cage

jadalmation · 01-10-2011, 07:00 AM

Thanks, was what i thought, but thought id make sure!

The wheel that came with it was far tooo small for a syrian so i bought the size above, so will have to see how big it is.

Now, i'll ask here because it's partly related to housing, when i do try and pick him up, how can i make the room Hamster proof!? last thing i need is him running off under a couch!

I don't want to create another topic so if anybody could maybe pm or reply to here on how they went about picking there hamsters up?

With our first syrian he was sooo tame that it was never even a problem when we first got him, but then with dwarfs they starting to bite in there cage, so it's made us a bit nervous, which i think the hamster can sense.

st4r_grl · 01-10-2011, 07:03 AM

If you are nervous, I found that wearing gloves really helped with our confidence and our hams confidence in us

**Hope** · 01-10-2011, 07:39 AM

To be honset, picking Phoebe up when I was taming her was one of the last things I did. What I started with, is picker her up in her ball, so that she didnth ave to deal with any scary hands! and took her to the empty bath tub and go in with her and let her run about over me and just gently stroked her back and offered her treats. I did this for several days, then tried getting her to walk onto my hand, then scooping her up in my hands and putting her back down, then gradually holding her for long, and longer untill she was used to me. Now she is as tame as can be, and I have never been bitten by her at all. It took me a couple of weeks, but every hammy is different. The bath is a really good place for taming and it means you can relax a bit, safe in the knowledge that they can not escape as the sides are so slippy!

I wouldnt try floor time untill she is a bit more tame and you are both a bit more used to each other. Many people have managed to ham proof their room (sadly I am not one of them - too much stuff! lol) but it can be done!

jadalmation · 01-10-2011, 07:50 AM

Thanks Hope, will give that a go when i get home!

one thing..... don't suppose they scratch the bath do they :P lol

Is scooping them up the right technique? because i could imagine some would bite thinking it was food lol

**Hope** · 01-10-2011, 07:58 AM

I have a plasticy type bath not enamel, but she does no damage to mine. You can put a towel down if you are worried

Scooping with cupped hands around the hamster is thought to be one of the better ways as you arenot comming at them from above - like a preditor would. Another method is to imagine that they are a computer mouse, pick them up like you would hold the mouse with the head end pointing towards your wrist, they are unable to bite you like this.

Have a look at the taming article on the wiki (gives photos to help - my descriptions are not the best!) Taming tips - Hamster Central WIKI

Good luck with it!! Im sure you will both do really well and you will have a snuggly hammy in no time!

Let me know how you get on

SnickersTheFirst · 01-10-2011, 09:13 AM

I'd say the Peggy is too small tbh but the Leon is a great cage.

If you haven't had him long, I'd keep him in the Peggy for a few weeks first.

Teal · 01-10-2011, 09:20 AM

My friend has this cage, its about big enough for 1 hammie, but the pipes are Very VERY annoying, I should know I had to put the pipes together, but all in all its about a 2 out of 5 star cage for me :s

Teal/Phillip.

bertiemc · 01-10-2011, 10:24 AM

I have recently bought the ferplst criceti 15 for our 4 month old syrian and he loves it. I was a bit concerned aout the bar chewing as this was a problem with his last cage but he seems to not bother as much now. There is plenty of room for his toys and also good floor space.