Help with a syrian starter pack?

[Penguin]

Edit: sorry for the links being in Danish :/ I'm too lazy to find it on the English site



I'm surprising a friend with a starter pack for her syrian hamster, but seeing as I have never seen the size of a syrian, I can only guess on what would be ideal.

Please tell me if I'm far off:

First, she will need a proper wheel for the hammy, I really hope this is silent:
(It is the 28-29cm one of course)

Trixie Løbehjul til smådyr | zooplus.dk

Houses:
https://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/...us/trae/228773
(32x21)

https://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/...s/andre/461664
^not sure if that will be large enough?

Some sort of hidey places or fun stepstones?:
https://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/.../tunnel/186928
(20x17)

https://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/.../tunnel/228702
(28x17)

https://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/...tativer/186918


and this:
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_..._houses/227904
Now she isnt sure if she can fit something that tall into her cage seeing as she doesnt want to mess with the shelfs.
This is the reason that i tried to pick something that wasnt too tall. I do think the hammy would need more than one house though.

Also, sand.
Does anyone have any experience with the quality of the sand available at zooplus? Also how large does the sand bath need to be? I kinda had this one in mind seeing as they dont have a bowl that is large enough http://www.zooplus.dk/shop/smaadyr/s.../toilet/186946

But im not sure if it will be heavy enough?

I know it isnt much, but it should be enough to keep the hammy a bit happy I hope (:
Should zooplus have something really great for a syrian that I didn't include please do tell! The tiny man needs to enjoy his life!

[BrainGirl]

Just want to say what a wonderful idea! Whenever I'm in the market for Syrian hamster stuff, it's usually best to go for the ones labelled for guinea pigs and rats. Hamster-sized stuff is typically only big enough for dwarf hamsters.

I love everything you've picked out, though I'm not sure that the first tunnel you have listed (20 x 17) is going to be big enough to go underneath comfortably.

[Pebbles82]

Hi wheel is ok. First house looks ok. Second house (the hay house) is quite big - guinea pig size I think. It would be great for a main house. I have the smaller version as a toy/playhouse, which is too small really but he can get inside it

The tunnel and bendy stick bridges look good. The last one - the steps are ok too, but check size - I think they are quite large - you'd need to make sure it fitted in her cage/habitat.

The tall house is ok too - if it fits. The toilet is quite large - again guinea pig size really - good if she has space for it. I have this one which is about half the size and plenty big enough for a Syrian. Plastic is fine - lightweight doesn't matter (less likely to get squashed by it!)

Hamster Potty corner Litter Tray for Mice Hamster Gerbil Cage House. Size: 16 × 7 × 12/12 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

This one might be ok as a toilet - either with the lid on or off and just using the tray

Trixie Hjørnetoilet med tag | zooplus.dk

For a sand bath you can use any kind of ceramic, plastic or glass/pyrex dish.

Out of all of those items I'd say the wheel and house are most important. That hay house would be a good nesting box with a tunnel or tube over the front. Also easily replaceable if it gets damaged at some point.

She might also want to consider the wood Karlie wheel - it is much quieter but needs checking for splinters and painting with pet-safe waterproof paint to seal it and help waterproof it

Wonderland Bogie Wheel løbehjul i naturtræ | zooplus.dk

I would also add some chews into the starter pack

Something like one of these for starters

Mr. Woodfield fuldkorns-trærulle | zooplus.dk

Plus a bag of food and substrate.

[Penguin]

BrainGirl - thank you! I knew i had to go up in rat size but I still found it a tad difficult to figure out what to get. I will make sure to pick the larger tunnel (:

Serendipity - I wrote yesterday but HC decided to tell me that I had waited too long so they couldn't post my post. Got to love cell phones :/

Anyway. I have a budget for the gift so I can only buy from one place. I figured zooplus would by far be the cheapest with the free shipping and all and would equal more stuff fpr the hammy. But I was kinda disappointed to see how few things they have, that would suit a syrian without it being too big or too small :q

Thanks for the tip on the chews, I completely forgot about that! I am sure he will love one you found. I might even order some for my own haha.

About the wheel, I am a huge fan of the karlie wheel. But getting the plastikote home will be too expensive and I dont want my friend to throw out the wheel once she think it smells, only to replace it with the current 20cm one. She cares for the hammy, but like many others (im sure you have had experience with this as well) she will only follow my advice on how to care for it to an extend :/

The idea of putting a tunnel in front of the hayhouse is amazing! I will definitely tell her to do so!

I really hope the hammy will love the gift. He might have got a proper sized caged but currently he has nothing to do but to run in this far too small wheel, to dig, and to throw himself from the top of the cage onto the ladders that leads to his platforms (because he thinks it is fun to just take them off and climb the bars to get up instead).
I know it is not my hammy, but I am damn worried that he will hurt himself. Lol I have only seen him on a picture and yet I almost feel like he is mine.

I might throw another gift her way sometime so he can get a different layout or something. Thanks you two for your help! It was much appreciated

[Pebbles82]

Sounds like a great thing you are doing for your friend. I suggested the tunnel because, as I found, guinea pig sized houses have huge doors on them. This is a bonus in some ways as it means you can set the house lower down in the substrate, to lower the height of the door and make the house be less tall in the cage - but the door is still wide - also good because it means it's big enough, but does tend to let a lot of light inside the house. Charlie loves his bendy stick bridge tunnel entrance to his house. If it's not there he just blocks up the entrance to the house with substrate. But with the tunnel there he doesn't bother blocking up the doorway.

[M3gan]

Zooplus do a kebab which is a big hit with my hamster. Maybe a water bottle. Great idea for a present!