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Old 08-05-2016, 06:03 AM   #21
freyashamsters
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Quote:
Originally Posted by Emma H_amster_ View Post
hey guys
I got some questions about Syrians
is the Alaska cage all fine for a Syrian?
and what toys do you recommend?
anything I should know about Syrians?
what is the difference between a Syrian and a winter white? other than the size of cause
Yes the Alaska cage is fine for a Syrian, I haven't used it but many say it's a good cage

I recommend toys that are mostly sized for rats and Guinea pigs as they won't get stuck in these like they would with typical hamster-sized toys

Wheel size should always be at least 11" - I'd recommend the 11" Wodent Wheel or 28cm Trixie Wheel

Other than size, the overall differences between the two species would be life expectancy (Syrians tend to live a little longer), dietary requirements (Harry Hamster seems to be a popular food for Syrians as it doesn't contain any little grains that Syraians generally just don't bother with ) and a few others too
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:32 AM   #22
Emma H_amster_
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
I haven't read everything here but I think the alaska you already have would be just fine for a syrian emma, it's a good size & high enough to fit a nice big wheel in, cage sizes etc can start to sound really complicated but you have a good cage so really you just need to think about a larger wheel & house or just use a nice big cardboard box & maybe some tubes or other toys that are more rat or guinea pig size than the ones you see sold for hamsters & that's all you need to begin with anyway.
I doubt many wooden hamster toys or ladders & things would survive boiling tbh, unless it's something you really want to keep it's best to start with new wooden things if you get another ham.
You're right about hay, it can damage their pouches so you have to pick through it carefully to remove any sharp bits & freeze it for at least 48 hrs in case of mites so it's quite a lot of bother & they don't really need it, many hams will just ignore it.
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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Hay gets confusing too!There are so many types of hay out there and then there are different forms too,like hay biscuits and hay houses or even just plain hay.For example though timothy hay would be extremely coarse and rough for a hamster,at least as far as hay on its own goes while something like alfalfa or meadow hay might be safer since they're actually soft hays.Hay houses can be okay though,but that is a personal choice at the end of the day.
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...ree-way-tunnel can this harm the hamster in any way?
i think i might just use the alaska and then IF i want to... make a diy cage or buy a bigger cage you guys are more than welcome to show me some good toys or just good websites to buy them!
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:35 AM   #23
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

That should be fine!Seagrass is completely fine,as long as they holes are big enough for a Syrian which they probably are
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:40 AM   #24
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Seagrass tunnels are fine, I've used smaller ones with my dwarfs & they love them so I'm sure a syrian would enjoy one too.
I'll have to leave toy suggestions to those who have kept or keep syrians I'm afraid but maybe have a look through the lets see your cages threads for some ideas.

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Old 08-05-2016, 06:41 AM   #25
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Clay/terracotta pots are really good as hiding spots and they can be put in a fridge or freezer during hot weather if necessary to make a cool hiding place!They're also very cheap even for Syrian sized pots in my experience
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:45 AM   #26
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
I haven't read everything here but I think the alaska you already have would be just fine for a syrian emma, it's a good size & high enough to fit a nice big wheel in, cage sizes etc can start to sound really complicated but you have a good cage so really you just need to think about a larger wheel & house or just use a nice big cardboard box & maybe some tubes or other toys that are more rat or guinea pig size than the ones you see sold for hamsters & that's all you need to begin with anyway.
I doubt many wooden hamster toys or ladders & things would survive boiling tbh, unless it's something you really want to keep it's best to start with new wooden things if you get another ham.
You're right about hay, it can damage their pouches so you have to pick through it carefully to remove any sharp bits & freeze it for at least 48 hrs in case of mites so it's quite a lot of bother & they don't really need it, many hams will just ignore it.
Ditto! You have a good Syrian cage already - no need to buy another one. It'll be fine and has a nice big front door for access. It'll need disinfecting before use, with a petsafe disinfectant and then a good rinse to get rid of the smell. I wouldn't keep any wood items. Good toys for Syrians are rat tubes or rat sputniks. Another idea for a shoebox house is to keep the lid as a lift-off roof and cut out the bottom, and cut a hole in one side for a door That way you don't have to take the house out when you want to check inside - just lift the lid/roof off.

My tip would definitely be: potty litter tray - Syrians usually use them. If you fill the base as deep as you can with substrate and a box house on top, you might not even need a shelf, but a smaller corner shelf might be good. You can also tie a rat boredom breaker tube to the side of the cage or the roof as an acess tunnel to the sputnik from a shelf or house roof. I also like Clumsy Pianists set up with one large home made platform on legs, that makes like a second level (check the "show us your cages" thread). The rat sputniks are quite popular with Syrians though - especially if you put some bedding in it.
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:58 AM   #27
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

The Seagrass tunnel is a good find! I just check these things over and make sure there are no sharp spiky bits anywhere, and if there are I snip them off

The extra height in the Alaska means you can hang a 27cm wodent wheel from the top and still have all the substrate underneath it, so extra floor space. With my old cage being lower, the wheel filled most of the height and I lost floor area in the wheel area.
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Old 08-05-2016, 07:02 AM   #28
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
That should be fine!Seagrass is completely fine,as long as they holes are big enough for a Syrian which they probably are
Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Seagrass tunnels are fine, I've used smaller ones with my dwarfs & they love them so I'm sure a syrian would enjoy one too.
I'll have to leave toy suggestions to those who have kept or keep syrians I'm afraid but maybe have a look through the lets see your cages threads for some ideas.

Let's See Your Cages (May 2016)

Let's see your cages! (From May 2015)
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Clay/terracotta pots are really good as hiding spots and they can be put in a fridge or freezer during hot weather if necessary to make a cool hiding place!They're also very cheap even for Syrian sized pots in my experience
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Ditto! You have a good Syrian cage already - no need to buy another one. It'll be fine and has a nice big front door for access. It'll need disinfecting before use, with a petsafe disinfectant and then a good rinse to get rid of the smell. I wouldn't keep any wood items. Good toys for Syrians are rat tubes or rat sputniks. Another idea for a shoebox house is to keep the lid as a lift-off roof and cut out the bottom, and cut a hole in one side for a door That way you don't have to take the house out when you want to check inside - just lift the lid/roof off.

My tip would definitely be: potty litter tray - Syrians usually use them. If you fill the base as deep as you can with substrate and a box house on top, you might not even need a shelf, but a smaller corner shelf might be good. You can also tie a rat boredom breaker tube to the side of the cage or the roof as an acess tunnel to the sputnik from a shelf or house roof. I also like Clumsy Pianists set up with one large home made platform on legs, that makes like a second level (check the "show us your cages" thread). The rat sputniks are quite popular with Syrians though - especially if you put some bedding in it.
Thanks guys! do i need to disinfect the food bowl and drinking bottle too? and shelf?
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Old 08-05-2016, 07:03 AM   #29
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
The Seagrass tunnel is a good find! I just check these things over and make sure there are no sharp spiky bits anywhere, and if there are I snip them off

The extra height in the Alaska means you can hang a 27cm wodent wheel from the top and still have all the substrate underneath it, so extra floor space. With my old cage being lower, the wheel filled most of the height and I lost floor area in the wheel area.
good idea :O you just screw it on?
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Old 08-05-2016, 07:10 AM   #30
Pebbles82
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Default Re: questions about Syrians

I wouldn't keep any wood things really, but I think you can disinfect a wood shelf. Personally I would get a new water bottle and keep the old one as a spare - you could just use boiling water to disinfect the old one (carefully!). The food bowl should be fine just washed with some neat washing up liquid, then rinsed. Foodwise for a Syrian you can't go wrong with Harry Hamster - the pieces are a good size for a Syrian - and a bit of fresh veg every 2 or 3 days at first then every day when they are used to it. I also put a fresh "extra" out each day - eg half a walnut, half a brazil nut, a piece of cheese, some pumpkin seeds etc and I put them in a different place to the food bowl so Charlie has fun looking for them
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