New House

[Pebbles82]

I would let him have a run round first the first time and maybe get in with him the next time! Helps if there is someone else there as well in case he runs up your arm and tries to jump out. Another person can put a blocking arm in that location You just need to be careful getting in with him - probably best not to open the ball until you are in.

I used the hamster potty litter for a while too. It's true it's very bad for them if they eat it, but as long as your hamster isn't interested in trying to eat it, it's ok - although I also switched to Chinchilla bathing sand eventually, mainly because it worked out a bit cheaper in the long run. Our hammy did try to eat it the first time I put it out but spat it out again (I didn't know that eating it was a bad thing then).

You can use the same sand in the potty as well as a sandbath - sometimes they'll use both as a toilet! A plastic ice cream container is popular as a sand bath - it's quite light and you can also push it down into the substrate a bit to make it lower. Our hammy hated sand - he only had a little sand bath in a salt pig and he would kick all the sand out and replace it with soft substrate and make it into a cosy den. Some Syrians like them and some aren't bothered.

[Amy S]

Ok. Well I have just bought a big bag of litter for him so will use that first. Wish me luck today, I am on the look out for a new house for him and hopefully that will be all I buy. Can't help myself as there are too many cute things for them.

[Pebbles82]

This one is quite good for a hamster (way too small for a guinea pig) - it slots together like a jigsaw, has a lift off roof and a flat roof which can make another platform possibly to put a food bowl on. The door is quite large so it works well with a bendy stick bridge over the door to make it darker inside.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Gu...inea+pig+house

Rodipet also make excellent hamster houses - but the postage adds to the cost - it's about £8 but delivery is quite quick usually. It's a flat rate of £8 ish whether you buy one item or a lots of things in a bigger parcel.

The two or three room one on here is good

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/haeuser/rodipet-granit/

Be cautious with all the cute things for hamsters Unfortunately most things sold for "hamsters" are far too small for Syrians and only suitable for dwarf hamsters. Syrians do better with rat sized toys and tunnels. The rat sputnik is popular - works well hung next to a shelf.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobby-Sputn...ds=rat+sputnik

You can choose your own top and bottom colours at Rat Rations

Sputnik - XL - £4.99 : ratRations.com

Rodipet also sell good cork tunnels that are a good length for hamsters (reptile shops sell them but the can be way too big to fit in a cage. Makes a good floor tunnel, something to climb over and adds interesting texture for them.

I have this one. It can also be a bit of a ramp up to a shelf if partly under a shelf.

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...-ca-20-cm.html

Chews are important for them to help keep teeth trim as well. Sugar free ones are best and Rosewood naturals do some good ones.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Grocery/R...ion+chew+stick

I also like their "Little Hearts" treats. We used these for taming treats

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Na...+little+hearts

This was also very popular with our hammy when he was younger. He spent ages gnawing at it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Grocery/R...HXA0V7BJB04ECG

If you do get any hammy toys, just check that entrance holes are big enough so they can't get stuck (minimum 6cm diameter really). And hanging toys with chains are a bit risky too (they can get a foot caught and end up hanging by a broken leg). Which is why I like the Sputniks - they're safer

[Amy S]

Great thank you for your Advice. It's so frustrating to be honest as a beginner like myself, you can br taken in by all sorts thinking that they are Ok for hamsters but are in fact tiny and not suitable at all. I have looked at a little house today on P@h and Sooty wouldn't be able to get through the door because it is that tiny! Actually when I was in there today, they were feeding them kiwi, is that safe?

[Amy S]

Oh yes, I have bought the hearts for Sooty before and he absolutely loves them! Would definitely recommend them.

[Pebbles82]

I know I went through the same thing when we got our hammy! Wasted loads of money on rubbish toys that either were no good or broke quickly and binned a lot.

I followed the advice on here to look for rat sized toys. And there aren't really any rat sized toys apart from tubes and sputniks You can make just about anything out of cardboard though.

There's been a debate about the the kiwi and I can't remember what the outcome was - it's not usually recommended, being a bit acidic and high in vitamin C but apparently they say it's fine.