What size cage for Syrian?

[WorzelG]

Hi, I am pricing up the initial outlay for my children to have a Syrian hamster each. Currently looking at the Alexander or Barney cage, but what size will do them from pups to adults? Obviously I need 2 so hoping it's not too expensive lol.

[WelshHammi]

I got my zoo zone 2 cheap second hand for £10 it might be worth looking at . I then just disinfected the cage etc
But there so many mine was a bar chewer so the zoo zone was best or lots of people make them out of ikea detolf or the lack etc

[Drago]

Though cages can be very nice and spacious, bin cages are always highly recommended! You can get a huge bin (or several smaller ones connected) for under $30 and get an upwards of even a square metre of space! As welshhammi said, two detolfs would make an excellent cage for your hamsters as they're spacious and not super pricey, especially if they're second hand. What size your hamster will need will be very much dependent on them as an individual. For example, my hamster Duncan has an 800+ sq inch bin (which isn't super spacious but still somewhat decent) yet he craves more space to roam which is why he is being upgraded to a square metre cage. However, my other hamster, Chance, is very shy and was a nervous wreck in anything over a 25 gallon! Good luck choosing your cage and preparing for your new hams, make sure to ask if you have any other questions along the way

[Pebbles82]

Hello. The Alexander and Barney are both great cages. You don't need a different cage for them as pups, they can go straight into the Barney or Alexander. Of the two I would say the Alexander maybe, as the overhead shelves make it feel a bit more enclosed underneath for a shy hamster, plus it comes with a good house (the long one), two play houses and you only really need a wheel and some toys.

Usually you leave them alone to settle in for the first 2 or 3 days while they work out where everything is, they scent mark to find their way round and make it their territory and they build their nest.

After that you can talk to them through the bars, feed them treats through the bars and gradually start taming them.

The main thing is they have a nice big dark house to nest in which helps them feel secure and the long house in the base of the Alexander is good for that.

The other thing is a really good depth of substrate - it helps cushion any falls and helps them have normal hamstery behaviour like digging, burrowing and pushing it into heaps It can actually work out cheaper the more substrate you put in because then you mostly only need to spot clean and only do a "big clean" every 2 to 3 months. Plus they will use a litter tray if you provide one in the place they've chosen as a pee corner.

The Barney would be fine as well, and it also has a good house. It's a little bit more open at one end and people end up adding things usually, (eg another shelf or similar) to give a bit more cover.

But really either cage is great as long as you put loads of substrate in and give them loads of nesting material (torn up plain white toilet paper in strips).

[WorzelG]

Thanks all.

[Pebbles82]

The cheapest would be two Alaska cages or two Barney cages. The Alaska is about £34 and the Barney about £45 at the moment. Although the Alaska is smaller it doesn't come with a house (the white plastic house on top is too small for a Syrian) and the shelf is a bit flimsy. So the Barney is better value and already comes with a good house and shelf

[chesca_27]

I would definitely go with an Alexander or Barney, depending on your budget. Both are excellent, highly recommended cages. It seems the Barney is significantly cheaper at the moment though, so that may be the better option as that will give you plenty of extra change to spend on enrichment, bedding food and good wheel.

Is it me or have the Alexanders always been £99.99?

The Alaska is a bit smaller and the bars can be flimsy, so unless your Syrians really hate the space, the other two cages would be better.

[Pebbles82]

Zooplus do adjust the prices of the Barney and Alexander now and then. No it's not you Chesca The Alexander is usually on at £69.99 but at the moment they've taken away the sale element and left it at the the full price of £99.99. On the other hand they've knocked £5 ish off the usual price of the Barney so it is currently £44.99 instead of £49.99.

Which suggests to me they have quite a few Barney's in stock And have had a few losses recently over damaged Alexanders so trying to recoup - but just me guessing lol.