Syrian Hamster Toys + Toilet

[aimsdavies]

Hiya!

I’ve recently been suspecting that my Syrian hamster, Puff, has become quite bored in her cage. She doesn’t seem to be as active as she was when I got her late June last year.
I’ve bought her a few new toys that she seems to take a liking to. One is some sort of wooden ball with a tiny ball inside. She seems to enjoy that. I’ve also used toiletpaper rolls as DIY tunnels. She’s very fond of tunnels I’ve noticed.
Since buying her new toys from Pets at Home, I’ve been scouring the internet for other Syrian-friendly toys, but I haven’t come across any that would be suitable for her. She’s a heavy biter - will bite through anything and everything until she becomes tired - and I’m worried about toys potentially damaging her teeth and causing harm to her. Are there any toys that you could recommend for a Syrian that loves to bite and chew? All ideas are greatly appreciated!
Also, due to her being a heavy chewer, I was hoping someone could tell me of suitable toilets for hamsters, one that is durable and won’t harm her if she begins to chew. I’ve been wanting to toilet train her ever since I got her.
Thank you!

[Pebbles82]

Hi there. Most hamster toys are either useless or dangerous Either too small and only suitable for dwarf hamsters, or badly made or even with nails. There are some that are good but they tend to be tunnels etc. Rat sized toys are good for syrians - eg rat tunnels and sputniks.

My experience is they aren't that interested in toys as such unless they have food attached! But they like variety and enrichment in their cage - different places to go, different levels etc, and they like foraging for food. You could try scatter feeding - put half the usual food in the bowl and scatter the other half on the substrate.

If she's a chewer then cardboard is your friend. Cardboard egg boxes - nice to destroy.

Toilets - I've linked the one I find good - it's the right size and an open one works best you put chinchilla bathing sand in it. However it is plastic. Rodipet make an almost identical one in ceramic, which is good. The only thing with that is, it's heavy so if they tunnel under it, it can squash them - probably not seriously squash them so that needs bearing in mind depending on where the pee place is. If the pee place is in a corner of the cage she's unlikely to tunnel under it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamster-cor...=hamster+potty

This is the ceramic one - I have it - it's a good toilet

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...rt-size-m.html

A few ideas for toys and cage enrichment.

Hyacinth tunnel - good size for syrians - they like the holes in the side - chewable to keep her occupied.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...yacinth+tunnel

Trio of balls - I only use the hyacinth one- you can stick treatslike pumpkin seeds under the folds and they spend ages enjoying getting them out.The wicker one I find a bit sharp so don't use it. The sisal one is ok but I keep that to use for sisal string to attach other items to the cage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...=trio+of+balls

Cork log tunnel - makes a big dark tunnel and if next to a shelf, makes a ramp up to it -interesting texture to climb over. The rodipet ones are a good size for a hamster cage. Reptile stores also sell them but they tend to be huge.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...-diameter.html

Be warned - the Rodipet site is addictive! They make very good houses. Our Syrian has the large labyrinth house and loves it.

Main thing they like is plenty of substrate as much asyou can fit in a cage base - and things to sit under and places to go that have shelter or are dark - eg hidey places or large dark tunnels.

A couple more

Hanging toy - I have this - hamster isn't interested inthe toy itself but you can put treats on it so it keeps them occupied getting the treats off and looks fun.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...ng+toy+hamster

Coconut hut hidey place - this one has an entrance hole big enough for a syrian

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Happy-Pet...kAAOSwZFxb0uMM

These are great if she's a chewer - it's a cardboard house with hay stuckon it anddried carrot on top. The entrance is a bit small for a syrian but you can cut it bigger with scissors.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JR-Farm-Hay...l+carrot+house

[aimsdavies]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hi there. Most hamster toys are either useless or dangerous Either too small and only suitable for dwarf hamsters, or badly made or even with nails. There are some that are good but they tend to be tunnels etc. Rat sized toys are good for syrians - eg rat tunnels and sputniks.

My experience is they aren't that interested in toys as such unless they have food attached! But they like variety and enrichment in their cage - different places to go, different levels etc, and they like foraging for food. You could try scatter feeding - put half the usual food in the bowl and scatter the other half on the substrate.

If she's a chewer then cardboard is your friend. Cardboard egg boxes - nice to destroy.

Toilets - I've linked the one I find good - it's the right size and an open one works best you put chinchilla bathing sand in it. However it is plastic. Rodipet make an almost identical one in ceramic, which is good. The only thing with that is, it's heavy so if they tunnel under it, it can squash them - probably not seriously squash them so that needs bearing in mind depending on where the pee place is. If the pee place is in a corner of the cage she's unlikely to tunnel under it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamster-cor...=hamster+potty

This is the ceramic one - I have it - it's a good toilet

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...rt-size-m.html

A few ideas for toys and cage enrichment.

Hyacinth tunnel - good size for syrians - they like the holes in the side - chewable to keep her occupied.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...yacinth+tunnel

Trio of balls - I only use the hyacinth one- you can stick treatslike pumpkin seeds under the folds and they spend ages enjoying getting them out.The wicker one I find a bit sharp so don't use it. The sisal one is ok but I keep that to use for sisal string to attach other items to the cage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...=trio+of+balls

Cork log tunnel - makes a big dark tunnel and if next to a shelf, makes a ramp up to it -interesting texture to climb over. The rodipet ones are a good size for a hamster cage. Reptile stores also sell them but they tend to be huge.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...-diameter.html

Be warned - the Rodipet site is addictive! They make very good houses. Our Syrian has the large labyrinth house and loves it.

Main thing they like is plenty of substrate as much asyou can fit in a cage base - and things to sit under and places to go that have shelter or are dark - eg hidey places or large dark tunnels.

A couple more

Hanging toy - I have this - hamster isn't interested inthe toy itself but you can put treats on it so it keeps them occupied getting the treats off and looks fun.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...ng+toy+hamster

Coconut hut hidey place - this one has an entrance hole big enough for a syrian

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Happy-Pet...kAAOSwZFxb0uMM

These are great if she's a chewer - it's a cardboard house with hay stuckon it anddried carrot on top. The entrance is a bit small for a syrian but you can cut it bigger with scissors.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JR-Farm-Hay...l+carrot+house

Oh my gosh! Thank you! This a very detailed post - something I wasn’t expecting
I’ll get right on those recommendations! I did read whilst researching that rat toys would be the best and most suitable option for Syrians. Thank you for all the amazing recommendations!
As for a toilet, I have got one of those open, plastic toilets that I filled with chinchilla sand. I didn’t give it much of a chance as Puff took to biting it straight away. She seemed to only care for digging around and making a mess as opposed to using it for what I intended it for I tried my best with filling it with soiled bedding, but it didn’t seem to work. I removed it after I became worried that the plastic would damage her teeth.
Thank you again!