My Syrian is never satisfied. I’m running out of options. Help! - Page 2

Dyarikku · 12-21-2019, 04:49 PM

When he tries escaping and I interact, he climbs my hand. If I put him back, he follows me trying to get back up on the hand

sarahbutterflies · 12-21-2019, 06:43 PM

He is very adorable and I definitely think you could add more bedding, at least 6 inches to one side. You could also add a sand bath around his wheel and add some other textures to his cage. I will link another thread I've responded to that may be helpful: Bar biting syrian

LunaTheHamster1 · 12-22-2019, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyarikku

When he tries escaping and I interact, he climbs my hand. If I put him back, he follows me trying to get back up on the hand

that is just totally normal, my hamsters do it when they're in their runs. I really wouldn't be worrying about it and try and see it as normal hamster behaviour and that they are not panicking. It's also a great way to bond with your hamster as your hamster is trying to use you to escape but it is also getting used to you.

LunaTheHamster1 · 12-22-2019, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyarikku

I’d say he looks more busy when I place more bedding... so you’re saying he needs more hideout areas? I feel like he ignores them completely. Used to put one of those strawberry hideouts, he won’t even look at it :s
I will definitely try the tea boxes!

He panics as in, restlessly tries to climb the cage walls. He tries to climb on the wheel too. And this weird thing of climbing my hand instantly when I place it in the cage, I can’t tell if it’s because he wants to interact with me or just because he knows hand equals escape. He lets me handle him no problem, never bites, lets me feed him and recognises my scent. I’d say he’s pretty tamed.

Maybe more hideouts that have two entrances /exits to them that he can walk through them but still feel secure. You could also try scatter feeding in the hides as well. As I said on another comment just see the fact that he's happy to walk up your hands trying to escape is that he Trusts you.

Ria P · 12-22-2019, 04:47 AM

It could also be that he feels too enclosed and isolated living in a terrarium or bin cage because he can't see out properly or smell his surroundings.

My Syrian lives in the Alaska from Zooplus £30 which is in our lounge/kitchen so he's in the hub of the house. He's the opposite of your hamster personalitywise and rarely asks to come out of his cage.

Of course there's a chance that your hamster may bar chew in a barred cage.

He's a lovely looking hamster.

PurpleKat · 12-22-2019, 03:44 PM

I live in UK with a Syrian and they can be hard to please sometimes. They are very active but sounds like your trying your best.
Mine was happy in the alsaka but did chew the bars so I got a detolf.
If you have the money detolf is good but you have to make a lid.
Also there is a DIY large tank using desk tops, but again involves needing tools.

Making food hides can keep them happy. And puzzles to keep their brains active

Pebbles82 · 12-22-2019, 04:50 PM

I agree with Ria that it may well be the type of cage - he can't see out. There is no door on the side or mesh vents on the side. They vary and some will prefer an enclosed type cage - others prefer barred cages. I personally couldn't get on with a solid sided cage and top entrance.

I would suggest getting him a cage with front opening doors - better for interaction - he can "see" the world (even though they don't see well), and sense it more. What country are you in? There is a good choice of cages in the Uk - limited choice in the US.

Dyarikku · 12-23-2019, 08:07 AM

Update: ((pics attached!)) I have made some hideouts out of tea boxes and a big enough sand bath tube from a sweetener box :'P (I realised he's not a big fan of the sand dish I got him because it doesn't allow him to dig as much as he want to), so thank you for the suggestions! Quick, cheap and easy ways to enrich the cage.

I have added a bit more bedding to one side of the cage so that he now has a section where he can play, hide and dig - the other side is for the wheel and the hoarding stuff

he happily explored this morning.

I used a couple bendy bridges to make a little enclosure on top of the tea box and sand box as you guys suggested he might feel exposed. I'm not sure about him needing to see the outside the cage area, since he had a similar behaviour in a clear terrarium too... I'll keep an eye on that! I'm sure the ventilation is good tho, he has a wire top as a lid so it's basically almost open.

I honestly scrapped any wired cage as an option because I know he likes bar biting (whether it's out of stress or enjoyment...). That limits me to terrariums, tanks and bin cages unfortunately :8 and as I said, I'm having troubles finding big enough cages that are shipped to\ sold in UK

aaand I'm on a budget. most definitely will upgrade to ikea detolf at this point

sarahbutterflies · 12-23-2019, 09:31 PM

He is so cute!! Glad you've added things to his setup and willing to give him an awesome upgrade soon! good luck

Dyarikku · 12-27-2019, 03:25 PM

Terrible updates.

I left him home for a couple days with food and water. Today I came back and looked everywhere as he seemed to have escaped, searched throughly for an hour and then found him in a corner of the cage, under all the bedding, lifeless and stiff. Checked with my housemate and no, he wasn't hybernating, he is definitely dead and I feel like an absolute irresponsable owner.

I found a small piece of bedding with blood in his hoarding hideout.
Other than that, I have no idea of wha could have happened. Chicle was a healthy 1 year old syrian, always been fed properly with variety of right foods and seeds. Nothing in the cage that seems to have poisoned him. I did make some hideouts out of tea boxes and tape, but none of those have been chewed on for him to choke\get poisoned.

I am heart broken.