My sister got a new Syrian hamster and I really need advice

Reido · 06-28-2017, 12:07 PM

Hi all great to find out there is a friendly forum to help me out with this.
So my sister got a new Syrian Hanster today and has put it beside the TV as she refused to put it in her room as it is nocturnal, which I understand.
Only problem is now she refuses to let me have our (quiet enough) TV above 20% volume to protect the hamster, will barely let me to that side of the room and will not let me have any friends in this room where our TV is

I was just wondering if it must be like this as this removes use of our TV, video games, Netflix etc.
I really hope you can help me out, it's possible she is over-protective as it is her first pet.
Thanks in advance!
~Reido

Gerbil · 06-29-2017, 07:07 AM

Hi Reido,

I'm sure someone more experienced will be along soon but I just wanted to kick the thread off.

In my (admittedly very amateur) opinion, your sister does sound like she is being a little over-protective. That being said, hamsters are nocturnal creatures and don't appreciate being disturbed during the day. Is there anywhere else that the hamster could go? Perhaps ask her to reconsider her bedroom as a place to keep hammie. I keep mine in my room without problems and I'm a fairly light sleeper - in fact, if anything, my gerbils are the ones who keep me awake!

Things to consider are wheels and enrichment that are quiet. The 12" Silent Spinner has good reviews, or, if the cage has enough floor space, the large flying saucer is virtually silent.

If all else fails, perhaps she'll relax her 'no noise' policy once the hamster has settled in a bit. I'm not saying to turn the subwoofer up to max and re-enact the conditions inside an erupting Mount Vesuvius, but some friends in the room and quiet-ish TV should be fine.

AmityvilleHams · 06-29-2017, 07:11 AM

It doesn't sound overprotective at all.Hamsters are quite sensitive to loud noises,so the hamster really needs to be kept in a more quiet place.It would be much better to have a good compromise like that,rather than simply never being able to really use the TV.

As far as wheels go,I don't thinkthe Silent Spinner is a good wheel.They're quite overpriced,don't remain truly silent,and rarely if ever keep spinning properly if you even manage to get one that already spins.I think that The Silent Runner,is an investment wheel that is actually worth it(the safest on the market,stays truly silent,actually lasts for a very long time).I don't think that Flying saucer type wheels and anything that isn't upright is an appropriate wheel solution,since an upright wheel of an appropriate size is extremely important.

AprilPearl · 06-29-2017, 07:16 AM

I don't think it is a good idea to have a hamster, especially a new ones, right next to a switched on TV. Hamsters can get used to background household noise, but the blare of a TV so close to its cage during the day when it is meant to be sleeping would be very scary and stressful. And hamsters are prone to getting wet tail from stress after just moving in to a new place.

So, on one hand: your sister is right, having the TV on next to her hamster is a bad idea. But, on the other hand, she shouldn't have the hamster's cage there in the first place! I don't mean to sound harsh, but she committed to having this pet and should therefore be prepared to keep it in a suitable place. If the only other place is her room, well then she will have to put up with the noise at night. She can't expect others to not use a communal television!

However, not having friends in the same room is over the top. As I said, hamsters can sleep happily through background household noise. I just would not advocate having the TV on right next to them.

CMB · 06-29-2017, 04:03 PM

How about a compromise. During the day and eveningthe hamster could be in her room. It is likely the hamster would be asleep anyway, so hardly any noise. Once the hamster is awake, she could tame/handle it for a while. Before she goes to sleep she could put the hamster in another room over night. The tv etc won't be on all night to upset the hamster and any hamster noise from running on the wheel or drinking from the water bottle won't disturb her sleeping.

AprilPearl · 06-29-2017, 06:29 PM

I think CMB's method might work, although a properly sized cage (80cm X 50cm X 50cm) filled with substrate is going to be both very heavy and complex to manoeuvre up and down the stairs (if you have them, and I am assuming if you do the bedroom is at the top and the TV room at the bottom. Even if the TV room is on the same floor as the bedroom, getting the cage between the two rooms is going to be difficult). It would also disturb the hamster if they are sleeping when you move the cage to your sister's room in the morning, even more so if you do have to go up stairs to get there. And I am sure it would be tedious for you to move a cage every day twice a day

I think you'd be better off persuading your sister just to have the hamster in her room on a permanent basis. As others have said, it shouldn't be too noisy. You just need to persuade her of this. Good luck!

Thin Lizzy · 07-03-2017, 02:14 AM

Is there anywhere else your sister can put the cage? I keep mine in the living room but away from my TV.

Pebbles82 · 07-03-2017, 10:42 AM

Apologies for disagreeing but hamsters don't take to cages being moved to a different location at all! The cage needs to live in one place. I agree with April. The cage shouldn't be so close to the TV. Having a cage in the same room as the TV is fine and they do get used to background noise like people talking and the TV. But a lot of people having loud fun, might be a bit much sometimes. Our last cage was about 4 feet from the TV and that was fine.

So I'd suggest - either find a location in the TV room that is not too close to the TV - even if it means moving the furniture round (we had to do that!) Or get a silent hamster wheel and have the cage in her bedroom. There are advantages to that as the hamster will bond with her more and she will have more interaction with him probably. The only real issue with a cage in the bedroom is if the hamster bar chews - which they can do if the cage is too small or the wheel is too small or the set up isn't sufficent for them to do normal hamstery things (eg not enough bedding/substrate or a house that isn't big enough to nest in or is not open underneath or not dark inside).

Hamsters do get used to the sounds of humans around them, so unless your friends are particularly noisy and loud and rumbustuous when playing computer games, then I can't see it's a problem the hamster being in that room. I find ours stops and listens if there is music on the TV

On the other hand he doesn't like the soundtrack to scary programmes! A sensible volume is fine - enough to hear normally but not really loud.

If it's the case that you and your friends regularly go wild in there then she should have the cage in her room and get a silent wheel. Many owners keep a hamster and cage in their bedroom.

FelicityAnn · 07-03-2017, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I find ours stops and listens if there is music on the TV

On the other hand he doesn't like the soundtrack to scary programmes! A sensible volume is fine - enough to hear normally but not really loud.

I remember that Amity said one of hers liked Marilyn Manson. Esmeralda has taken a liking to Meat Loaf, especially Bat Out Of Hell.

They really are strange little creatures, aren't they?

Thin Lizzy · 07-04-2017, 08:29 PM

Master Harvey comes out and he stops and listens. He loves The Chase and Planet Earth, I'll sit by his cage and with The Chase, I always answer the questions but ask Harvey what he thinks and he looks at me as if to say Mom I agree with your answer lol!
He loved the noises on Planet Earth and I would get the giggles at his little ears and face. His cage is about 10 feet away from the tv.