Very territorial Syrian hammy

Tinward · 02-17-2016, 07:35 AM

Hi there,

I have had drawf hamsters for a number of years but I now have my first syrian and im learning how very different they are.

I have had Custard (hammys name) for about 2 weeks. He lives in the Pets at Home Medium Plastic Hamster cage which is 55 x 38 x 26cm, I have then attached a similar size plastic bin cage on top which is joined by a large plastic tube. He has plenty of toys which keep him amused 3 hideaways and a wheel. So really, he has everything to make him a very happy hamster.

I have been trying to tame him for around a week now but he is very nervous and hides in his tubes when I come near. His bites can be nasty and draw blood most of the time.

The past few days he has been frantically rubbing his scent glands all over the top level of the cage when I come near. This makes me feel like he obviously does not want me any where near him.

Is this normal behavior for a new syrian? Should I just give him more time?

I am afraid if I dont tame him soon he may get more stubborn.

Tinward · 02-17-2016, 10:01 AM

Also is chewing whilst asleep normal?
The bottom part of the cage previously belonged to my male dwarf who passed away a few weeks ago. Is it possible that my new Syrian can still smell his deceased big brother and thats why he is being so territorial about the new bin cage at the top? He seems to be taking all the toys he likes and treats and hiding them in the top part.

CMB · 02-17-2016, 11:18 AM

If you find he doesn't use the old cage, you could put the bin cage on the same level, if it will connect still.

Not sure about the chewing in his sleep though.

If you didn't wash the cage out well enough, he could still smell the hamster that was in there before and be territorial. Once he has scent marked enough he may calm down.

BluerayDarkes · 02-17-2016, 11:38 AM

I think its due to the size of the cage, they need a continuous floor space of 80x50 in order to be happy. My syrian is currently in a large barred cage due to her escaping antics, and my three dwarves are all in bin cages. Though my white dwarf is territorial about his space, that's just because its HIS space. Some hamsters are just like that. I'd suggest maybe looking at the cage situation.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-17-2016, 01:43 PM

I recently bought a used but in like new condition Wodent Wheel for my WW. I washed it and disinfected it with vinegar but apparently not good enough. My WW kept digging and digging inside the wheel at all times throughout the day & night. Chewing on the plastic, today after reading this thread it made me wonder if she can still smell the other animal where this came from? So I soaked it in hot dish water for a longer period of time and scrubbed it down again.

Then I cleaned her cage, as I was planning on doing that anyways, and put the clean wheel back in and so far no scratching. I just put it in tho so I'll have to see, but I'm expecting good things!

Tinward · 02-17-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluerayDarkes

I think its due to the size of the cage, they need a continuous floor space of 80x50 in order to be happy. My syrian is currently in a large barred cage due to her escaping antics, and my three dwarves are all in bin cages. Though my white dwarf is territorial about his space, that's just because its HIS space. Some hamsters are just like that. I'd suggest maybe looking at the cage situation.

He doesn't seem to be using the space he has though? He stays in one corner of the top level for most of the day and night and only goes down the bottom to use the larger space if I put treats down there. I think I need to give him more time to settle before I change his cage again? He's a complex little guy, I hope I get to know him soon.

I have the bottom cage another clean today and made sure I spread some of the bedding which he has been using so he knows it is his. He does seem better after this, he took a treat from my hand, albeit in a handling pen.

herbi7 · 02-17-2016, 04:19 PM

I think he sounds a bit stressed and unsettled and is trying to make himself somewhere he feels safe and smells like home. My Syrian wasn't too bothered by dwarf smells, they shared the same playpen but she was a girl so perhaps it's different for girls. She scent marked a lot when she was stressed or getting used to something new,watch out in case he makes his scent glands sore as they can overdo it with the rubbing. Stay out of his space till he relaxes and gets a happy little routine going,you will be able to tell when he relaxes and he won't hide away from you. You may need to change his setup in the end but I think at the mo he needs leaving to chill out as long as he doesn't do anything that's bad for him. Don't bother cleaning except for spot cleaning

Pebbles82 · 02-17-2016, 04:52 PM

Two weeks isn't long. It takes about two weeks for them to settle into a cage and usually best to avoid any cleaning during that time.

I also think the cage set up is part of the problem and could be causing some aggression (been there, got the t-shirt!). As blueray says, they need continuous floorspace of a minimum 80 x 50 - bigger if possible. Within that floorspace they need a house or hide and may spend quite a bit of time in there (ie just one corner) but can be very active in the rest of the cage when they're not in their house, as it's their habitat for roaming, digging, exploring and just having somewhere to go.

An add-on cage is ok if at least one of the cages is a minimum of 80 x 50 but two smaller ones don't work instead of a larger one.

Our hammy was in a 3 tier rotostak unit and aggressive and depressed sometimes. I found out about the minimum cage size and moved him to an 80 x 50 cage. He was nervous for the first 10 days and then happy as larry and using the whole cage - I just wish I had got a 100cm one as the 80cm cage soon filled up and I have now upgraded him to a 100cm one.

So I reckon the best thing is to get a bigger cage, so he can have normal hamstery behaviours and lots of enrichment and floor space. If you like the plastic cages, then the Ferplast Maxi duna multy is a good option for a Syrian, but you can get cheaper cages if you get a barred cage. The two you have now would make great play cages or travel cages. It just hurts when you've paid for a cage and find it isn't big enough - it really hurt my pocket forking out for a second one!

However, if you have only had him for 2 weeks you could try asking Pets at home for a refund. Tell them the cage is smaller than the RSPCA minimum size for a Syrian and not suitable and use the refund towards your new one. Especially if your hammy is basically living in the top bin cage.

As for taming - it's early days. Let him settle in, scent mark and feel familiar in his surroundings for another week or two. Taming can take a bit longer if you need to upgrade his cage again now, but it'll just slow things up a week or two and he may interact much more quickly when he's in the right environment.

A good cage that is under £50 is the one I got recently. It's the Zooplus from Barney and it's a great cage for a Syrian hamster - I reckon it's just the right size for a Syrian as our 80cm one seemed cramped once there was a house, wheel and other Syrian sized things in there. They need rat sized toys and accessories really and those fill a cage up.

Barney Pet Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

He will be being territorial because he is cramped basically and a bit scared.

This is the Ferplast Maxi Duna Multy, but it's nearly £70. Of the two I prefer a Barney for a Syrian as there is more space for shelves and levels, but the Duna is still good if you prefer plastic tank style cages.

Cage Maxi Duna Multy

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-17-2016, 07:03 PM

My WW isn't scratching in her wheel anymore, she is running in it. In my case it was definitely the scent of the previous owners animal stressing Rose out.

Had it not been for this thread I might not have figured that out. It's been about a month now. I had no idea why she was scratching like crazy in the wheel instead of running in it. I could tell she was stressed cause she was stressing me out with her scratching noises

Elab3 · 02-17-2016, 07:14 PM

I don't have a Syrian (nor have I ever) so I'm not entirely sure, but he may be stressed out about his new home. Leave him alone for a few days and then start talking to him without opening the cage. Offer him a treat through the bars after he's used to you talking to him. My dwarf was edgy when I first got him, but he's gotten used to his new home since I've had him.