Hamster obsessed with escaping playpen/cage/hamster ball - Page 2

Ria P · 05-05-2021, 11:47 AM

That is real progress which is great.

I have used this cage as a temporary foster cage for Syrian hamsters and adjusted the large wooden platform/shelf by cutting it into a narrower shelf to free up more space in the centre.
The big wheel sits directly on the base because the low height of the cage doesn't allow for substrate under the wheel but i add as much substrate as possible either side of the wheel.

Not having a suitable wheel at night when hamsters are at their most active can affect their temperament.

There is a 30cm Trixie flat saucer wheel that is big enough for a Syrian but it takes up a lot of space and doesn't replace an upright wheel. I have one in the freeroaming room.

Dodo · 05-05-2021, 12:22 PM

That’s great I agree! At the end of the day it is your choice but I would literally beg you to put back the wheel in his cage and remove the substrate underneath to make space for it. Pack the substrate, making a hill as high as possible in the rest of the base of the cage. Young hamsters can spend most of their awake time on their wheel and the fact that that’s all he did when in the playpen is a good indication of how much he likes it.

I understand you can’t buy another cage right now. When the time is right, please consider putting your hamster in a larger cage. Syrians get big and need the space. You can find some good 2nd hand cages online, on amazon marketplace for example.

Best of luck with your hamster, I think it’s great you’re doing so much to make him comfortable.

TCDutchman · 05-06-2021, 11:03 AM

You two make a very good point. Today I tried to place the big wheel in the cage as he obviously loves it. Sadly, even with all the substrate underneath it removed, it's still slightly too big. It technically fits, but it won't spin. the bottom of the cage goes slightly inwards which blocks the wheel from spinning. This wheel is a 33cm one, but I have also seen a 28 cm one, and I think that one will fit, so I'll get that one for him asap.

He's got a wooden flat saucer, but it seems he doesn't really know how to use it. He uses it more as an elevation to get to the top of the cage, but then almost falls off when the saucer starts to spin.

What would you recommend size wise for a cage for a Syrian? I'll try to keep an eye out for 2nd hand ones and I want to make sure that if I do buy one, it'll be big enough for him.

Ria P · 05-06-2021, 11:33 AM

Both my Syrians and my departed one happily live in 84cmx48.5x44cm Alaska cages from Zooplus but i bought Rory's second hand.

It is not that much bigger from yours but the extra height really helps to accommodate a Syrian's big items.
The one you have now is great for a dwarf hamster though.

There are lots of bigger ones of course.

There's a thread called "Let's see your cages" on the Forum under Housing where you can look at different cages.

Dodo · 05-06-2021, 11:29 PM

Yes the 28cm is enough for a Syrian. You can always keep the 33cm for the playpen, or sell it back on facebook marketplace. For Syrians there is also the 30 cm flying saucer, but it takes up a lot of space and shouldn’t be used as a main wheel. I placed mine in the playpen (I have bought so many hamster related things it is embarrassing). It’s taken a little while, but my hamster now loves it and goes really fast on it!