Not sure the zoozone option is best for Wilfred.

[alisont]

I'm not sure the ZZ1 is best for Wiflred - not sure he is happy in there but might just be me getting over worried as I've not had syrians for 15-20 years and am use the older boys here who are much quieter!

He is fine in the day just sleeps but at 11pm he wakes up - last night he had me up loads as I was worried by all the noise - need to get a better wheel as this ones way too loud.

He tried constantly to get up to the lid and is going silly at the water bottle - think he knows there is a hole there where the bottle is.

He got a tiny scratch/cut on his lip/mouth last night too which also worried me - don't want him hurting himself.

I'm now wondering would a gerbil type deep tank be better? I can't have glass as need to move it sometimes, unless I shuffle the cages round maybe.

Think he will chew a bin cage or find the air holes to chew in a bin cage, not sure a cage is better like the Cambridge - think he will just swing on the bars or chew them.

Anyone else had these concerns - I'm over fussing no doubt but want him to be happy, equally don't want to be buying too many cages

He's just a happy young hammy keen to explore, love him to bits but want him to have a house he is safe in and can't hurt himself in (and a quiet wheel is needed to!)

[samzyzg]

isnt a zoozone 1 too small for a syrian? I dont know what the size of the cage is so can't actually say but that could be the reason he doesnt like it.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Maybe try a bigger cage? A ZZ1 is right at the lower end of the spectrum for ok syrian cages (to the point where its actually a bit below reccomendations), and we've found that the bigger our syrians cage gets the better she behaves herself.

A large aquarium would be the other option but if you want to move it I'm not sure that'd really work.

[alisont]

Thanks I'll have a look - I don't think I'd fit a ZZ2 under my guinea cage/stand which is the area I've got free - it's a bit of a squeeze in my room for space for cages Thought a ZZ1 was ok with playtime out every evening.

Might just have same issues with ZZ2? I do need some flexible option cage wise as it sits in front of the wardrobe (the end I don't use much) but still sometimes need to access the wardrobe so need to be able to move the cage on occasions.

I'll have to have a look/think - still early days for both of us - plenty of time to work on the right cage - he's just woken up I can hear the wheel going.

I'm sure we will get sorted soon

[Bekki2308]

My syrian did that for a while when he was moved into a zz1 from a smaller cage, he was scared and he calmed down once I filled the cage up with tunnels and tubes.

The zz1 is bang on minimum going by rspca guidelines

[Lougarry]

It's a question of trial and error really, I think, to find the cage that's the right fit for your hamster's unique personality. Bear really came out of herself when moved from a tank to a barred cage, and I suspect Magic's going to prefer bars too. Dinah's likes burrowing in very deep substrate so her viv has been great but is now too small so I'll try her in the ZZ2. Too bad it's not possibly to have a cage on sale or return for a couple of weeks...

[kyrilliondaemon]

Why not try a cage other than the ZZ2? What size is your space? I'm sure we can find something that'll work

[vanilla-yazoo]

might sound silly, but can you give him a bowl for a while for water

get a bendy log tunnel and use some string, tie it over the hole area, if he attacks its just wood, after a while he will forget its there, then try again with the bottle.

[fluffymunchkins]

Some syrians are happy in the ZZ1, others need more room or a different design.
Batman went Nuts in the ZZ2, bottle chewing, plastic chewing and having a go at the mesh lid too!
Yet hes much happier in the smaller imac criceti 16
So it might just mean finding what suits Wilfred x

[alisont]

Thanks everyone - I know it's early days - the zoozone was something I kept in the garage and use to use for car travel for a past guinea pig. It is not a problem to get/try/buy an alternative set up so I get the right one that Wilfred likes. I'd like to get him all settled down before he goes to my pet boarders at Easter. I don't really want to buy too many cages.

I'll measure up the space see what I've got to spare.

I've just been in and he is happy playing on his wheel at the mo.

Will look for an alternative to that bottle as It's not that secure, he does not seem to be a digger so far but is showing signs of liking to climb so maybe I need to try a cage - don't think I can fit a hammy heaven in - those look good. I'd quite like him up higher as his cage is on the floor at the mo. Could move Dudley my Chinese onto a table and then put a cage on my chest of drawers but need to measure.

Will post measurments tomorrow night as got another 10-11 hour day tomorrow at work and won't get online much from work.

If he does move form the zoozone that won't get wasted as it can go back to a car travel cage for my guinea.