What should a Syrian have? Advice please!

velma · 10-14-2014, 01:01 PM

I came home with a Syrian hamster today which I hadn't planned on. I've only had Syrians as a child so that knowledge doesn't count. I normally spend a lot more time researching before I rush into anything. The spare bits & bobs I have at home are mostly dwarf size. When I got her (currently nameless

) I didn't want to buy too many bits that were unsuitable, I just wanted to get her home & in the cage. I grabbed a house that's big enough for her at the moment. it"s edible apparently but having read the label, it's made from alfalfa & honey so I know with the honey that won't be suitable long term. Also, I know her wheel is too small as she currently has a 6.5" silent spinner ("borrowed" from Hector while he temporarily uses his old wheel) but P@H don't have a great selection.
So, can you tell me what I should have in there? Or what you recommend. (Her cage is a duna multy)

I've set it up like this for the time being.

**ianpallen** · 10-14-2014, 01:11 PM

I would say a minimum of 9" wheel. As you say, things larger than for a dwarf. Climbing thing, like a ladder with bits on it. I dont know what they are called. My Ginger loves to climb. Wooden things to chew. I would say them bendy bridges or the long walk ways. Hammock if you have room ?. I am just starting out with Syrians since it is over 20 years since I had a syrian. Others a few years ago were dwarfs or robo's. I dont know which as hams were hams then. No internet forums at the time to find out what breed they were.

Micky93 · 10-14-2014, 01:12 PM

I've no idea what size the duna multy is, but if you were looking for a brilliant cage for a Syrian without spending too much I'd highly recommend the zooplus Alaska (Pet Supplies, Pet Food, Dog Food, Cat Food and Pet Accessories at Zooplus). One of my Syrians has it and it's amazing, and brilliant access for taming.

Wheel wise it should be minimum of 8". I use Wodent wheels and think here great! I have both my girls in my room so quiet wheels were a must!

Other things my girls and previous Syrians have enjoyed include:
Sand bath
Tubes/tunnels
Cardboard loo rolls
Climbing toys
Etc

good luck with your new girlie xxx

NiceCrocs · 10-14-2014, 01:15 PM

Aside from a bigger wheel, your setup looks pretty good

the entrance on that edible house is a bit small for the larger Syrians, but since it's open at the bottom there's no danger of getting stuck, and unless your syrian grows to be especially big they'll likely be able to use it their whole life (every day my syrian surprises me with the small spaces she can squeeze into! And she's rather on the large size

)

The honey in the house isn't really an issue unless your hamster chews it excessively, so keep an eye on how much they chew. My robo has a tunnel made of the same stuff, but she's only had a nibble or two at it, so I've left it in there all the time

I recommend getting a 10 or 11 inch wheel. A lot of people will say 8 inch for Syrians, but many will outgrow that, and it's better to go larger, that way you don't end up buying wheels you don't need.

**ianpallen** · 10-14-2014, 01:15 PM

I love the hut in the corner

Ridley33 · 10-14-2014, 01:21 PM

I've got the multy duna..its a large cage so it's fine for Syrians but yes get a bigger wheel and a sand bath or digging box as they love to dig.

velma · 10-14-2014, 02:33 PM

Thanks guys. I've gotten used to robo = lots of stuff but obviously with a Syrian you need bigger bits & therefore less of it. But I don't want it to be too bare so she feels exposed. The double substrate thing is because I didn't have enough carefresh but I had some back up shavings (in case Hector never took to Carefresh) so I thought I'd try both for a bit of variety. They are separated by the ever useful bendy bridge.
Apart from the too small wheel, I've put in a cardboard tube, a bendy bridge shaped into a hidey hole, a mug with some chinchilla sand as a makeshift loo (I've propped the front up a little to keep the sand in. Ha ha, like that will work) the edible house, the reptile rock under her water bottle, a whimzee crocodile, a mineral chew thing, a sisal carrot & a ring chew thing.

The sand bath is a good suggestion. Hector has one but I didn't know if Syrians went in for that sort of thing. And I think a ladder or something to climb would be good too. Will see if there is room for a dig box after the wheel has gone in but I might just corner off a deeper section with a bendy bridge, like I did for Hector.
I think she's going to be a chewer so will watch the house but I feel a but better about it now. The first thing she did was squeeze round the back of it & rip hay off the roof. And then went to sleep in the worlds smallest gap behind the house under her pile of hay!

velma · 10-14-2014, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianpallen

I love the hut in the corner

Thanks Ian - it's this one
Small Edible Hideaway Hut | Pets At Home

They do a bigger one though apparently.

iluvhammies · 10-14-2014, 03:13 PM

The setup that you have now is fine, but of course, get a larger wheel, like an 8 inch wheel or bigger. (8" Wheels are fine if your hamster's back doesn't arch while running. If it does, go larger.) I'd also recommend purchasing more toys for variety in the cage if you have extra cash. My ham, Pumpkin Spice loves when I bring him a new toy from the pet store!

Pebbles82 · 10-14-2014, 06:01 PM

I think the set up looks good. I believe a 12" wheel fits in the Duna Multy with a bit of space left above it. As you can't easily put a platform in a duna multy, for levels, maybe one of those digging towers would be good - something to climb and dig in.

Burrow & Play Tower Diggy customer reviews at zooplus