Any idea for my giant syrian?

[melanieandlizzie]

Hello!
I dont really come on the forum much but do read through alot, so you may not know me.....Hi!!

I really need some creative ideas on what to do with my hamster.

He is a male syrian and is huge he weighs about 250g. He is 1 year so hopefully wont grow much more!

The problem is that he has outgrown the large 18cm rolly wheel, and the medium 18cm runner ball.

The next size up ball seem massive! and the next size up wheel doesn't fit in his cage.(Savic Peggy)

He doesn't have a bed house at the moment either because he wont fit in any (even with homemade widenings of the doors lol) I have tried icecream tubs, but the bedding went mouldy really quick :S

Does any one know of a big, cheap (UP 2 £40) cage?

Or have any DIY ideas, coz I'm running out and I feel so sorry for him with nothing to run in and no box to sleep in.


Huge Thanks,

Melanie (and comet) xx


p.s Merry Christmas!

[souffle]

Welcome to the forum.
He is a big lad for a male however in the word of show hamsters he would be about average for a female and I have seen males that size. I think the cage is OK in size. Our big females can easily use a Junior Wodent wheel so that may be an option for him. There are also some large comfort wheels available. They don't really need a bedding house but if you wanted one you could make one with a largish cardboard box with air holes in the roof and maybe the whole of one end out for access. Some people use the plastic baskets from Wilkos with a door cut in and turned upside down. If he feeds fat and flabbly rather than firm and muscley it may be best to feed him every 3 days. This will help him eat more of the stuff he is likely leaving just now. He is probably selecting all the fatty, sunflower seeds and peanuts. If you got him from a breeder is will be genetically large.
Give him lots of our time to play, especially things like stair climbing, Bed scrambling, free running in a safe room or corridor. Don't give to many sweet treats like yogi drops. If you feel he has any lumps or bumps you should see the vet.

[zara825]

Hi!

If you look in the cage reviews on this forum there are lots of big cages, but honestly, i'd try eBay first, I get all my cages from eBay, as I simply dont have the funds to pay high street prices!

A zoozone is a large spacious cage, and often appear on eBay for less than £30, even new. I think seapets sell them too at around £40 new.

If you see the reviews for this cage, it is a flat level cage so you may have to be a bit inventive, and as it is sold as a dwarf rabbit cage, you'd have to mesh the top to prevent an escapee!

Hamster heavens are absolutely massive-and i have seen them on eBay, one sold for about £16 recently, another cage to look out for.

With regards to the house situation, i wouldnt worry too much, neither of my syrians sleep in a house, despite them having large igloos. Just make sure he has plenty of bedding

Not sure what to suggest with the wheel-although i do hear Wodent wheels are quite good, you can get them online.

With the ball situation, might be worth you investing in a play box/pen of some sort with some toys in it for him to play with so he can free range run instead. The runner balls seem to come in standard sizes, but of course, i could be wrong and someone might be able to suggest a ball for the more portly hammy?

Only thing with play pens is, you have to watch them at all times. Syrians can be up and over it in no time, but do tend to give up trying to get out if you keep stopping them, and go off and play

250g! That is huuuge! I'm curious how mcuh mine weigh now, i might have to plop them on the scales tonight and see

Good luck!

[melanieandlizzie]

Thanks

No he's not fat at all, just very large, like a scaled up hamster lol

I took him into pets at home recently to size him against the stuff and this lady ran off screaming "A RAAAAATTTT!!!"hahahahaa

I didn't get him from a breeder btw, hes a P@H hamster *hangs head in shame*

Will try a basket for a bed , thats a really good idea, He seems to like having a bed.

The Wodent wheels look unusual! I'll get him one for xmas.

Its great to see the hamster heaven cage for £16!! They look lovely perhaps I can afford one after all!

I have tried with the playpen idea but he escaped too easily. He doesn't get bored of escape either!

Spose I better get shopping!

[TheArctopus]

Savic Cambridge Cages are good for a large syrian, you could remove the lower platform and insert a larger wheel in its place then use a leap 'n' ledge or something to help to reduce the steepness of the stairs to the higher tier. These cages are large and allow lots of bar climbing to keep him fit.

Savic Hamster Heaven are also very nice although i dont have personal experience of them yet.

And you could try a Savic Iglo for a house for him, those are large houses. Or try a chinchilla bath house or guinea pig house or something, but you will need a larger cage for that to still have lots of room for playing.