Best, affordable cage for a Syrian hamster?

Fluffna · 08-25-2016, 07:02 AM

Hi
My hamster, Fluffna (her name derives from her Serbian 'dad'), is currently in a cage that I'm certain is too small and more suitable for a dwarf hamster, but I'm having no luck in finding a cage big enough for a Syrian hamster that I can in fact afford. Most of the cages that seem big enough that I've found are upwards of £50.
Also, I did borrow an old cage off of someone I know, which was a Rotastak cage, and Fluffna lived there for about two weeks but I had to move her back to her old cage as she got incredibly stressed from moving cages. So how do I move her to a new cage without her getting too stressed? She seems to be really attached to the cage she's in now, but of course she cannot stay there forever as it's far too small.
Thanks!

souffle · 08-25-2016, 07:48 AM

What size is it Fluffna? Remember it is the right cage for each hamster that matters and if she seems well and content I would take it slowly with a move. It also depends on her age and level of activity as well as other factors. There are some cages available in the lower range and I;m sure some member will soon mage some suggestions but do take care with moving a newby at first till they are tame and settled. Rotastaks though are definitely not suitable,

AmityvilleHams · 08-25-2016, 08:54 AM

Four Ikea Lack side tables would be perfect!It's not complicated at all,you just have to mesh the sides when they're assembled and then line the bottom with nonadhesive contact paper as well as make cardboard(or another hamster-safe material)substrate borders.All in all it's a very cheap cage with the floor space being considered(ends up just over a square meter)and is an even better value than the Detolf.

cypher · 08-25-2016, 09:40 AM

Probably about the cheapest but still good & large enough cage is the alaska from Zooplus, they do a few good cages but that is the cheapest.
As souffle says each ham is an individual & can react to cage sizes & changes differently but there are ways of making it easier for them.
Basically keeping as much from the old cage as you can, put the old substrate on top of however much new you need in the cage, keep her nest & food hoard too & place them in the new cage, all the toys etc she's used to so as much as possible is familiar to her, avoid cleaning to soon before or after moving her too so you don't remove her scent.

CMB · 08-25-2016, 10:44 AM

If the new cage is bigger than the old cage you may want to add more toys/hides so there isn't a lot of empty space (not over crowding the cage though) as too much empty space can be bad if your hamster is nervous.

Angelthehamster · 08-27-2016, 01:12 PM

To not make her so stressed when moving her from old cage to new cage try gradually moving her from cage to cage by buying some tubes and hooking them up in a way that your hamster can't escape by scaling them but can still get from cage to cage. That way the hamster can choose to explore and have the option of coming back to the old cage. Let your hamster explore it for a while so that they get comfortable with the new cage and then you can move your hamster full time to the new cage without the hamster being so stressed. Or instead you could take her and make the new cage as a playpen by letting her play in it 15 minutes the first day, 30 minutes the second day and so on until she is very comfortable in the new cage, then you should move her in full time.
Good luck