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Old 09-02-2020, 02:27 PM   #1
Rashy
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 377
Default Nervous syrian, smaller cage?

Our syrian boy is very nervous, can it be positive to start with a hamster heaven cage, so he gets less of space to be nervous in?
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Old 09-03-2020, 01:37 AM   #2
Salem13
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canada
Posts: 111
Default Re: Nervous syrian, smaller cage?

I think it would be best to go right for the cage the hamster will be spending his life in. If he starts in a smaller cage the switch to the bigger will likely just end up freaking him out again.
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Old 09-03-2020, 09:16 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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Default Re: Nervous syrian, smaller cage?

Quite a few people do start them off in a smaller cage, for taming and the Hamster Heaven would be good for that. And yes you can upgrade later when you see how he goes. I found the height of some cages freaks a nervous hamster out (even with lots of enrichment and things above etc to give overhead cover). Upgrading can be done carefully if he later seems to need more space. The Hamster Heaven is quite low so not so intimidating (although you really need to start with an empty cage and get rid of the tubes and penthouse so he can have normal behaviours). It is a bit restricting on what you can fit in for a Syrian - an 11" wheel takes up almost a third of the cage width wise due to the sloping base - so you then need a more space savng house to allow for enough floor space. ie a house that is longer and less deep rather than a squarer one that sticks out more. But there are a number of houses that would do nicely. The Ferplast Sin guinea pig house or Rodipet do a nice two room house that fits well.

It depends how nervous he is. Newt used to hide away a lot in the 100cm Barney but gained in confidence as he got older. Pickle, couldn't get on with the Barney at all and was very jumpy every time the top door was opened. I ended up downgrading him to something the size of the Hamster Heaven! He was much happier and is now more confident and laid back. I'm about to upgrade him again now to another cage with a front opening door. So he is a hamster who would have benefitted from starting in a smaller cage. Sometimes it is access as much as size as well - a front opening cage is easier for interaction and taming and no hands coming from above.

What is he in at the moment? It could be the set up needs adjusting.
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Old 09-03-2020, 09:20 AM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Nervous syrian, smaller cage?

You were looking at the Savic Plaza and Barney weren't you? If you can get the Savic Plaza I think that would be better than the hamster heaven. I am sure the HH will end up seeming too small in the long run. The Plaza also has a big front opening door. It is a bit longer at 100cm though so gives better floorspace and you can fit bigger items in. It is taller but you could increase the substrate height to effectively reduce the height.
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Old 09-03-2020, 02:22 PM   #5
Rashy
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 377
Default Re: Nervous syrian, smaller cage?

He is curious and can sit and just look at me and take food through the bars, and can also sit by the door, but when I opens it he hides. I'm not sure how big the cage is, but I guess 60 cm. It is the cage he came to us in.

I will buy the plaza cage. I have a feeling I will end up with the plaza, barney to bolla as well say and a duna multy to snøbolla.
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