Hamster cage advice -updated youtube clip

Prudent

I am looking after my (adult) daughter's hamster for a long weekend. It currently has this cage:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/hamster/hamster-homes/medium-plastic-hamster-home

However it does not seem to manage to use the wheel and dd has removed the wheel. The hamster has a lot of toys which dd changes regularly. However it seems very restless and needs to come out of the cage for quite a bit in the evening. I am wondering if a bigger cage/ better wheel would help? All the hamsters we had in the past made good use of their wheel. It is quite a big Syrian hamster

The hamster has a lovely nature and is very easy to handle, it just has a lot of energy.

I am wondering if anyone has used the freestanding wheels or has a cage they would highly recommend?

krlyr

I'm suspecting that, as a Syrian hamster, the wheel is too small. Generally the size that comes with most hamster cages will be OK for a dwarf hamster or a baby Syrian, but once they outgrow it they do generally stop using them.

For small animals, I always really recommend going up a species, as such. Buy a large hamster cage for a dwarf hamster, a rat cage for a hamster, a ferret cage for a rat and so on. Commercial cages are made cheap, and often much smaller than the animal actually needs.

I think the "Mary" rat cage from Pets At Home could work well. Or maybe find a hamster forum or Facebook group and see what else they recommend. "Bin" cages made from big storage boxes often work well, as they have a good surface area, but you need to make a few modifications in terms of ventilation etc. The one Syrian hamster I had lived in a "Critter" type cage (like this https://cdn.worldstores.co.uk/images/products/WP/20/Lazy_Bones_3ft_x_2ft__0_72m_x_0_45m__3_Tier_Ferret_and_Rodent_Cage_A_SS_1.jpg ) which I modified, with solid flooring and strategic hammocks to prevent her being able to fall (hamsters are much clumsier than rats!)

The Silent Spinner wheels are meant to be good, and a bit quieter than your standard wheel. I used the Super Pet Comfort Wheel - you'll want around an 8" wheel, again this may be marketed at the slightly larger species like rats. E.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Superpet-Comfort-Wheel-8-5-inch-Large/dp/B0002AS94C

Prudent

Thank you so much. I will order that wheel as a starting point and see if it helps. I am not sure about my ability to modify a storage box, but DD's partner maybe able to. I have some big ones which I used for storing items for a horse, that could be quite economical.

krlyr

They can be made pretty simple - a bit like the cage you've got, with ventilation on top. And then there are more advanced ones that might link more than one box, have different levels, etc. Some people choose to add ventilation and/or doors to the front for convenience and so on.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hamster-Bin-Cage-Tutorial/ is a really simple tutorial, but if you look up "hamster bin cage" on Google images you'll find lots of inspiration

cashbag

Even an 8 inch wheel is too small for an adult hamster & risks it damaging its spine. For great advice & a lovely community of hamster owners etc google for a forum called Hamster Central. Everyone there is very friendly, very helpful, mad about hamsters & very knowledgeable on hamster welfare. It is good that you realise your hamster needs an upgrade - so many are condemned to a miserable existence in tiny cages & just treated as toys.

chocdonuty

I second going up a species for cages, My hamster is actually still in a hamster cage but it's 84cm long, I have seen guinea pig cages for sale smaller than this which is just plain cruel :mad:
It's from zooplus and for the money you get a lot more cage (£37 at the mo) plus theres loads of room to add toys and bigger wheels.
Just we wary it is actually a hamster cage as bar spacing is important in case of escapes
If you're on a budget then ebay and gumtree are great for a bargain, especially pick up only items

Prudent

Thank you both. I will have a look at that cage now.

Prudent

Is this the cage please?:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/feedback/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/284288

DD is living on very little money, but I am happy to buy the hamster a bigger cage. I can see the cage is too small. I will spend some more time checking wheel sizes. I do want to get this right.

GoldenShadow

Definitely need a bigger wheel. Mine had an 11 inch wooden one that came from somewhere online. Paid about £12 and it was a Karlie Wonderland I think? Mooglee used to do lots of running in that

ETA I think wodent wheels come in big big sizes too? Spinr shouldn't bend as they run basically.

danih

Second to Gumtree for bargains.

I have a mary rat cage from Pets At Home for my dwarf hamsters and it is an excellent size. Easy access to as there is a huge door on the top.

Check out alternative cages, marketed for different larger pets, gerbils, guinea pigs and rabbits etc. If you can fit your thumb through the bars, then they'll make a great escape route for your hamster.

Give him nuts in their shells to work with - partially crack the shell to get him interested. Scatter his food around the base of his cage, mixing it in with the bedding instead of putting it into a food bowl - give him something to do. Try him with cardboard tubes and boxes - stuff to chew.

Best of luck with him

Prudent

Thank you everyone All this advice is much appreciated.