Thinking of getting a hamster? Brilliant! Setting up your syrian hamster cage is one of the most important parts of proper hamster care. I have had hamsters for many years so hope this guide will be helpful for new owners.
THE CAGE
Hamsters make fantastic pets but they do need to be looked after properly. A lot of people get hamsters from the pet shop and also buy the hamster cage from there too. Just because a pet store sell cages, doesn’t make them the right size of enclosure for your new pet. A cage for a Syrian Hamster should be no less than 85 cm, 100 cm or over would be even better. If you can get to IKEA, they have a shelving unit called the Detolf. Youtube has so many videos of how to turn this unit in to one of the best hamster cages, and it wont break the bank. Set your cage up in a quiet room, not in direct sunlight and not in a draught. Cages like the Plaza 140 and the Plaza 160 are also perfect for your little fur baby. Setting up your Syrian Hamster Cage is one of the most important jobs.
THE SUBSTRATE
Substrate is what you use to cover the floor of your hamster cage. A lot of people use wood shavings but I wouldn’t recommend it, it’s very dusty and some hamsters suffer with respiratory problems. I would recommend a paper based substrate like Carefresh or Kaytee. My hamster has back 2 nature, this is a great substrate for him as he doesn’t burrow. It’s not dusty, it’s very absorbent and it can also be used in your hamsters litter tray, yes hamsters use litter trays. They are fairly cheap, around £3 and well worth every penny. I will talk more about toilet training later. Until you know your hamster better as far as burrowing I would use the Carefresh or Kaytee. The depth of your substrate should be 6 inches or over for burrowing.
THE NESTING MATERIAL
Nesting material is different from substrate, this is what your hamster sleeps on in his little house. It should be safe, soft and cosy. Some people use ripped up toilet tissue which is great. Hamsters love shredding it even smaller to sleep on. For my hamster Budd I used bamboo toilet tissue. It’s naturally antibacterial, has no bleaches or additives and is extremely low in dust. Budd had asthma and was prone to respiratory infections and his vet recommended this. I bought mine off Amazon and it works out much cheaper than buying bedding from the pet store.
THE HAMSTER HOUSE
Hamsters are nocturnal which means they are mostly active during late evening and night and sleep through the day. His house should be large enough for him to get in to and have enough room to move around and stash his favourite foods for snacking when he’s hungry. I would recommend a wooden hamster house, they are dark and warm where as the plastic ones let light in and condensation collects on the inside walls. Some hamsters prefer to burrow in the substrate to sleep. You will find out soon enough what your little pet prefers
HAMSTER WHEEL
Most cages come with hamster wheels, throw them out, they are far far too small for your little friend. A Syrian Hamster wheel should be around 28 – 33 cm. I bought a wooden wheel for Budd with a soft cork running area. These can be bought from Zooplus for around £17 and they are really well made. You should purchase a good wheel as hamsters run for miles on them.
Hamster wheel
A WATER BOTTLE AND FOOD DISH
You hamster will need a water bottle, these usually clip to the outside of the cage and have a small ball bearing in the spout. You should change the water every day and check the spout is working properly. Some people put a separate water dish inside the cage just in case the water bottle stops working. Your hammie will also need a small food dish.
TOYS
Your hamster will need toys to play with so they don’t get bored. Some things you can make yourself but some will need to be bought like chew sticks, wooden toys and teeth grinding stones. Hamsters teeth grow all the time and they need to chew to keep them from getting too long.When you are setting up your Syrian hamster cage remember Tunnels, bridges and hanging bridges are great too. Toilet roll tubes folded at each end with treats inside will give your hamster hours of fun trying to get to the treats. If your hamster gets bored they could start chewing the bars on his cage. This isn’t good and your little friend could damage their teeth, Keep an eye out for this. There are loads of tips for boredom breakers for hamsters on YouTube.
FOOD AND SNACKS
There are lots of different hamster foods on the market, pellets and muesli. Pellets are probably the best as your hamster will pick and choose what he wants out of the muesli and end up leaving the things he doesn’t like, With the pellets it’s impossible for him to do that. I usually give Budd extra snacks at night, things like fruit, veg, boiled egg and chicken. I will put a list of the foods they can eat on another page, be careful not to give them too much as over feeding can make them overweight or get diarrhoea. Pets at home have a great variety of hamster snacks and treats too.
You are now ready to buy your new pet. The best place if you can find one locally is a breeder but if you can’t get a breeder then a pet shop. Firstly check out the adoption area in the pet shop, sometimes they have hamsters that have been brought back or the RSPCA, give a pet a new forever loving home. Once you put your new pet in to his cage leave him for a few days to get used to his new surroundings. When handling him be gentle and stay close to the floor just in case he jumps out of your hand. Let your hamster free roam as often as possible and watch for him trying to chew on things he shouldn’t and handle him regular. Hamsters make fantastic family pets and can bring hours of fun watching them play.
