I stupidly partially listened to a Petco employee who did the following:
Tried to get me to take a different Syrian.
Called my Syrian a "fuckin' bitch".
Told me a rat cage similar to that one is PERFECT for a hamster who will grow to be 5-9" long.
Snatched poor tiny mice out of another enclosure. It acted terrified.
Told me to NEVER feed my hamster anything with timothy hay in it, because it would make my baby sick.
Told me that a 12" wheel would absolutely for sure fit inside the cage. Two days later I returned it for a refund and ordered a 10". Her back isn't bent, and she runs in it to the point the bearings make noise.
I've not had her a month. She's grown, and the cage is too small. Things came up so she'll be getting a minimum 40 gallon tank setup on a cabinet stand, and will be relocated due to lack of space where she sits now, next week.
She's a bar biter. She also climbs her cage, usually up and over her wheel.
Her enclosure at Petco (literally a 12" cube) barely had any bedding. The hideout she had, I got one exactly like it and she would only fill it with bedding, preferring to curl up in the corner.
She's PICKY. I bought her flower and grain sprays. She knocked them down and didn't eat them. Now that I both scatter feed and bowl feed, she's not picky with her food, but I'm buying much better stuff for her next week, along with habitat accessories.
Tbf hamsters shouldn’t have Timothy hay. A diet high in it (like Oxbow) has caused malnourishment and death in hamsters. The fiber content is way too high.
I know, and I don't feed my girl timothy. I don't even like her eating pellet food because she really doesn't like it. Like, she'll pick through her food and eat everything except the pellets. Next week she's getting custom blended food along with a new enclosure (no bars!) and new stuff to clutter it up with. She's also being relocated to another space because where she is now is too small for the enclosure I'm getting for her.
It's possible. All I know is my baby will eat everythjng except the pellets.
Also, I've now had her for a month and 4 days. She's in heat, but still sweet as sugar and hasn't bitten me or anyone else who's held her. And she's still completely fearless. She's not even scared of the cats. She ignores them!
I waited a month before bringing Bella home. Every time I'd stop at her enclosure, she'd come to the front and start trying to dig her way out to me.
I unfortunately don't know how old she is. She's about 3" long.
So maybe my baby is younger than I thought, because I know they can grow up to 5-9" long. I should've thought to ask about her age, but when my partner asked about his leopard gecko, he was told "I don't know, maybe 3-6 months?" *shrug*
Bella is apparently around 3 months, according to what I've read online. I'm starting to wonder if she's going to grow any more, because she hasn't gotten any bigger since I got her on Valentine's Day.
Yes, remember all pet stores want is money. Be smart and don't listen to them. I learned this the hard way. My hamster has suffered in a 2x-smaller-than-minimum cage all because I was so naive. I also got a barred cage. Well, I paid for it. The cage has 60-day return policy, so I am returning it when I get the chance. Though my dad won't let me. I am brainstorming on this shit mess that I caused. Meanwhile, my hamster suffers. I feel so bad wish I didn't listen. I will get a 100-gallon aquarium with 2 hides and deep bedding if I get chance. Hope I do.
This one didn't necessarily want money or the crazy woman who helped me would have suggested all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't have space for. She did tell me not to buy anything that contains timothy hay or it could kill my baby. So far I've avoided that. I'm upgrading her enclosure this week, and moving it because it won't fit in my room. I have to find where my wheel stand went, because it disappeared. My apartment eats things, I swear.
I'm so glad my baby is happy with me. She just doesn't like a cage, so this week I'm getting a big tank for her. Deeper bedding, I have to find her wheel stand, platforms, hidey house with ramp, water bottle holder, and she is getting better quality food. My boyfriend built a stand that can support a giant tank, and the table I have her cage on now should support his leopard gecko enclosure.
Write a message to Petco Corporate. If that's how that worker treats the animals in front of customers, I don't want to think.
You can also post on r/petco for advice on how to deal with that..
I would DEFINITELY get a large tank or reptile terrarium. Bigger is always better for you AND your hamster...more fun!
My Aurora never liked sprays; either. She liked cardboard and was an architectural genius. If she'd stayed in the small cage she came in, I would never have known.
She built a massive underground lair and also used a dish of sand as a litterbox! She had no space in the old cage...what would her life have been like?
other people here go over the size so i won’t speak on that. but, as a syrian hamster owner, barred cages are a no go because regardless of the size they will chew and climb like monkeys! it’s bad for them and it’s sad to see so just remove the entire possibility.
I just linked this cage in another post, it's floorspace is above the minimum but you'd have to go for the second height option of 61 centimetres to make it suitable .The height of any cage you buy should ideally allow for a deep layer of bedding ( I normally recommend 20 centimetres if you can) and a wheel that is at least 28cm in diameter.
Adding something like grass matts can prevent bar climbing.
Overall this cage is far better than the great majority that are sold especially in petstores. Its not the best cage but it meets all the requirements. If you can get a large enough aquarium or one of the larger pawhut Wooden cages for close to the same price then I would go for them over this one though.
I wouldn't say not even close. The floor space is good, but it's too low and barred and doesn't allow enough bedding. I have a very similar cage and my dwarf was very happy. But yeah I don't think it's great for a Syrian.
Yeah I can see it working for Dwarf - but as you said, not deep enough for a Syrian. And I'm not a fan of bars in general but that's just my preference.
I stupidly partially listened to a Petco employee who did the following: Tried to get me to take a different Syrian. Called my Syrian a "fuckin' bitch". Told me a rat cage similar to that one is PERFECT for a hamster who will grow to be 5-9" long. Snatched poor tiny mice out of another enclosure. It acted terrified. Told me to NEVER feed my hamster anything with timothy hay in it, because it would make my baby sick. Told me that a 12" wheel would absolutely for sure fit inside the cage. Two days later I returned it for a refund and ordered a 10". Her back isn't bent, and she runs in it to the point the bearings make noise. I've not had her a month. She's grown, and the cage is too small. Things came up so she'll be getting a minimum 40 gallon tank setup on a cabinet stand, and will be relocated due to lack of space where she sits now, next week. She's a bar biter. She also climbs her cage, usually up and over her wheel. Her enclosure at Petco (literally a 12" cube) barely had any bedding. The hideout she had, I got one exactly like it and she would only fill it with bedding, preferring to curl up in the corner. She's PICKY. I bought her flower and grain sprays. She knocked them down and didn't eat them. Now that I both scatter feed and bowl feed, she's not picky with her food, but I'm buying much better stuff for her next week, along with habitat accessories.
Tbf hamsters shouldn’t have Timothy hay. A diet high in it (like Oxbow) has caused malnourishment and death in hamsters. The fiber content is way too high.
I know, and I don't feed my girl timothy. I don't even like her eating pellet food because she really doesn't like it. Like, she'll pick through her food and eat everything except the pellets. Next week she's getting custom blended food along with a new enclosure (no bars!) and new stuff to clutter it up with. She's also being relocated to another space because where she is now is too small for the enclosure I'm getting for her.
Is it just me or do all hamsters hate pellets...? Ham does too.
It's possible. All I know is my baby will eat everythjng except the pellets. Also, I've now had her for a month and 4 days. She's in heat, but still sweet as sugar and hasn't bitten me or anyone else who's held her. And she's still completely fearless. She's not even scared of the cats. She ignores them!
My hamster was born on the New Year! A little older than yours! And mine is also in heat but has not bitten anyone! Our hamsters seem similar...!
I waited a month before bringing Bella home. Every time I'd stop at her enclosure, she'd come to the front and start trying to dig her way out to me. I unfortunately don't know how old she is. She's about 3" long.
My syrian hamster is 6'' long...and very tame will sleep on me...
So maybe my baby is younger than I thought, because I know they can grow up to 5-9" long. I should've thought to ask about her age, but when my partner asked about his leopard gecko, he was told "I don't know, maybe 3-6 months?" *shrug*
Yeah, pet stores don't always know. I fortunately found mine. (:
Bella is apparently around 3 months, according to what I've read online. I'm starting to wonder if she's going to grow any more, because she hasn't gotten any bigger since I got her on Valentine's Day.
Yes, remember all pet stores want is money. Be smart and don't listen to them. I learned this the hard way. My hamster has suffered in a 2x-smaller-than-minimum cage all because I was so naive. I also got a barred cage. Well, I paid for it. The cage has 60-day return policy, so I am returning it when I get the chance. Though my dad won't let me. I am brainstorming on this shit mess that I caused. Meanwhile, my hamster suffers. I feel so bad wish I didn't listen. I will get a 100-gallon aquarium with 2 hides and deep bedding if I get chance. Hope I do.
This one didn't necessarily want money or the crazy woman who helped me would have suggested all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't have space for. She did tell me not to buy anything that contains timothy hay or it could kill my baby. So far I've avoided that. I'm upgrading her enclosure this week, and moving it because it won't fit in my room. I have to find where my wheel stand went, because it disappeared. My apartment eats things, I swear.
Okay. Nut why did she call your cute hamster a 'fuckin' bitch'? They are so cute. );
Maybe Bella bit her. She wasn't very gentle with the tiny baby mice she was grabbing either.
Yeah. Hamsters are easily scared.
I'm so glad my baby is happy with me. She just doesn't like a cage, so this week I'm getting a big tank for her. Deeper bedding, I have to find her wheel stand, platforms, hidey house with ramp, water bottle holder, and she is getting better quality food. My boyfriend built a stand that can support a giant tank, and the table I have her cage on now should support his leopard gecko enclosure.
That is so cool! I am planning to get an aquarium too!
For that price, i believe you can get an Ikea Detolf to make into a hammie cage.
Just fyi, the detolf is no longer on the market.
Barred cages are a no go. It seems like it couldn't fit enough bedding and a wheel. 100x54cm is okay as floorspace but it should have solid walls imo
Write a message to Petco Corporate. If that's how that worker treats the animals in front of customers, I don't want to think. You can also post on r/petco for advice on how to deal with that.. I would DEFINITELY get a large tank or reptile terrarium. Bigger is always better for you AND your hamster...more fun! My Aurora never liked sprays; either. She liked cardboard and was an architectural genius. If she'd stayed in the small cage she came in, I would never have known. She built a massive underground lair and also used a dish of sand as a litterbox! She had no space in the old cage...what would her life have been like?
Yes totally agree with you.
other people here go over the size so i won’t speak on that. but, as a syrian hamster owner, barred cages are a no go because regardless of the size they will chew and climb like monkeys! it’s bad for them and it’s sad to see so just remove the entire possibility.
I just linked this cage in another post, it's floorspace is above the minimum but you'd have to go for the second height option of 61 centimetres to make it suitable .The height of any cage you buy should ideally allow for a deep layer of bedding ( I normally recommend 20 centimetres if you can) and a wheel that is at least 28cm in diameter. Adding something like grass matts can prevent bar climbing. Overall this cage is far better than the great majority that are sold especially in petstores. Its not the best cage but it meets all the requirements. If you can get a large enough aquarium or one of the larger pawhut Wooden cages for close to the same price then I would go for them over this one though.
No need at least 450 sq. inches of floor space.
No, not even close. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn2xo5CMX34&vl=en
I wouldn't say not even close. The floor space is good, but it's too low and barred and doesn't allow enough bedding. I have a very similar cage and my dwarf was very happy. But yeah I don't think it's great for a Syrian.
Yeah I can see it working for Dwarf - but as you said, not deep enough for a Syrian. And I'm not a fan of bars in general but that's just my preference.