E
Emmy
about two weeks ago the hair above her nose fell out and I do not know why.this is a picture from today and it is starting to grow back 
- Messages
- 19,787
- Reaction score
- 36,901
- Points
- 1,373
She's so gorgeous 
That can be caused by bar rub. Is she in a barred cage? She might be bar chewing. Hamster usually don't bar chew if the cage is 100cm x 50cm approximately Although sometimes even then they can do it if extremely stressed - eg if they've just had a full clean out and all their scent removed - which is why it's better to only do partial cleans, or if their wheel isn't big enough (that can cause back pain), or even just to tell you something is wrong - eg water bottle empty. But generally they don't bar chew if the cage is big enough and there's enough enrichment.
That can be caused by bar rub. Is she in a barred cage? She might be bar chewing. Hamster usually don't bar chew if the cage is 100cm x 50cm approximately Although sometimes even then they can do it if extremely stressed - eg if they've just had a full clean out and all their scent removed - which is why it's better to only do partial cleans, or if their wheel isn't big enough (that can cause back pain), or even just to tell you something is wrong - eg water bottle empty. But generally they don't bar chew if the cage is big enough and there's enough enrichment.
E
Emmy
Yes she is in a barred cage and her cage is 76cmx50cm. I normally spot clean her cage and her wheel is 8 inches
- Messages
- 19,787
- Reaction score
- 36,901
- Points
- 1,373
She probably is bar biting then. Female syrians are notorious for needing a lot of space and being very energetic The wheel would be ok initially but when fully grown, Syrians need an 11" or 12" wheel really. The trixie plastic 28cm one is popular and not too expensive (about £15).
It would be an idea to think about a cage upgrade when you can. You can get second hand ones on ebay etc sometimes, if funds are tight. Are you in the US or the Uk?
The wheel would be ok initially but when fully grown, Syrians need an 11" or 12" wheel really. The trixie plastic 28cm one is popular and not too expensive (about £15).It would be an idea to think about a cage upgrade when you can. You can get second hand ones on ebay etc sometimes, if funds are tight. Are you in the US or the Uk?
E
Emmy
I will try to upgrade 
and I am in the US.
and I am in the US.
- Messages
- 19,787
- Reaction score
- 36,901
- Points
- 1,373
Ah it can be difficult to get barred cages big enough in the US. Is she in the Prevue cage? That's the only one I know of about that size in the US. Most of the others are quite small. Ok so one advantage you have, that we don't have in the Uk, is you can get very large plastic storage bins for making bin cages. I believe Homemart is the place for that. 200 litre ones. Or, you can get glass tanks for a dollar a gallon (when petco has a sale on). Those are probably the two cheapest upgrade options, but you need to do some diy with a bin cage, to mesh the lid. Whereas a tank you can buy a meshed lid to fit. In the Uk glass tanks cost an absolute fortune - no idea why they cost so much less in the US! Other than that there are commercial tank style cages like the Bucatstate (no bars) but they are quite expensive.
I would get as big as you can fit really as female syrians do like a lot of space. A 75 gallon tank would be good. A 40 gallon breeder is a bit bigger than you have now but not much bigger.
The other thing that can make them bar chew (apart from wanting to come out!) is if they don't have enough bedding or a dark place to hide away. So a large house that's dark inside can help. They can retreat somewhere dark to sleep then and burrow down in it and bury hoards under their sleeping area. A cheap solution for that is a shoe box house You just cut the base out of a shoebox, keep the lid for a lift off roof and cut a hole for a door. It's also large enough to fit a corner litter tray at one end (they almost always use a litter tray if it's inside a house - they do seem to like ensuite toilets!).
Something like this and you can just put sand in it. Then empty it maybe once or twice a week (by taking the roof off the house)
Hamster potty
It means the rest of the cage stays clean and dry and you can clean less often (which means less stress for the hamster too).
I would get as big as you can fit really as female syrians do like a lot of space. A 75 gallon tank would be good. A 40 gallon breeder is a bit bigger than you have now but not much bigger.
The other thing that can make them bar chew (apart from wanting to come out!) is if they don't have enough bedding or a dark place to hide away. So a large house that's dark inside can help. They can retreat somewhere dark to sleep then and burrow down in it and bury hoards under their sleeping area. A cheap solution for that is a shoe box house
You just cut the base out of a shoebox, keep the lid for a lift off roof and cut a hole for a door. It's also large enough to fit a corner litter tray at one end (they almost always use a litter tray if it's inside a house - they do seem to like ensuite toilets!).Something like this and you can just put sand in it. Then empty it maybe once or twice a week (by taking the roof off the house)
Hamster potty
It means the rest of the cage stays clean and dry and you can clean less often (which means less stress for the hamster too).
E
Emmy
Thank you for the help she has 6 inches of bedding and a sand bath. I think I will look at the Bucatstate cage.
she has 6 inches of bedding and a sand bath. I think I will look at the Bucatstate cage.
- Messages
- 19,787
- Reaction score
- 36,901
- Points
- 1,373
Six inches of bedding is ok - 8" would be better . The Bucatstate cage is very popular. At least you wouldn't have bars to chew then either. Also do you give her cardboard to rip up? Egg box cartons, toilet roll inners etc. Female syrians seem to love ripping up cardboard! Nesting instinct maybe.
It's this Bucatstate I meant (they also make another one that is part bars, part perspex that is too small).
Bucatstate 2
. The Bucatstate cage is very popular. At least you wouldn't have bars to chew then either. Also do you give her cardboard to rip up? Egg box cartons, toilet roll inners etc. Female syrians seem to love ripping up cardboard! Nesting instinct maybe.It's this Bucatstate I meant
(they also make another one that is part bars, part perspex that is too small).Bucatstate 2
E
Emmy
Yes, she loves cardboardSix inches of bedding is ok - 8" would be better
It's this Bucatstate I meant
Bucatstate 2
- Messages
- 19,787
- Reaction score
- 36,901
- Points
- 1,373
By the way, she might want to enter this month's photo competition It ends in a couple of days.
www.thehamsterforum.com
It ends in a couple of days.
Photo Competition September/Oct
This month's competition is for a favourite photo of your hamster, or one of your hamsters -:) Looking forward to seeing lots of lovely hammy photos :) Competition rules: Only one entry per member It needs to be your own photograph All members can enter The competition runs until 5th October
www.thehamsterforum.com