Strawberry hide

[BlueElephant]

Hi all, I'm hoping for some advice. I'm new to hamsters, but we are looking to get a Syrian in a month or twos time.

Is this strawberry hide big enough for a Syrian? I have not quite got my head around how big things need to be!

Amazon.co.uk

Thank you!

 

[Lovelyness]

I think minimum size of hole for a Syrian should be about 7 cm, so this looks like the opening might be a bit on the small side.

 

[BlueElephant]

Thank you! That is useful to know.

 

[Maz]

Agree. It doesn't say what size the opening is and that is particularly important with ceramic items or the hamster can get stuck! Even if the opening was big enough, a hamster is likely to grow out of it. I have a strawberry hide from Pets at Home (plastic rather than ceramic though) and our Syrian used to squeeze himself into it when he was a baby but has given up now - he just can't fit in!

Unfortunately most items sold for "hamsters" are really only big enough for dwarf hamsters - although some have two different sizes - one for Syrians one for dwarf hamsters.

These hides are all suitable for Syrians (I particularly like the terracotta tower - both my hamsters like that - although it is quite large!)

Cactus hide

Terracotta Castle Hide

Mushroom hide (large)

Niteangel stone shaped hide

This site also has some nice hamster hides plus sprays and snacks etc. It says which size is suitable for a Syrian I think

SHOP | Hamsters We Love

www.hamsterswelove.co.uk

This is the Pets at Home Strawberry hide - the entrance is big enough but it is a bit on the small side generally. Some Syrians are smaller than others though!

It's resin not plastic

Strawberry Hide

 

[Maz]

Also coconut hides are popular! Again you need to check the diameter entrance, but hamsters seem to like the round coconut hides.

I usually get this Happy Pet one as the entrance has always been big enough (it needs to be 7cm diameter or larger). This is because hamsters with full pouches can be 7cm wide!

Happy Pet Nature First Coconut Hut

Happy Pet Nature First Coconut Hut provides the perfect luxury snooze spot! Small animals love to have somewhere sheltered & private to nest and hide.

www.hugglepets.co.uk

It's the same when looking for tunnels etc. Rat sized tunnels are better for syrians. But the Rosewood seagrass and hyacinth small sized tunnels are a good sized for Syrians and not too massive.

Hyacinth tunnel

A main house or hide needs to be large as well for a Syrian. They like somewhere large that's dark inside, so they have separate areas for nesting, hoarding and toiletting. You can get large multiroom houses as well and if there's a litter tray inside, they will usually use it.

 

[BlueElephant]

Thank you, that is really helpful. I will take a look at some of the bigger hides.

We were considering this for the main house. Or maybe the four room version?

https://www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk/product-page/hamster-corner-open-2-3-chamber-house-formaldehyde-free-non-toxic-wood

We have a bucastate 3.0 so liked the idea of being able to see into some of the compartments while at the same time having one compartment that was totally dark and secure.

I am glad to hear the rosewood tunnels are good as I just ordered one!

 

[Maz]

Those hides for the side of the cage that you can see through look good I don't have a clear-sided cage so I just use the HHH large multiroom house. Both of mine use it. The only annoying thing about it is the compartments aren't quite the right size to fit a corner toilet inside. I managed to fit one slightly under one of the compartments instead.

Maybe the open sided ones have different sized compartments though

 

[Maz]

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