what's wrong with my female Syrian?

[2manyhamssz]

Im beginning to become scared. I have an utterly angelic dwarf hybrid, And 3 female Syrians, Tiggy, Noodle and teddy. Noodle had escaped a while before this, but a good few months back, noodle chewed out of her enclosure, jumped off it, and somehow, climbed into tiggers enclosure, and I found them in there together. This took me by surprise - as she must have really wanted to get into tiggys enclosure to go to that effort, but I secured her cage and moved their rooms. Then I got teddy. A few minutes ago, I walked into the hamster room. no teddy. I just assumed she was asleep. Then I looked in tiggys cage. There they are. Teddy had clearly done the exact same thing as noodle. I double checked and they are all 100% girls. But what really confuses me is firstly how the hell they got 50cm up straight plastic and through tiny holes, and mostly, they were happy. like no fighting at all. just happy together. no scars, nothing. I might move tiggy out for now in hope nobody will try to get to her. to say im absolutely completely baffled is an understatement. please any Ideas!!

 

[Socks' Mum]

It's interesting! Are they sisters, or perhaps a mother and daughter combination? Hamsters can breed quite young so there might not be much difference between Mom and daughter. Hamsters can jump quite high, surprisingly high if they decide to, and being very light, can clear unexpectedly high enclosure sides. They sometimes climb onto hides and platform and leap from these as well. Female Syrians chew alot and some cage manufacturers state on their product advice that the cage cannot be guaranteed to withstand female Syrians hamsters. It will be worth getting a cage with metal bars that is chew proof in case your girls disappear one day, which would be very sad, or chew up things like electrical cables and put themselves and others at risk

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome Female syrians are notorious for being quite maverick! And syrian hamsters are notorious for being great escape artists. They were probably both surprised to find themselves in a single cage. It's lucky they didn't fight, but it can happen very suddenly.

What cages are they in? Working out how they escaped is the main thing I think! You have your hands full with 3 female Syrians

Do you want any opinions on their sex at all (from photos) or are you now certain they are all female? I can usually tell quite easily with syrians, but one of my current males was a bit of an enigma for quite a while as he didn't seem to have any male bulgy parts. They did appear eventually.

 

[Maz]

As for any ideas of how they got out. They will always find a way to the top. They can climb the back of a wheel, or pile bedding up in one corner into a mountain and just walk to the top! From there it should be escape proof, providing any roof or door is securely closed. If it's a tank, they have been known to just push the lid up. If it's a barred cage with a door then yes - some hamsters can open some types of cage door! It might need a padlock or a peg on it or something.

Could you show your cages and we might be able to spot something!

 

[2manyhamssz]

Thank you for the ideas.

Yes - the first time noodle escaped, she chewed through the ceiling and obviously somehow got into tiggys.

I moved noodle into a detolf and moved teddy into that cage as teddy is shockingly laid back ( and I thought teddy was male... ) and she must have jumped very high to get to the not even dwarfed sized hole.

She escaped into tiggys once again the other day and I got photo proof to make sure I wasn't day dreaming !
Though hasn't escaped since im hopeful if I cover that hole up she should be ok.

Teddy is the ginger one and tiggy is black : )

 

[Maz]

That is quite scary! I know hamsters can be contrary and keep trying to get somewhere they shouldn't go, if you prevent them. It is quite risky as could lead to a nasty fight.

So is Teddy in a wood cage and that's how she chewed her way out? I'd definitely block that hole off! It isn't just about how one escapes, but about how they can actually get into the other cage, so it sounds like both cages need securing.

 

[2manyhamssz]

It's interesting! Are they sisters, or perhaps a mother and daughter combination? Hamsters can breed quite young so there might not be much difference between Mom and daughter. Hamsters can jump quite high, surprisingly high if they decide to, and being very light, can clear unexpectedly high enclosure sides. They sometimes climb onto hides and platform and leap from these as well. Female Syrians chew alot and some cage manufacturers state on their product advice that the cage cannot be guaranteed to withstand female Syrians hamsters. It will be worth getting a cage with metal bars that is chew proof in case your girls disappear one day, which would be very sad, or chew up things like electrical cables and put themselves and others at risk

Female Syrians are in another dimension Here's the cage I have 3 of for my gerbils, tiggy and teddy https://www.amazon.co.uk/MEWOOFUN-W...232-9cbc-29602e53e6d5&pd_rd_i=B0CW3CSQJ5&th=1

 

[Maz]

I think people have noticed that some of the ventilation slots are quite large on the top of those and a hamster could squeeze through! I'm not sure if you'd be up for any diy But I would suggest meshing the lids on the inside. Being careful there are no sharp edges. If meshed on the outside, the hamster can end up trapped between the mesh and the lid and get injured trying to get out again.

If a slot is more than 1cm wide then a hamster can get through! The tree design at the side might be creating a way she can climb to the top as it's almost like steps of wood - although she might be scaling the wheel as well.

I do wonder if one of them might be male and driven a bit mad by the scent of a female on heat maybe?

 

[2manyhamssz]

That is quite scary! I know hamsters can be contrary and keep trying to get somewhere they shouldn't go, if you prevent them. It is quite risky as could lead to a nasty fight.

So is Teddy in a wood cage and that's how she chewed her way out? I'd definitely block that hole off! It isn't just about how one escapes, but about how they can actually get into the other cage, so it sounds like both cages need securing.

I have ordered wire mesh etc and I will make sure it's blocked off. Though now i'm really concerned because something has chewed through the bottom of my play pen and im assuming its a rat or a mouse, which means one of the two is in the room, and if teddy escapes and comes into contact with a mouse... anyway, we didn't waste any time and there is nothing in there of any interest to a mouse or rat, and I will make sure the cages are blocked off by the morning. I have a camera up and going in there, too, so I will be able to see any action.

 

[Maz]

That would be my concern too! We've had mice before in our previous house so I used to have a cage with mouse bar spacing as I was always worried a mouse might get into the hamster cage! Glad they're both ok for now anyway

Would you like another opinion on their sex? I do have a male who looked like a female (ie no male bulges) until he was about 9 months old!

 

[2manyhamssz]

That would be my concern too! We've had mice before in our previous house so I used to have a cage with mouse bar spacing as I was always worried a mouse might get into the hamster cage! Glad they're both ok for now anyway

Would you like another opinion on their sex? I do have a male who looked like a female (ie no male bulges) until he was about 9 months old!

I think im certain - my family of 4 have also shared their opinions and are fairly adamant. I will quadruple check though!