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HOUSING/BEDDING

Syrians like cages so they can climb the bars. The cage must also be big enough for a jumbo wheel to be fitted.  Most cages that come with wheels and houses included in them are too small to fit jumbo wheels.  Whilst the smaller wheels are fine for baby hamsters, when they are full grown they will not be able to run in it as it will hurt their backs too much and they will tend to climb round the outside of it - of course hamsters often climb round the outside of their wheel even when it is big enough.  Don't fit wheels that have bars as they can get their feet caught and therefore injure themselves.

Tanks made up of tubes look fun, but make sure your hamster can get through the tubes without any real difficulty.  Also consider the placing of food if they are ill or when they get older and find it difficult to climb up the tube to a feeding platform.  This type of cage is especially unsuitable for a mother and her babies as she can become separated from them.