Syrain Hamster

The Syrian Hamster is one of the most common hamsters sold in pet stores ‎today.
‎ Sadly, the Syrian Hamster has been extinct in its natural environment since ‎the 1980s.

Study of the Syrian Hamster in its native habitat indicated that in ‎the wild they displayed fierce territoriality. They were so aggressive that they ‎would attack any intruding body whether it was another hamster or another ‎animal. The captive Syrian Hamster still displays aggressive behavior to other ‎hamsters.
For this reason it is not recommended to house more than one ‎Syrian Hamster in a cage. This is not to say they do not make good pets. ‎They do, particularly if they are handled a lot from a young age. In the wild the ‎Syrian Hamster is a burrowing animal.
They are nocturnal (meaning they ‎sleep in the day and are active at night).

They have highly acute senses of ‎smell and hearing, but poor eyesight. This may be an adaptation from living ‎primarily at night.
The Syrian Hamster is an active breed. In the wild, they ‎have been known to travel as far as eight miles to collect food, and return ‎home the same night.
The recognition of their origins allows us to provide a ‎proper home that considers their preferred behaviors. As most of us know, ‎hamster cages come in a wide variety of sizes, materials etc.

Your Syrian Hamster will do well in a wide variety of these cages, however the plastic ‎cage is probably one of the best, but try not to have anything plastic in it. ‎Hamsters chew everything and if they digest plastic it could make them very ‎sick or kill them. Glass cages tend to be difficult to clean, and metal cages ‎often rust.

The glass cage is recommended for breeding, nursing and raising ‎young, as they are draft proof. Homemade cages can also be used, but note ‎that many will need constant repairs, as Syrian Hamsters are known for ‎chewing through wood.
It is important that cages be covered, as the Syrian ‎can, and often will jump out and escape. Because your Syrian likes to burrow, ‎bedding is required in the cage. The general floor can be covered in wood ‎shavings, such as aspen, but general bedding should be used for them to ‎make their 'nests'. Many people use paper towels and toilet paper in the ‎bedding. Many commercial varieties of hamster bedding are available.

It ‎should be noted that wool and other fluffy bedding material could harm the ‎hamster. It is not well digested and hamsters also become trapped in it. Straw ‎and hay should also not be used, as hay is often dusty or moldy and the sharp ‎edges of straws can harm your Syrian. Your Syrian will need a constant ‎supply of water.

Unlike some pets, a water bowl is not preferred, whereas a ‎water bottle is. Because hamsters are highly active many will get them a ‎running wheel. These are wonderful because they allow the hamster to ‎expend a lot of energy within his home. It should be noted that while most ‎love a running wheel, not all would use them. Overall the Syrian Hamster ‎makes a wonderful pet, so long as he is housed individually. Unlike many ‎hamster breeds the Syrian is one of the easiest to handle because of his large ‎size.
Some of the smaller breeds are very jumpy and nervous making them ‎difficult to handle.