A Syrian hamster lives alone in a cage or tank at least 100 x 50 cm, with bedding deep enough to burrow in. It needs a solid 12 in wheel and a home kept indoors.
Pet
Syrian hamster
Your tank or cage
Your tank against each minimum
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Cage size
Woodgreen asks for at least 100 cm wide, 50 cm deep and 50 cm high (39.4 x 19.7 x 19.7 in), with bars 1 cm apart. PDSA gives the same 100 x 50 cm floor, quoting a German vet association, and calls it a minimum. Woodgreen adds that female Syrians tend to be more active and may need a larger enclosure.
RSPCA’s cage has a solid floor that holds bedding, never wire mesh, which can lead to foot problems, and a raised lid; it says not to use a wooden cage. VCA’s minimum, a 10 gallon tank, is far smaller than the charities’ size.
Keep one Syrian to a cage. RSPCA, Woodgreen and RVC all keep them on their own.
Temperature
PDSA keeps hamsters at a steady 18–21 °C (64–70 °F), away from draughts and direct sunlight; RVC and the MSD manual give 18–26 °C. RSPCA keeps hamsters indoors, where it’s warm enough to stop them dropping into torpor, a hibernation-like state that’s dangerous for a pet hamster without fat reserves.
Bedding and wheel
PDSA wants room for at least 25 cm (10 in) of bedding for burrowing, sleeping and storing food. Woodgreen spreads at least 6 in (15 cm) over most of the floor, with a digging area 25–30 cm deep. Which materials to use is on bedding for small pets.
Woodgreen gives Syrians a 12 in (30.5 cm) solid upright wheel. A wheel that’s too small makes a hamster run with a curved back (PDSA). See wheel sizes by pet.
Everyday food
Feed hamster pellets with small amounts of fresh food, and give fresh water from a bottle, which RSPCA prefers with a valveless sipper tube. The foods to keep out are on what do hamsters eat.
What to get
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What to get