These aren’t the only breed of hamster that you can own as pets, their cousins include smaller Chinese and dwarf Roborovski hamsters. Each type of hammie has it’s own specific requirements and Syrian hamsters have a few notable differences to other breeds, these include: Sociability – Unlike other types of hammie or small rodents, Syrian hamsters’ are solitary creatures who don’t do well when housed together. Syrian hamsters are one of the most popular pets, and for good reason! These wonderfully cute animals are normally tame, clean and easy to handle. As their name suggests, this variety of hamster originates from Syria and surrounding countries of the Middle East. Size – Syrian hamsters are normally around 13cm in length, which is notably larger than other hamster breeds.

These beautiful bundles of joy usually make great first pets, with children able to learn about responsibility by looking after their own hamster. Are Syrian hamsters different to other hamsters? The cage that you buy your Syrian hamster will be their main environment, so should provide enough space and enrichment to keep them happy and healthy. It is very important that the cage you buy isn’t too small as this will lead to stress and pain for your hammie. It is possible to buy a number of different types of cages, with some comprising a more standard looking one-piece cage, others are a network of smaller cages that link up into a larger overall environment, and there are also enclosures which have a cage on top of a glass tank. All provide different benefits, but overall the golden rule is that you should look to get a cage that is as big as possible for the space you have. What are the best Syrian hamster cages? In this hamster cage, all the platforms, and the den, are actually attached to the upper wire section of the cage.Creepy Castle * Genus 200 Hamster Cage * Pink Palace * Rotastak Maxi Mansion * Space Command Hamster Cage * Super Pod Hamster Cage *

Habitat requirements – Syrian hamsters are quite active and require a large enclosure that gives them space to move around.

The Rosewood Pico XL Hamster Cage

Another cage with multiple levels, this one from Ferplast is mostly made from plastic, with smaller barred areas for ventilation. The cage is really roomy, with lots of room for toys and space for your hammie to run around. The tunnel sections of this cage can be used to connect with other enclosures. The different parts of the cage easily clip and unclip, making it very easy to clean. The Pico XL is described as being a fully-furnished hamster home so lets find out what a fully-furnished hamster home comes with. Fully furnished hamster home This multi-layered cage give your hammie lots of room to explore with ramps between each floor. There is even a separate sleeping compartment at the top. The materials used are strong and the cage comes with a drinking bottle, food bowl and exercise wheel. Syrian hamsters love to climb and if you have a Syrian he's sure to love the climbing on offer in the Pico XL.There are 3 platforms for your hamster to explore, plus the loft den, so this hamster cage should provide reasonable exercise and exploration compared to some other cages. One-piece upper hamster cage for easy cleaning

The biggest cage from our selection, it’s perfect for larger Syrian hamsters. This habitat will give your little friend almost endless opportunities for running around and having fun, with lots of space for plenty of toys. This habitat is great value as it comes with a hanging house, water bottle, tunnels and more. There's no doubt the Pico XL is a good hamster cage for the money but does that make it a good hamster cage for your hamster. Your hamsters needs are the most important thing to bear in mind so think carefully… There is a huge selection of cages available for your Syrian hamster, below are a few of our favourites: Rosewood Pico XL Hamster Cage Living World Green Eco Habitat (S) * Living World Green Eco Habitat Large * Living World Green Eco Habitat Medium *

Doors in both the roof and the side of the hamster cage are a definite bonus in a cage with this sort of height. Having a single door at the bottom of one of the cage sides can make retrieving your hamster awkward, if it's at the top of the cage, so a door in the roof of the cage is useful. Multi-level platforms for exercise and exploration Circus Fun Hamster Cage * Favola Hamster and Mouse Cage * Hamster Tris * Karat 100 Glass Hamster Cage * Karat 60 Hamster and Mouse Glass Cage * Karat 80 Hamster and Mouse Glass Cage * Mini Duna Hamster Cage * Having a drop-in water bottle can be much less fiddly than having to try and secure a water bottle through the bars in the side of the hamster cage. Providing it's a decent water bottle that doesn't leak that's a definite winner for us. Twin doors for easier access The Rosewood Pico XL is the larger of the two cages in the Pico Hamster Cage range. With a height of 47 cm, width of 50 cm and depth of 36 cm, it's suitable for Syrian Hamsters. As the gap between the bars sits at 8.5 mm the Pico XL hamster cage is also suitable for Dwarf Hamsters from 6-8 weeks of age except Roborovski's.