Species: Syrian

Gender: Male

Estimated Age: 8 months

Likes: His wheel, sand bath, and lots of deep bedding to burrow

Dislikes: Sudden noise or movement, being grabbed

Fosterer’s Instagram: @leagueofmochi

Grapes is a gentle giant who loves food! So far, he has been very receptive to almost all food and treats introduced to him, and is excited when his foster parent shakes the food pack/bowl. He has also ever pouched chunks of sprays into his hideouts. One particular quirk of him is that he absolutely does not like to use water bottles. Instead, he only uses water bowls.

He is very shy and easily startled, as such families with young children are not advisable for him. His future pawrents should give him time to settle in, being very patient and gentle with him. One good way to build trust with him is treats (pine nuts especially!) and using a bowl or cup as a “hamster taxi” to bring him out of the cage.

While Grapes tends to be cautious, he can get quite excited and fast when handled. For free roams, a playpen is better for him, as he may be anxious in a room and it is challenging to bring him home even with the “hamster taxi”.

Grapes is not potty trained, so future pawrents should be ready to spot clean the cage often because he has the tendency to sleep where he pees. Also, he has a cheeky habit of pooping and peeing in his wheel, so his pawrent should be ready to clean his wheel when needed. However, he absolutely loves to pancake in his sand bath, so it would be best if the sand bath has easy to access for him.

Requirements:

Cage: Unbarred cage with a lid is preferred. Ideally his cage should be a minimum 100 x 50 x 50cm and above.

Wheel: 28cm at least.

Sand: Versele Laga Chinchilla Sand.

Bedding: Fat Pouches Tea Bag Bedding.

Food: Currently being fed Fatpouches Ultimate Mix for Syrian hamsters, and Mazuri Rat & Mouse blocks, with treats from Fatpouches.

Water: Grapes absolutely needs 1-2 water bowls that is constantly topped up daily, because he does not like to use water bottles.

Enrichment: As Grapes is a big boi, he needs at least 3 syrian-appropriate hideouts. Lots of bedding, a large sand bath for him to dig and pancake, and forage and sprays.