Frizzle

Species: Syrian
Gender: Female
Est. DOB: June/July 2025
Likes: Attention, freeze dried tofu, and exploring
Dislikes: Being ignored, loud kissy noises, and being woken up
Fosterer’s Instagram: @deep.space.ham9 

Requirements:

Cage: Min. 100x50x50cm

  • She has unfortunately gotten used to having a 100cm long cage, and when she gets bored she will start to try and climb! So it’s SUPER important that her cage is big enough to keep her entertained when you yourself have human responsibilities. 

Wheel: Min. 28cm

Bedding: 

I use a mixture of the following bedding, however you only need one (1) kind of any of the stated paper based beddings. I personally enjoy mixing textures as I have access to various types via donations. 

  • Oxbow Pure Comfort 

  • Boxo Bedding

NOTE: it is important to manually crumble the compressed bedding when it is taken from the packaging while the hamster is NOT in the enclosure as this can potentially create dust. We also recommend sieving the dust out of the bedding. Once this is done though, it will be fine for the hamster.

OPTIONAL: 

  • Timothy hay or Aspen shavings to provide texture and structure for tunnelling mixed into the paper bedding, or to place inside hideouts as extra texture.

    • Currently using Niteangel and Kaytee, but Oxbow is also ok.

      • ALTERNATIVE: Can also use the Marukan brand of Aspen shavings.

        • Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! Currently using IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.

    • I also have placed some Niteangel brand dry moss layered with other hamster safe wood substrates in a few hideouts for texture. Shout out to all the kind donors out there!

Food: 

Currently using a mixture of FatPouches Standard Hamster Seed Mix and Bunny Dream Expert Syrian Hamster. 

  • I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days. 

  • Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of HSS approved seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.

I've also provided her with some flax sprays.

Enrichment:

  • At least 3 hideouts 

    • Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.

      • A main nesting area can be made by connecting 2 hideouts with one tunnel (EG: plain tunnel with middle hole, or T shaped tunnel - DIY them with cardboard toilet tubes!)

  • It is recommended she has enough bedding to properly dig around in. Please refer to the HSS website for further advice.

    • OPTIONAL: Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding.

  • OPTIONAL: A dig jar or box partially filled with coco peat and mixed with non-perishable (as in not too oily to attract ants) and dry treats and seeds, as well as some short stalks of sprays. 

    • The FÖRVAR jar from IKEA is a good choice for this kind of enrichment activity, and the one she currently has.

    • RAJTAN from IKEA is another alternative. 

    • As long as the jar or container is slightly tilted or easy for her to get in and out of it should be fine. 

Profile: 

Abandoned in a stairwell, Miss Frizzle has had a hard start in life. Thankfully this hard start hasn’t impacted her in any way, and she remains an excitable and curious girl! But don’t let her positive demeanour fool you… she is the NAUGHTIEST! Ignore her at your own peril because this girly does NOT like to be bored. 

Even with a large cage she will STILL find ways to climb and explore and adventure, and that is why her fosterer thinks she would go crazy with happiness at a huge cage, or a human that would be willing to let her free roam (in a hamster proofed room!). Besides her adventurous nature, she has an absolutely sweetie demeanour and is very tolerant of being manhandled. But as with all animals, young children should be left unsupervised when playing with pets! 

Miss Frizzle will charm anyone and everyone she meets with her silky frizzy fur, to her pinky paws, and her silly antics.