Species: Syrian
Gender: Male
Est. DOB: 1 March 2026
Likes: Running around in circles, burying himself in corners, running around in circles.
Dislikes: Being disturbed, having his head touched, and being interrupted while he is grooming himself.
Fosterer’s Instagram: @deep.space.ham9
Feel free to shoot a DM over if you’d like to see the current enclosure set up.
Requirements:
Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm - As per HSS guidelines
He is currently housed in a 100x50x50cm cage, however he hasn’t really explored the entirety of his enclosure, so it is safe to place him in a slightly smaller cage than the one he has now as he mostly sticks to one side.
Wheel: Min. 28cm - As per HSS guidelines.
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
Tafit Hamster Paper Bedding (PLAIN WHITE)
Jonsanty Hamster Bedding (PLAIN WHITE)
Boxo Comfort Small Animal 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. Once this is done though, it will be fine for the hamster.
Any HSS approved sand such as Niteangel, Sanko or Witte Molen.
Sand bath size should be at least 14cm in diameter or length.
NOTE: He does occasionally go into his sandbath, but because of his balance issues, you must make sure the sandbath is low enough that he can just step in and out as easily as possible. So a dish like a baking dish should be just right.
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.
I’ve had good experience with the following brands: Niteangel, Kaytee, and Marukan
Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! Currently using IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.
Food:
Currently using Fatpouches Ultimate Mix for Syrians.
I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This forage 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.
He seems to also enjoy floral mixes scattered around as foraging, along with any other food I have scattered around for foraging.
Enrichment:
At least 3 hideouts - although at the moment he mainly sticks to the 1 large hidey and his favourite corner.
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 he 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.
He may or may not use this, so feel free to try once and see how.
Profile:
Gigante Flouf is exactly as his name suggests: a large fluffy puff of fur! From his gorgeous ruby red eyes, to his soft honey coloured fur, Gigante is a gorgeous little guy.
From day 1, it was obvious that Flouf was a special boy. His balance was a bit funny, his fur was matted, and he seemed to love running in circles. Soon enough, his fosterer could see through the HCCTV (Hamster CCTV), that his interest in running around in circles wasn’t a once in a while enjoyment. It was an EVERY night activity. Sometimes for half an hour at a time… Despite his interesting choice in nightly activities, he is a healthy cutie boy that is able to care for himself as well as any other hamster.
Despite his funky balance and his love for “doing doughnuts” in his preferred side of the cage, Flouffy is absolutely adorable to watch and care for, and truly deserves a human who is willing to look past his idiosyncrasies and learn to befriend him in a way that works best for HIM.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While he is not formally diagnosed with a neurological or congenital brain issue, it is safe to assume he is VERY neuroatypical. AKA something went funky in his brain and he is unlike other hamsters. As a result, you need to make sure he doesn’t have any platforms or anything too high that will get in the way of his circles, and that he might hurt himself if he climbs up and falls off.
Also! He has very long fur that occasionally will get matted with bedding or substrates, do make sure to comb through or trim his fur to make sure that the matting doesn't get so bad that it restricts his movement.
