So my sister got me a hamster (Stewart!!) for my birthday back in October, of course in one of those tiny little cages from a chain petstore. I didn't know anything about hamster care at first, but after some research I realized that cage was just NOT okay for my Syrian. So I spent a few weeks searching obsessively for a habitat that was large enough, had covered nesting space, and also had an element of fun to keep my hamster entertained. Sure, you can find a big empty habitat and customize it with your own things, but for a first time hamster owner or honestly for anyone looking to save money, this is IT. It will cost you a lot to buy all your supplies separately and put together your own habitat (I did the math). This habitat might seem expensive, but it is COMPLETELY WORTH IT. Stewart LOVES this habitat and has been SO happy ever since I moved him into it! He has tons of room to forage for food and treats on the first floor. He's a daredevil so he loves climbing all over the platforms. And I think the tubes to get to the nesting space on top actually make him feel safer, like he's not as exposed to predators. As for the top area and the tubes to get there: some reviews mention hamsters filling up the tubes with paper and potentially getting stuck. I watched my little guy closely for the first few days of use to see what would happen and make sure he was safe and could travel back and forth through the tubes easily. I leave some bedding in the top every time I clean it, but he loves bringing more up to really fill up that area. However, he also seems to intentionally leave paper inside the tube (the bottom one inside the cage) as well. The first time I noticed the tube was full of paper, I kept an eye on him until he finally came out to explore - and easily scratched his way through the bedding in the tube to get out. Since then, he consistently fills the tube with paper, and always is able to get himself out. This might be worrisome for some hamster owners, but hamsters love burrowing, so I truly think Stewart does it on purpose and also feels safer with it there. I have no concerns about the tube dropping down from the bottom of the nesting area at all. ONE CON: The wheel that comes with this cage MIGHT work for your Syrian. However, I noticed Stewart's back was still a bit arched when he used it. So I invested in a large silent spinner for him, and he loves it. Because of the size of the silent spinner, I removed one of the platforms. But this habitat is customizable, so every few months I switch things around to engage my little guy's sense of play and curiosity. This is a big cage with lots of parts, but they all come apart and snap back together easily, so doing a full clean does take a bit of time, but overall is very easy. Just put on some music & have fun! Also, the nesting area on the top has an easy-to-remove roof. Since that is where Stewart likes to use the bathroom, it's so easy for me to snap the roof off every night, do a quick clean up, and then snap it back on. Basically, this habitat is safe and healthy for Syrian hamsters, and it is the ONLY appropriate, safe, fun, and all-inclusive cage I could find on the market after tons of research. I HIGHLY recommend this to any Syrian hamster parents who want their little fur friends to have the best life possible. The price is entirely worth it to see how happy and healthy your hamster is as soon as they move in.
