Species: Syrian

Gender: Male

Estimated Age: 8 months old

Likes: CUCUMBERS!!! Fresh, dried, as long as it’s a cucumber! Likes to be carried and exploring!

Dislikes: Pine nuts...

Fosterer’s Instagram: @hammotoast

Rescued by a kind samaritan, Banana was found running haphazardly on a grass patch under a HDB block, before dropping into the drain and running for his life. Though he was completely exhausted and afraid, he was the sweetest and tolerated his fosterer checking him all over and cleaning his eyes!

He was found to have a urinary stone the next day and his X-rays showed a build up of minerals in his stomach, possibly due to a mineral stone/chew in his previous home. He also did not know how to drink from a bottle or bowl nor eat seed mixes, possibly due to his previous owner only giving him fruits and vegetables which he absolutely LOVES! Thus, due to a lack of adequate hydration and a high mineral diet, his body was unable to flush out the excess minerals and they stayed in his organs.

He has since recovered after being syringe fed rehydration salts initially, and then learnt to drink water from a bottle by himself (though he very much prefers to drink from a bowl too)! As he is at higher risk of developing kidney and bladder stones, his condition can be easily managed by sticking to a proper seed mix, not giving him high-calcium foods, and ensuring he is adequately hydrated.

Banana has come a long way since then, and has learnt to enjoy his Fatpouches seed mixes, which he attacks the moment they’re refilled (probably why he has gained a healthy amount of weight!). He has also learnt to drink more from a bottle, though he very much prefers to drink from a bowl too!

Other than his love for food, he enjoys being let out for free roam, carried and getting rubs on his head and shoulders too. His love for interaction is obvious - he would come running the moment you open his cage and he enjoys sleeping in the open - usually behind his food bowl.

P.S. If the food bowl can fit him, he will pee in his food. Do opt for a smaller food bowl (or at least… small enough so he can’t sit in it)!

If you'd like to see more photos/videos of Banana or have a chat about him, feel free to message @hammotoast on Instagram!

Requirements:

Cage: min. 100 x 50 cm base, unbarred. Min. 50cm high.
Bedding: Fatpouches Teabag / Oxbow Pure Comfort (sifted) / Fatpouches Birch
Food: Fatpouches Premium/Standard Mix
Sand: Wittemolen / Versele Laga Chinchilla Sand
Wheel: min. 30cm (Daisy/Niteangel 30cm wheels are a personal recommendation!)
Enrichment: min. 3 hideouts/multichamber/tunnels and spays/herbs for foraging!
Others: Banana needs both a water bowl and bottle. His food bowl should be smaller than him!