Species: Syrian

Estimated age: 1 year 8 months

Gender: Male 

Likes: Waddling around during free roam, sleeping in his pee, (trying to) scale other heights, fresh vegetables, staring at you to guilt trip you into letting him out to roam

Dislikes: Being touched, being groomed and having the bedding picked out of his luscious mane, fresh tomatoes

Just like his namesake (the God of sky, lightning and thunder), Zeus has a spunky personality and he makes sure that you know it! Despite his age, he is very active at night and clamors to be let out for free roam by scratching, biting his cage and climbing on top of his hideouts in an attempt to let himself out of the cage.  

He sleeps for a good part of the day and is usually active from 8pm – 12 midnight (i.e. he will be taken out for free roam during this period) and usually lounges/ trots on his wheel until he retreats for the night.

Please note that he has undergone a general wellness check and the veterinarian has given him the green light! However, adopters need to be financially and emotionally prepared to provide the best nutrition and medical care for him given his age (and suspected poor nutrition in his early years). This means having a hamster savvy vet on standby, having a vet fund and above all, being fully committed to helping him live his best life.  

Update (8 October), Zeus has developed cataracts in both eyes (but remains ever curious!). This is not a huge impediment as hamsters mostly rely on their sense of smell and hearing rather than sight. His fosterer will provide more advice on suitable accessories for him and general tips to ensure his safety and wellbeing :-) Please watch this video for more information on caring for a hamster with cataracts!

He will thrive under the care of a patient pawrent. Zeus is an independent old man who knows what he likes and occasionally nips if you get under his fluffy feathers. He does show signs of his seniority by dozing off while in the middle of doing something but he has a young soul and boundless energy (at selected hours of the day heh)!

If you are committed to proving this sweet old man the best retirement home, please apply to welcome him to your family! 

Requirements

1.     Diet: He needs to be fed protein (recommended: fresh tofu) twice a week. This is a recommendation by the vet after considering his age and his frame. 

2.     Cage: He needs a minimum 90cm (3ft) non-barred cage. Glass tanks (with lids) are preferable as he bites and scratches acrylic. 

3.     Wheel: A lightweight wheel that is minimally 27cm in diameter (preferably 30cm). He might have difficulties using a heavier wheel due to his frame. 

4.     Free roam: Update 8 October: Due to his cataracts, any free roam must be done in a secure space where he is monitored throughout the session. A secured play pen will suffice but a larger space is preferred! Daily free roam of minimum 30 minutes is recommended. His fosteror is currently providing 1h of daily free roam in a fairly large and secured room .

Recommendation
1.     Bedding: The vet has recommended either paper bedding (shredded toilet rolls) or strip-based bedding due to his fur. Normal Oxbow and Kaytee bedding WILL get caught in his long fur coat and the vet fears that the fur and bedding will get entangled (which might necessitate trimming his beautiful fur… but he doesn’t want to be a bald old man!). If normal bedding is used, daily grooming (using a brush is necessary).