What would be the best cage for my new hamsters??

Question

I am buyin new hamsters and i don't have a clue what type of cage i should buy! I have had hamsters before but can't remember what cage i had! Any other advice would be great! thanks xx

Answer 1

Hamsters are super active and very playful. They'll probably enjoy a two story cage, so they can exercise and have more room. I suggest a wire cage with a plastic tray bottom, because that way they dont et their feet caught in a wiremesh floor. the fish tanks provide only minimum ventillation, and they could suffocate.

Hamsters love ladders to climb, and toys hung everywhere. The tunnel structures are great too, places for the hamsters to feel like they are tunneling like in the wild. They need wheels to run off all that extra energy, and a plastic onee with no space for their feet to get caught would be safest. they also need a small nest home. They sell timothy hay nests that the hamsers can eat and sleep in at Petco.

They also need at least one water bottle each, and the wood shavings that are best are the aspen shavings, which reduce dust, because they are a harder wood than pine or cedar. The paper shavings absorb well, but the stink is awful.

I also dont suggest getting the actual hamster from petco or petsmart. They usually dont live as long. Try to find another pet store. But if u cant its fine, just make sure the hamspter is healthy when u buy it.

Hampsters also like shelter, so if you can, they probably would like a towel draped over their cage, so that they have a shadowy area that they feel safer in, because the dark gives them security-in the wild they owuld live underground. hop ethis helps.

Answer 2

We house 13 hamsters, 2 rats, 2 gerbils and 1 rabbit in wire w/plastic bottom cages. Our 2 mice are in a 10 galon tank due to their small size. I like using the wire/plastic bottom cages for the small animals since they have better air flow. However if your hamster is a serious bar chewer and you can't get them to stop, then use the tank or a home made tank using a clear storage container and clean it frequently. I noticed you are buying 2 hamsters, if they are Syrians (large breed), then you will need a seperate cage for each one. These hamsters will fight to the death over territory. If they are dwarfs, then then can usually be housed together provided they are the same age and gotten from the same cage at the pet store or breeder. This is not full proof, so set money aside or buy an additional cage/tank in case of fights. If they don't fight then you have a spare cage/tank for when you clean their house. It's always best to get the same sex unless your breeding, which I advise against any breeding. There's enough unwanted pet in the world, even hamsters. I'm working with a family trying to convince them to stop their breeding because the pet stores are usually full and she is over crowding the hamsters. I have to go and get her female babies Monday to prevent her from turning these baby girls into more breeders. They will be posted with an animal rescue adoption site in WV. She has over bred hers to the point they are getting sick and dying, like the one last week did in my hands. So please don't breed yours if you get a male and female, please.

Below is a link to a site that tells about the different cages and alternative style cages that are home made from clear plastic storage containers. Use the second link to enter into the main site for additional information on hamsters (dwarf and Syrians).

Answer 3

Altho the "Habitrail"'s seem more fun,
I've always kept our hampster(s) in a
glass aquarium. I have had some hamsters
chew thru the plastic ones, as well as their
urine actually breaks down some of the plastic
leaving in marred, and smelly. The open air
cages are better still, but often time, the wood
shavings will be flung around the cage and
make more of a mess.

Answer 4

I always got a fish tank for my hamster. This way they cant get their feet caught in the wire cages. Then I got a small water bottle, plastic wheel (to reduce injury) and a small food bottle. I have had 4 hamsters live in these condition and they loved it. I also got the recycled paper shavings to make it nicer on there feet. Also, it reduces noise in the glass tanks. Good Luck

Answer 5

I'd get the biggest hamster /Small animal cage that I could get or build my own A great site that is very simplisitic in explaining The best for physical,mental and social health of the hamsters is http://en.wikibooks.org for also tells you what is unsafe and even toxic/deadly for the hamster. The plastic tunnels and play houses are not suitable for permanent living spaces,the ones found in petstores and touted as hamster homes for the plastic absorbs the urine and there is insufficient air circulation in the houses and the tunnels ,the perfect enviroment for the growth of bacteria and fungi-guaranteed to have your hamster live a short life. But they can be used a playhouses but I would think would be a hassle for would have to be thoroughly cleaned after each use and I would not use.I would either find someone who makes these cages to build one twice the size of the "normal " hamster house or would buy 2 and connect but the connection has to be permanent and 100% strong for a break can provide a escape route with possible disasterous results for the hamsters. Joining 2-am sure even if you buy at Petsmart can get help from example Home Depot or Lowes or get a carpenter But if glue used has to be non-toxic to the hamsters but Probably staple or nail gun but nailheads covered and same with staples for all in the housing has to be safe to chew. The larger the cage(has to have a solid floor) and the more things the hamsters can use for exercise and recreation guaarantes a longer life for cramped hamsters with very little stimulation live unhappy short lives. Exercise wheels and so forth are necessaray for physical and mental stimulation. Why I recommend a large cage is so the food area can be kept very separate like on opposite side of living and play areas-recommend a dish that can be attached to the inside of he cage off the floor so feces can not go into the dish nut still low enough for them to reach and eat out of. You can also get a Medium Size Rabbit cage But since a hamster can easily get through the cage bars and fall through the floor the foor on the inside has to have a for example chickenlink mesh floor or the mesh used for window/door screens connected securely to the original cage floor and then the cage itself has to be surounded with the same screen material-you can cut pieces to fit and then attach securely to the corners of the cage and for added safety would do the top too-why probably cheaper to have a carpenter build one and if some wood is used again make sure its safe for hamster chewing for some woods are toxic. the same site I mentioned also gives bedding and litter that is safe for hamsters(Not Cat liiter for Toxic) and do not depend on the employees in petstores for often actually know very little about the individual animals for are not hired for their animal expertise but simply as employee-anyone is hired. I just hate to have animlas put in cages too small with very little stimulation-usually overeat for not much else to do and hardly any exercise I have a rabbit tht is going on13years which is actually ancient for a rabbit but when I found her in my yard made it my business to learn all about rabbits from library books esp housing,diet and social needs and followed the best advice and she also gets organic greens,vegetables and has the housing that is ideal for her-no cage but a rabbit proof section of a room,she is litter trained and were I to get hamster or any other pet would do the same-make it the happiest healthiest hamster(s) that I could by giving them what they need.-Hope you will too.

Answer 6

A Large Fish Tank

Answer 7

You can get a glass fishtank cage. It is one of the best hamster homes. I have used habitrails (the plastic cages as well) but they are more trouble to clean. The glass ones are most sanitary. Hope this helps. Congrats on your new hammies they are wonderful animals.

Answer 8

Buy a metal cage. They are a bit expensive but they're easiest to clean!

Answer 9

buy one that is big and that is plastic because is better to clean. and the well has to be the one that one that doesnt have things throw it because there little legs can fall throw it and hurt themselves get one that has the well and tubes throw it because they like that. if is a girl get a princess castle because i have one of thoes and they are cute is $34.00 and is worth it because is awesome.

Answer 10

Buy one that has loads of room and plenty to do :)