98 replies to this topic

[FirefoxMiho]

I'm a tad confused by some of your numbers. Where in the article does it say anything about 10,000 square inches? And what do you mean by that being the size of a 1 bedroom apartment? I live in a 1br with another person. I'm pretty sure it's bigger than 10,000 square inches lol.

My mistake. I'll fix that. Numbers aside, the question still stands. How do we know by going bigger that it's going to solve the issue with boredom?

[Taxonomist]

My mistake. I'll fix that. Numbers aside, the question still stands. How do we know by going bigger that it's going to solve the issue with boredom?

We don't know for sure, no. But the linked study about cage size may shed some light. In that study, the hamsters in larger cages showed less boredom behavior (wire gnawing). As far as I recall, the cage size was the only difference. Other features of the cage were not examined, so size was the key factor.

There are other methods of environmental enrichment, of course. Cage setup, bedding depths, structures, and so on are also important. However they are linked to cage size - larger cages are easier to enrich because you can vary the environment more. So even if the upgrade itself doesn't fix the issue, it can give you more options than a smaller cage would have.

[MichellesPets]

I liked this post you made. It showed us lots of information. However, I do have some concerns, or only one. 

 

When it comes down to hamsters, no matter how big of a cage you get this animal, it will more than likely never be satisfied with its quality of life as of now from what we know.

 

Yes, some animals prefer to live in a domestic environment while others prefer the wild, while some just don't care where they live. Some animals do not require as much space as others do. It is no doubt that this animal needs a ton of space. I am not saying that is a bad thing but if space is an issue for you than a hamster is probably not for you. 

 

My point is, you could have a hamster living in an enclosure of 3000 square inches and theirs still a good chance it will not be sufficient enough for it to be pleased. Of course, I can't tell what the animal is thinking but, we can get a pretty good idea. 

 

I am not trying to sound like a hypocrite or contradict myself because you could come at me and say that this whole response can go to any animal. Hopefully, I made my point across.

[MichellesPets]

 

 

I don't know if I should've quoted you or not in my post. 

[Socks and Snicks]

Great article! I'm going to show my mom this, so she MAYBE can understand why I want to get bigger cages and why mine suck. I got a lot of links saved on my computer for fish tanks on Craigslist that r at least 650 square inches and up for VERY cheap!!!!! I wanna get my Syrians at least a 40 gallon each (they don't live together, I may phrase it long lol I'm very tired still) but I'm striving for a 50 gallon or higher😀😀😀. I also found 2 IKEA detolfs that together are less then 1 at IKEA but 1 is like New Jersey and I'm a NYC girl. So I don't know what I will get, but it will be big, and hopefully soon (:

[aHawaiianNene]

Hi there!  

 

You might be here because you're wondering about hamster cages and cage sizes.  

You might be here because you're frustrated with the amount of conflicting information you've seen from different sources.  

You might be here because you think our forum's cage sizes are absurd.

You might be here because your child is trying to convince you to allow them to get a bigger cage for their hamster.

 

Regardless of why you’re here, I’m glad you are and I hope I can help.  I’m also honored that you’re taking the time to read this article.

 

I'm not going to claim that this is a magical article that will clarify everything, because it may or may not do that.  However, I do hope that it will shed some light on the issue and help you to decide what you want to do in terms of housing your pet hamster.

 

NOTE: The cage size guidelines given are meant to apply to typical pet owner situations.  They are not meant to be applied to large-scale organizations like breeders and rescues, as it would be physically impossible for these organizations to provide such large enclosures for each animal.  This should be common sense, but it has been brought to our attention that people choose to brigade and harass breeders and rescues for not having maximum-sized cages.  Hamster Hideout does not endorse this type of behavior.

 

Enrichment for Animals

 

Let's first talk about enrichment.  If you’ve ever visited a zoo or aquarium, you might have heard this term from a keeper or read it on a sign.  To put it as simply as possible, captive animals need things to do to keep them mentally and physically occupied.  This is often referred to as enrichment.  An unenriched animal may become bored, depressed, or destructive.  The St. Louis Zoo has a good article about enrichment in zoo animals that is worth a read.  

 

How do animals get enrichment?  Well, when talking about pets, enrichment generally comes from three main sources:

 

-Interaction with same-species animals (two guinea pigs grooming each other)

-Interaction with human keepers (a person playing fetch with their dog)

-Interaction with their environment (a rat using a puzzle toy to get treats)

 

Different animals get their enrichment in different ways - it depends on both the type of animal and the individual situation.  Some animals get most of their enrichment from one or two sources, some get it nearly equally from all three.

 

Challenges of Hamster Enrichment

 

Depending on how much you know about hamsters, you may already see the challenge of enrichment for them.  Hamsters can be difficult animals to keep stimulated, because 2 out of the 3 sources of enrichment are largely unavailable to them.  

 

Most hamsters do not receive enrichment from same-species social interactions.  This is because they are primarily solitary creatures that do best housed alone. Syrian hamsters, for example, are inherently territorial and will kill cagemates at adulthood.  Even species that are not as territorial are very risky to keep in pairs.  This contrasts with nearly all other small mammalian pets.  Rats, mice, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas...these are all social animals that are typically given a same-species companion in captivity.  Hamsters simply do not have that option.

 

Human interaction is not always a reliable source of enrichment for hamsters.  There are a few reasons for this.  The first is that hamsters are not fully domesticated.  They have only been kept as pets for a few decades, unlike the dogs and cats that have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years.  While hamsters can certainly enjoy human company, they are not highly stimulated by it in the same way a dog would be.  Some hamsters don't even like human contact and will avoid it at all costs.  In addition, hamsters’ primary hours of activity tend to be when their human keepers are asleep, further limiting options for human interaction.

 

That leaves us with the environment.  A hamster’s enrichment relies very heavily on having a stimulating, interesting cage to live in.  This is the heart of why cage size is so important to them – interacting with their environment is their major form of enrichment.

 

Boredom Behaviors and Stereotypies

 

What happens when a hamster is not getting enough enrichment?  If the hamster is not properly stimulated, it will often display undesirable "boredom behaviors."  Some boredom behaviors can also be classed as "stereotypies."  Manteca and Salas 2015 have a pretty good description of stereotypies (relating to zoo animals) here:

 

“Stereotypies are defined in two ways:

 

- Repetitive, invariant behaviour without apparent immediate function.

- Repetitive behaviours caused by the animal’s repeated attempts to adapt to its environment or by a dysfunction of the central nervous system.

 

Both definitions agree that stereotypies are repetitive behaviours. The second definition, however, includes behaviours that despite being repetitive are not always performed in exactly the same way. Moreover, it does not assume that stereotypies lack a functional role; this is particularly relevant because it has been suggested that some stereotypies could facilitate the adaptation of animals to an unsuitable environment.”

 

Boredom behaviors and stereotypies are bad in several ways.  For one, they are an indicator of an unhappy animal.  As pet owners, it is our responsibility to take care of our animals physically and mentally.  Unhappy and stressed animals can be more prone to health problems and have shorter lifespans.

 

In addition, some boredom behaviors and stereotypies can be dangerous, harmful, or destructive to both the hamster and its human keeper. 

 

Typical Hamster Boredom Behaviors and Stereotypies

 

Chewing on the cage – This is a behavior known by many names, including bar-biting and wire-chewing.  In the end, it is all the same behavior – the hamster repeatedly and obsessively chews on its cage.  Although this behavior is typically associated with wire cages, it can occur in any cage type.  If the hamster is housed in an aquarium, for example, it may chew on the silicone sealant in the corners of the cage.  This is not just normal chewing behavior; it is a frenzied, obsessive type of chewing brought on by stress.

 

Pacing – Repetitive, constant running back and forth, especially along the walls of the cage.  

 

Cage aggression – This is a strange but common issue in bored hamsters.  A cage aggressive hamster will be extremely hostile when handled inside of its cage, but may be much calmer outside of it.  Examples of aggressive behavior include charging at the human keeper’s hands, biting, and hissing.

 

Wall-scaling - Also called monkey-barring, this is when the hamster repeatedly climbs up the bars of the cage.   If the cage is not barred, this behavior may present as jumping up on the sides of the cage.  As with chewing on the cage, this is noticeably different from normal climbing and exploring behavior.  It’s often done in a frantic and obsessive way.

 

Lethargy - Simply put, the hamster doesn't do much other than sit around.  This is misinterpreted as laziness.  The truth is that a small, unenriching cage will cause a hamster to seem “lazy” just because there’s nothing for the hamster to actually do in the cage.  A hamster can’t forage and play with wheat and oat sprays if it isn’t provided any.  A hamster can’t construct elaborate and interesting burrow systems if they don’t have the space and bedding depth to set them up.

 

Behavior Misconceptions and the Cage Gap

 

Hamster boredom behaviors prove to be a challenge for hamster keepers to identify.  Not because they’re difficult to observe, but because they simply aren’t recognized as being boredom behaviors.

 

To many people, the above list probably reads like a list of what hamsters typically do.  These behaviors are so common in pet hamsters that they've become accepted as being normal and healthy.  Many people assume that this is just what hamsters are like as pets – aggressive animals that chew on their cages, always try to escape, and generally don’t do much other than that.

 

This is not the case.  A healthy, happy, enriched hamster should not be showing these behaviors on a regular basis.

 

If these behaviors are not “normal” for a healthy hamster, why are they so common?  The answer to this is quite simple: the cages that most people use for hamsters are not large enough to provide proper enrichment.  There is an enormous gap between what a hamster cage should be and what a typical store-bought hamster cage actually is.  This is the cage gap, and it is a major problem in the hamster community.

 

Cage Sizes

 

So, what size cage does a hamster need?

 

Well, this isn't a simple answer, because it's difficult (if not impossible) to tell for sure if a hamster is completely happy or not.  However, what we do know is that there is no known cage size that is large enough to eliminate boredom behaviors.

 

There was at least one scientific study conducted on hamster cage sizes by Fischer et al. in 2007.  The scientists put hamsters in cages of varying sizes, as follows:

 

1,800 sq. cm. (279 sq. in.)

2,500 sq. cm. (387 sq. in.)

5,000 sq. cm. (775 sq. in.)

10,000 sq. cm. (1550 sq. in.)

 

The scientists then observed and recorded the hamsters' behaviors in each cage size.  Essentially, what they found was that the smaller the cage, the more time the hamster spent chewing on the wires of their cages.  Larger cages resulted in less wire gnawing, but even in the large 10,000 sq. cm. cage, the hamsters still showed some boredom.

 

In light of this, cages in excess of 1,500 square inches (10,000 square centimeters) should be our goal in hamster keeping.

 

Cage Sizes from Various Sources

 

That said, different organizations have different recommendations for cage sizes.  Not every group is going to agree, but here are some quick references:

 

Hamster Hideout Minimum = 450 square inches / 3.1 square feet / 2903 square centimeters

Hamster Hideout Recommended = Larger than 650 square inches / 4.5 square feet / 4194 square centimeters

 

RSPCA Minimum = 450 square inches / 3.1 square feet / 2903 square centimeters

 

German Hamster Forum Minimum = 620 square inches / 3.9 square feet / 4000 square centimeters

German Hamster Forum Recommended = 1521 square inches / 10.5 square feet / 10,000 square centimeters

 

ASPCA Minimum = 200 square inches / 1.4 square feet / 1290 square centimeters

 

HSUS Minimum = 288 square inches / 2 square feet / 1858 square centimeters

 

 

The Meaning of the Numbers

 

These numbers are guidelines for each organization.  Unfortunately, we often run into misunderstandings about what these numbers really represent.

 

"Magical Happiness Numbers" - Some owners see a recommended or minimum cage size and assume it to be some magical happiness number.  That is, they think that if their cage meets that size, their hamster is 100% guaranteed to be happy and content in it.  We see this on the forum in the form of topics about boredom behaviors.  The owner is confused, because their hamster is showing signs of boredom.  But they insist that it can't be the cage, because it's the recommended size and therefore definitely big enough for the hamster.

 

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.  Numbers are meant to be general guidelines and starting points.  They are not ultimate goals and will not work for every hamster.  There is no way to guarantee that a hamster will be happy in any given cage size.  

 

A hamster can be unhappy in a minimum-sized cage.  

A hamster can be unhappy in a recommended cage.  

A hamster can be unhappy in a cage that is significantly larger than the recommended size.  

 

This is why it is strongly advised to go as large as possible.  Some hamsters (particularly Syrian hamsters) can be difficult to keep entertained in smaller cages.  

 

What is a Minimum? - Too often, owners fall into a false sense of security thinking that they have a great or perfect cage because it's the minimum size.

 

Consider what the word “minimum” means.  It is the bare essential, the smallest amount possible.  To make an analogy, the minimum cage size is meant to be the starting line of the race, not the finish line.  Runners don’t take one step over the starting line and say that they’ve completed the race.  No, rather, they keep going towards the finish line.

 

Minimum cage sizes are the same way.  They are not the goal to strive for.  They are not great or even good cages.  They are meant to be a bare-bones starting point, and owners should always strive to get as far beyond the minimum as possible.

 

Why Does the Cage Gap Exist?

 

If hamsters need such large cages, then why are the cages available for purchase so small?

 

There is no single answer for this.  Part of the reason is that all this information is still relatively new.  We are continuing to learn about and observe hamster behavior in different-sized cages and seeing differences.

 

Another reason is the difference between surviving and thriving.  Hamsters can survive in smaller store-bought cages.  It does not mean they will be happy and healthy, but they will live.  

 

And for some people, that's enough.  Hamsters are often purchased as pets for the entertainment of small children.  And in some of these cases, the hamster's well-being is not a terribly high priority – the child doesn’t understand and the parent doesn’t care.  It doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do, and it’s not the kind of care we promote on Hamster Hideout, but it would be silly to ignore the fact that this does happen.

 

Summary

 

I hope this article has been an interesting read if nothing else. More than that, though, I hope this article has helped to clear up any confusion regarding hamster cage sizes.  Even if you still disagree, I hope that perhaps you at least understand the reasoning behind large cages a little better.

 

 

 

Citations

 

Animal Enrichment

St. Louis Zoo

 

Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes

K Fischer, SG Gebhardt-Henrich, and A Steiger

Animal Welfare 2007, 16: 85-93

 

Stereotypies as Animal Welfare Indicators

X Manteca, M Salas

Zoo Animal Welfare Fact Sheet, October 2015

 

 

 

Adapted from The Case For Large Cages.

Very, very well said. I need to show my friend this! She keeps her Syrian, Cookie, in a cage less than a foot long or wide! Hopefully she can realize that her cage is much too small. Thank you so much, Taxonomist!

[Yayeet]

I'm getting a hamster and planning on getting a zoozone 1 cage which is approximately 504 square inches. Us this big enough for one winter white russian dwarf hamster? Can you reply asap please, since my parents say that if I can't decide on a cage, then they will pick it for me, and I'm scared they will pick a crittertrail cage or something similar. Thanks!

[Socks and Snicks]

504 square inches is fine so your hammy will be happy! I just looked it up. Its awesome! yayayayayayayayayayyy

[kavlri]

If you can it's better to go for zoozone 2 or larger, since 504sqm (is this measured at the BASE of the cage?) is barely over the minimum, and it is recommended that you go with 650 or higher.

[Yayeet]

I would like to get the zoo zone 2, but my parents say that it's too big. They don't know anything about hamsters, so they say that even the zoo zone 1 cage is too big! Even though they don't know much, I have spent the past few weekends doing little else but researching everything to do with hamsters.I managed to persuade my parents to get the cage. It has been ordered and I can't wait to get it, so then I can get the substrate, toys, sand, water bottle and food bowl. I can't wait to get a hammy!

Edited by hanhanhannah, 25 June 2017 - 05:17 AM.

[Alphonsus3]

Sadly the "minimum" is always a troublesome word in any of the pet hobby! As a passionate aquarium hobbyist, the "minimum aquarium size" is always a debate with some fish, however the problem is that there are always some people who get a pet for their enjoyment but they also leave out the part where the pets should also enjoy life and not just get the basic so that it can survive. Sadly I see too many people who keep dwarf hamsters in those small cages sold at the pet store. 

 

I feel that by buying a small cage for your hamster you also will ruin the reality of your expectation. People want to get hamsters because in their mind they picture them playing with a soft fuzzball. And they are able to pet it and show it off to their friends. However when you buy a small cage, as described as above, the hamster becomes more hostile. It seems usually though people who house their hamster in those small cages usually loose interest since the "hamster sleeps too much" or it "doesn't do anything". I always suggest people get bin cages, since they get you more room for the money. For my hamster, I was going to get a 40 breeder since there was the $1 per gallon sale but the decided to get a bin cage of the same dimensions but for 50% less. Bin cages or if you do a DIY are one of the best because you can have an open top and it allows you to interact with the hamster. 

 

One of the biggest factors though about having a bored hamster after the cage size is the decoration you have in there. Simply just getting a bigger cage with only a wheel and toy will still cause the hamster to be bored. Adding glass jars, paper tubes, chew toys, wooded huts, etc will stimulate the hamster to explore. Also moving those items around will give the hamster a new sense of environment. 

[SunHam]

For my hamster, I was going to get a 40 breeder since there was the $1 per gallon sale but the decided to get a bin cage of the same dimensions but for 50% less. 

 

Well said! "Minimum" is a word that means very different things to different people. I think Melodie has said before that hamsters in bigger cages are more interesting and more liked by their owners. Your reasoning makes a lot of sense. 

 

About decoration, sometimes I worry I have too many items and I won't be able to fit them, but at other times I want more items. Luckily I don't have a hamster yet so I can sort it out. 

 

Which bin cage is the same size as the 40 gal breeder? I only know of the IRIS Christmas tree bin, which is about 800 sq inches. It's a little too short for bedding though, so I need to modify it. 

[hamhamcan]

I am currently shopping for a new cage for my ham (she's in a 450 sq inch bin right now) and i can't get over how infuriatingly small all of the cages in the US are. The largest one i have seen was like 250 sq inches. Why is this even allowed? It makes new hamster owners uninformed and confused. I am just going with a 40g breeder i think. This was helpful. Thanks

Edited by hamhamcan, 27 July 2017 - 12:35 AM.

[hamhamcan]

I would like to get the zoo zone 2, but my parents say that it's too big. They don't know anything about hamsters, so they say that even the zoo zone 1 cage is too big! Even though they don't know much, I have spent the past few weekends doing little else but researching everything to do with hamsters.I managed to persuade my parents to get the cage. It has been ordered and I can't wait to get it, so then I can get the substrate, toys, sand, water bottle and food bowl. I can't wait to get a hammy!I

I really wanted to get a pink zoozone because it was the perfect size but they don't sell it in the US :(

[HyperHam14]

This is a very well-written post, Tax. I would've complimented it sooner, but i just discovered it today. I really need to check for new pinned stuff more often, lol.