6 replies to this topic

[BobaTad~HH]

A basic hamster cage that is properly sized with a good amount of hamster goods, will make your hamster feel happy. (It will not please them completely, but will make them happier.) 

 

Encloser

 

The minimum for a cage size for hamsters are 450 sq inches. (some say larger) It also really does not matter about the type of cage, i personally like tanks better because, the cage will have more room for bedding, they won't be able to bar chew or monkey bar, and i can see my hamster better. I will say the bigger, the better. Upgrading is one of the best things for your hamster in my opinion. But, some cage's i would NOT recommend: Tiny Tales, Kay-tee, Critter Trail and others alike. I hate tiny tales because for one, way too small! For two, it will be harder to clean on some of them. And lastly, it is titled, boxed, and stocked with "Children's toy" vibe with it. They even come with stickers. Kay-tee and Critter Trail both are much to small. That is my opinion. But, those are things to look out for. I would recommend a large tank (450 minimum) that is glass.

 

Wheel

 

A hamster wheel is a must need thing. Did you know hamsters run about 5-16 miles a night? Now, again, size is very important. If you look at Kay-tee wheels, they are quite small, such as 4.5 inch ones, and 6 1/2 inch.(sometimes 12 inch if lucky. 8 and more inches is a great size, so some kaytee is good.) Unfortunately, at pet stores, you will see these. The properly sized ones have 9"inches total. The reason a proper sized wheel is good is because, if it is too small, the hamsters back will bend. You may also see wired and mesh ones. Those can easily cause something called "Bumble-foot". Your hamsters foot will get caught, and cause some dis-function in there limbs. A silent runner or a wodent wheel will work just fine. they are 8-9 inches and perfectly safe.

 

Habitat

 

So, a hamsters habitat is an important thing. The wheel is part of it, and this is the rest of what you will need: texture, (aspen shavings are great texture) sand bath, climbing things, (bendy bridges, logs, platforms, ect) huts, (2 for hamster enrichment) toys, bedding (kaytee clean and cozy is best), water bottle, and you can add any other hamster safe things for more hamster enrichment. Now keep in mind, texture and other enrichment stuff is for hamster enrichment. Hamster enrichment is a very good thing to do, so please give it a try.

 

I hope this helped, and have a good week.  

Edited by TadHamHam, 08 June 2021 - 01:53 AM.

[♥️fluffy♥️]

A basic hamster cage that is properly sized with a good amount of hamster goods, will make your hamster feel happy. (It will not please them completely, but will make them happier.) 

 

Encloser

 

The minimum for a cage size for hamsters are 450 sq inches. It also really does not matter about the type of cage, i personally like tanks better because, the cage will have more room for bedding, they won't be able to bar chew or monkey bar, and i can see my hamster better. I will say the bigger, the better. Upgrading is one of the best things for your hamster in my opinion. But, some cage's i would NOT recommend: Tiny Tales, Kay-tee, Critter Trail and others alike. I hate tiny tales because for one, way too small! For two, it will be harder to clean on some of them. And lastly, it is titled, boxed, and stocked with "Children's toy" vibe with it. They even come with stickers. Kay-tee and Critter Trail both are much to small. That is my opinion. But, those are things to look out for. I would recommend a large tank (450 minimum) that is glass.

 

Wheel

 

A hamster wheel is a must need thing. Did you know hamsters run about 5 miles a night? Now, again, size is very important. If you look at Kay-tee wheels, they are quite small, such as 4.5 inch ones, and 6 1/2 inch. Unfortunately, at pet stores, you will see these. The properly sized ones have 9"inches total. The reason a proper sized wheel is good is because, if it is too small, the hamsters back will bend. You may also see wired and mesh ones. Those can easily cause something called "Bumble-foot". Your hamsters foot will get caught, and cause some dis-function in there limbs. A silent runner or a wodent wheel will work just fine. they are 8-9 inches and perfectly safe.

 

Habitat

 

So, a hamsters habitat is an important thing. The wheel is part of it, and this is the rest of what you will need: texture, (aspen shavings are great texture) sand bath, climbing things, (bendy bridges, logs, platforms, ect) huts, (2 for hamster enrichment) toys, bedding (kaytee clean and cozy is best), and you can add any other hamster safe things for more hamster enrichment. Now keep in mind, texture and other enrichment stuff is for hamster enrichment. Hamster enrichment is a very good thing to do, so please give it a try.

 

I hope this helped, and have a good week.  

Thank you so much for this article Tad!

Edited by ♥️fluffy♥️, 30 October 2021 - 02:31 AM.

[Robin~]

Honestly, this article is fine for what it is. Sure, the whole 450sq in is debated, but when you’re declaring that as opposed to pet shop cages I personally view that as a fine way to propose a minimum. They also reference that this is for a “basic” hamster cage, and they also strongly recommend tanks, the smallest of which that’s safe for hamsters is a 40g (650sq in).

As for the enrichment stuff, I don’t see any issues with what they said. Sure, Kaytee has some larger wheels, but they’re low in quality. The bedding doesn’t have to be mixed, but having a sand bath or some other enrichment substrates is always nice. I really don’t see why this is a particularly bad article?

[Alis]

I *personally* disagree with the 800 sq inch minimum.

 

For a bare minimum, that's quite big and can be quite hard to find. And if even that's supposed to be small... yeah, it's just not a minimum that can *easily* accessed by many.

 

For some people, yes, big bins and DIY's and big tanks are available, but in my area, such bins weren't available at the time that I needed them and DIY wasn't an option.

 

A bare minimum should be a number that could usually, usually keep a hamster satisfied and can be easily accessed by many. ( With, of course always the possibility of upgrading ).

[♥TheHamHamGuru♥]

for people arguing, the info in the article is all up to date. anyways they labelled this as basic care which it. sand bath, wheel, cage of appropriate size, food and water source and ofc bedding. everyone has different minimums due to experience however the whole community (or at leats the majority) will agree that 450sq inches is a good starting place or minimum. i personally feel dwarfs can have 450sq inch and over and syrians in 620sq inches and over. however that is down to my experience and i have only had day to day experience with a syrian who isnt the most active hamster i know, the say on dwarfs is what i know from research and word of mouth.

Edited by ♥TheHamHamGuru♥, 08 June 2021 - 12:17 AM.

[BobaTad~HH]

I don't think everything on here is true. Hamsters can run up to 16 miles a night. Bedding should be mixed rather than just using kcc.How big should a sandbath be. and not everyone agrees on the 450 sq in thing. I believe the bare minimum should be 800sq in  even that is small. Not sure this is the best care guide. Kaytee wheels are not all small some are 12 inch.

Hey, thanks for giving me the information. i will now add this to my habitat guide.

[♥️fluffy♥️]

Hey, thanks for giving me the information. i will now add this to my habitat guide.

No need to thank me. Oh and sorry if I appeared rude. It is a good care guide!