Housing Your Hamster

No doubt when your purchase your hamster he/she will need a cage. There are many types of cages that will provide your hamster with a good habitat. There are countless attachments sold to make your hamster's cage more interesting including: plastic tubing, hamster wheels, separate tiers, ladders, bridges, sleeping areas, ceramic houses and shoes containing holes, mazes, and lots more! But the most important part is the cage to put your hamster in. Here are some possibilities...

HOUSING/CAGE STYLES

Aquariums

Both glass and plastic aquariums can be used as hamster housing. An advantage that plastic has over glass is that it is lighter and therefore easier to clean, but plastic scratches more easily.
Both glass and plastic aquariums have the advantage of being draft-proof; therefore, shavings and bedding remain inside (and not all over your floor!). However, they are cumbersome to clean. In addition, unless you add a specially designed top that takes add-ons such as standard clip-on water bottles and/or food dishes they are not a good choice. Aquariums are not suitable for a clip-on exercise wheel, although a freestanding wheel can be substituted. You must keep in mind that a freestanding wheel will take up more space in your hamster's home than a clip-on wheel. Wheels are a very important part of your hamsters cage as they provide an outlet for the hamsters nearly endless energy.

If you decide to use an aquarium as your hamster's home, you must cover it securely so that he cannot escape. Ventilated plastic tops designed specifically for these purposes are available. You should ALWAYS use them for your "hamster aquarium". The ventilated plastic tops often have modifications to take add-ons such as hanging water bottles. Don't use covers with large holes or easy to open lids as your hamster may escape; screen lids are not a smart choice ether as your hamster may chew a hole in the lid and get away! Remember that hamsters originate from a desert environment and yours does not like damp conditions so avoid solid lids as these do not all proper ventilation and will cause condensation in the aquarium.

Most aquariums range in £5-£50 in price.

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Hamster Cages

Traditionally hamsters were kept in cages and a cage is always the best choice for your hamster. Traditional hamster cages are normally wire, square, structures with a metal or plastic litter pan, with a wire door that hooks over a ridged strip of metal. A variety of wire cages are sold today and these cages are the best thing you can put your hamster in. They are normally about 1-3 feet tall and many have two or more stories connected with ramps or ladders, giving your hamster a few dimensions to explore. They have a metal or plastic bottom that should be filled with cage litter and a wheel, water bottle, and many other fun toys are easy to attach to the metal wire sides. The best ones have doors on both the top and side of your cage making it easier to remove your hamster.

Cages range from £10-£150 in price.

Tube Cages

Some cages are designed as compartments connected via a series of plastic tubes, but you should avoid the ones with round components because hamsters may become disoriented without corners. Tube cages can be more difficult to clean than the traditional hamster cage. You must also ensure that the connecting tunnels will be large enough for your hamster to pass through when he is grown to full size.

Tube Cages range from £15-£250 in price.

Hamster Habitats

These speciality cages usually have a theme (desert, space, theme park etc). Most are designed to appeal to children since they are most often large bulky and brightly coloured. Most are also decorated with cartoon hamsters, there is even a version featuring Hamtaro! They are large clear (or tinted) plastic filled with a tubing maze that often extends outside the cage and they usually have all of the toys and food bowls/water bottles attached. Many also contain a "sky box" a tube that comes out of the cage connected to a clear plastic box. They are often expensive and hard to clean.

They range in price from £20-£500!

SIZE OF HOUSING

Your hamsters cage should be large enough that he/she can run without bumping into a wall or decoration. He/she should have at least 2 feet of clear running space. If your container has attached tubing, wheels, etc then make sure your hamster will fit in them when they are full grown!

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SAFETY

The door must close firmly or your hamster may be able to push it open and escape. The doors should open outward rather than inward. If you use an aquarium with a plastic top, make sure that the top fits snugly over the sides and that the hamster cannot squeeze out. Your hamster's cage must not have sharp edges or broken wires that may cause injury.

If the cage is plastic, make sure there are no exposed edges through which the hamster could chew and make an escape.

All cages should be pet proof to ensure that if you have any animals with free run of the house they are not able to gain access to your hamster within it's cage.

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Article courtesy of Petwebsite.com

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