Hamsters, hamster care, syrian hamster, dwarf hamster, ill hamster, hamster forum

Wire Cages

These type of cages are very popular choices as they allow easy interaction with your pet, come in many shapes and sizes and are easy to clean. Also it is easy to attach items such as exercise wheels. When purchasing a cage with multiple platforms similar to the one to the left make sure that the platforms overlap so hammy can’t fall from the top to the bottom, this can be dangerous, hamsters do like to climb and swing from the bars!
Try to buy the largest one you can afford, space is essential for a happy pet. Downsides to this type of cage are they can prove messy if your hamster likes to kick his bedding around (this can be improved by placing the whole cage in a cut down cardboard box) and some hamsters can become ‘addicted’ to chewing the bars, this can be a sign of boredom and they can sometimes be distracted from doing so by adding more suitable toys to the cage.

Bin cages are fast becoming the home of choice for many hamster owners. Inexpensive to create and offering much scope for customization these can provide a wonderful environment for both Syrian and Dwarf hamsters. These cages are easy to clean, allow as much space as you wish and are less prone to mess escaping. Downsides include hamsters chewing their way out if the lid is not properly secured and not being able to ‘see’ your pet as much as if you would if they were in a wire cage.
This is a useful tutorial in how construct a Bin cage

Rotastak cages have been around for many years and with the addition of the numerous extra available sections you can create a varied and large home for your pet. Designed to mimic the natural burrowing instinct of the small rodent this type of cage can entertain both owner and hamster. Downsides include the size of the interconnecting tubes being a bit of a tight squeeze for a fully grown Syrian hamster and sometimes the plastic construction is prone to chewing and poor ventilation. The enclosed wheels, which are fairly small, can sometimes become a dumping ground for food and/or waste matter proving very hard to clean.

Much like the Rotastak design (See above) Crittertrail cages can be much too small for a fully grown Syrian hamster but can be suitable for the Dwarf species if you add a few extensions to the main living area. These, in my opinion, are designed much more for the owner than the animal, coming in a vast array of colours and shapes to please the human eye and appeal to first time hamster owners.
The problem with small tubes and poor ventilation is once more an issue with these and owners have reported that sometimes the plastic is prone to breaking during cleaning . They are also extremely expensive for what they provide in way of actual floor space.