▷ Hamster Cage | All information and details

Key data and basic information

Hamsters are small and cute. Despite their small size, they have many needs.
The species-appropriate hamster husbandry is therefore relatively expensive.

Golden hamsters still have many characteristics that they share with their wild counterparts. By nature they are flight animals and therefore more likely shy and careful. Raising them requires a lot of love and patience.

Basically all breeds of hamsters nocturnal. This means they sleep all day when the kids are awake. For this reason, hamsters are not particularly well suited to children under the age of 12.

During the day, the hamsters stay in their burrow and sleep. Most animals only get up late in the evening and stay active until the early hours of the morning. During this time they look for food, digging and burrowing.

This means they make a lot of noise at night. For this reason, they should not be in the bedroom or in the children’s room. Otherwise the night’s sleep is guaranteed to be disturbed.

Most breeds of hamsters are loner. They are aggressive towards conspecifics and other animals. Therefore, they can only be kept alone in a cage.

Some dwarf hamster breeds are significantly more peaceful than golden hamsters. It may be possible to keep them in groups. The Campbell’s dwarf hamsters in particular are quite social animals.

Despite their relatively small body size, hamsters are very active and keen to move. You therefore need a large cage. A species-appropriate hamster cage is therefore at least 100 cm long and has several floors.

Next to the cage is also the Equipment very important. The small animals need several houses, tubes, branches, roots and bowls. It’s also nice to build them a real adventure playground.

Select a species-appropriate hamster cage

Hamsters are still among the most popular pets in German households. Many families with children keep dwarf hamsters, teddy hamsters or golden hamsters. A species-appropriate cage makes an important contribution to the happiness and well-being of the animal.

Therefore, it should be chosen with great care. Most often, the selection of cages in pet stores is quite large. It is therefore worthwhile to inform yourself in advance.

The cages differ in size, quality, material and of course in price.

Not every cage is necessarily species-appropriate. Hamsters have some special requirements for their homes. The rodent home should enough space to run, climb and dig, but be comfortable at the same time.

guns hideouts are very important to hamsters. You need a safe and quiet retreat. The cottage should therefore not be obvious.

Buy a hamster cage

A checklist often helps with the purchase. It helps in choosing the right rodent home. After all, there are some important criteria to consider when making a purchase.

The size is a very important purchase criterion. The larger the footprint of the rodent home, the better. Hamsters can’t have too much space. In the wild, they move more than 200 meters away from their burrow.

The material is also a crucial point. The rodent homes are made of quite different materials. In cheap models, a lot of plastic is usually used.

Most hamster cages are made of wood, glass and plastic. All materials have advantages and disadvantages that should be considered. In addition, you should take a close look at the distance between the bars, dwarf hamsters are so small that they can escape from a cage with a large distance between the bars.

The cover is also a relevant point, as hamsters are good climbers. It is little fun to regularly look for the hamster when it has slipped away. In addition, free running without supervision is dangerous for the animal.

The Price mostly influences the purchase decision. Hardly anyone wants to spend a fortune on a hamster cage. Most species-appropriate cages cost 70 to 150 euros.

Skilled craftsmen will certainly think of building one themselves. With a lot of talent you can of course build your own cage. The materials for a species-appropriate cage are not necessarily cheap either.

Many cages come with one basic equipment. The usual basic equipment includes the floors, ramps and houses. Tubes or impellers are often already available.

The size of the cage

The cages come in different sizes. When choosing, you should always remember that hamsters are very active and like to climb. They travel long distances in the wild foraging.

In addition, they have a need to carry the fodder through the corridors into the burrow. They dig their own tunnels in the litter. A good hamster cage should therefore have a deep bowl that can accommodate a lot of bedding.

They also climb branches in search of a treat. Plenty of space and climbing opportunities are therefore really important. Just a big cage over 100cm is species-appropriate.

The animals need the dormitory as a retreat. The hamsters often use several houses. In one burrow they also create different chambers for sleeping and for feeding.

A good footprint is 1 to 2 m². A good Height is 50 cm. The hamster must not fall too far.

The right material for the hamster cage

The cage should be well made. The material must be very stable, as rodents like to nibble. It is also important that it is easy to care for.

Hamsters don’t make a lot of mess, but hygiene is very important. Dust and moisture harm the animals. In addition, the cage must be well ventilated, but not pull.

Most cages are made of wood, plastic, glass, and metal. Many also have a mix of materials. Colorful plastic palaces are not very suitable. The plastic pipe systems, plastic houses and plastic wheels hardly satisfy a hamster.

The narrow tubes are difficult to clean and quickly form mold and germs. Plastic can also be swallowed. In the worst case, this is life-threatening. Plastic parts therefore do not really belong in the cage.

There are also many pollutants in the plastic, which also have a negative effect on the indoor climate. The cage must never have sharp points or edges. The risk of injury is too great.

The grid spacing should be about 8 mm. Dwarf hamsters need a distance of 5 mm. The hamster must not be allowed to get stuck in the bars.

Wooden hamster cage

Wood is a good material for a hamster cage. Wooden cages are very stable and mostly well made. The environmental impact is much lower than with plastic cages.

Levels, climbing facilities and ramps are already built into most wooden cages. This basic structure can be improved with branches and roots. The addition of further levels is also useful.

The wooden cages are also often in Combination with grids or Plexiglas available. You can see inside the cage through the bars or the glass. These combinations also look good in the room.

Glass hamster cage

Glass hamster cages are becoming increasingly popular. These accommodations are reminiscent of aquariums or terrariums. The problem with an aquarium is the air.

It cannot circulate properly. This allows mold and foul gases to form because moisture accumulates through urine. This is very harmful to the animal’s health. In addition, carbon dioxide can accumulate in the glass container. It is important that the cage enough vents has.

An advantage is that no litter falls on the floor through the glass. This is often the case with bars, as hamsters like to rummage around and spread the litter. Glass is antibacterial and can be washed clean well. Nevertheless, a cage should not necessarily be made entirely of glass.

Hamsters are easy to observe in a cage with lots of glass. However, one must also pay attention to sufficient retreat possibilities. No hamster likes to sit on the salver.

With a glass cage, you should always add branches, tubes and roots. These serve as hiding places. The accessories are also more difficult to store because there is nowhere to hang them.

Plastic hamster cage

Rodent cages with plastic are particularly common. They are particularly cheap and easy to clean. plastic is cheaper than wood or glass.

Most of the time, the quality of cheap models is not good. However, thin plastic is dangerous for hamsters. The hamster should not be able to chew on the plastic.

Swallowing plastic parts can be fatal. The sharp plastic splinters injure the organs. That’s why it’s really, really important to make sure that the plastic is very thick and strong.

Cheap models also often have a high level of pollution and therefore smell unpleasant. Often the tub is made of plastic and the attachment is made of metal. Accessories and levels can be easily attached to the bars.

Plastic has the advantage over wood that it not absorbent is. Urine does not penetrate and there is no odor. Plastic can be washed out with hot water and is therefore quite easy to care for.

Plastic levels are relatively noisy as you can hear the hamster walking on them. Hamsters have long claws. Wood is significantly more soundproof.

The height of the tub is very important. It shouldn’t be too shallow to fit a lot of litter. In addition, a high trough has the advantage that the litter does not end up on the floor.

The grids ensure good ventilation and are a good climbing opportunity. The bars of the bars should have a close decency. They are mostly made of stainless steel that has been painted.

Hamster Cage Lid

All cages should well sealed be and have a lid. The hamsters are very good climbers and climb the bars all the way to the top. They are also very curious and like to escape.

However, the lid should not be closed, as a lot of air and light should penetrate the cage. When buying, you should make sure that the lid easy to handle leaves.

If necessary, you should be able to open it with one hand. It is often helpful to have one hand free for food.

Cost of a species-appropriate hamster cage

When it comes to costs, quality plays a major role. Of course you don’t have to buy the most expensive cage, but these quality should be right. A species-appropriate rodent home costs between 70 and 300 euros.

You definitely don’t have to invest more. Most of the time you need another one Furnishings. Conversion or expansion measures can also cost something.

If you want to save money, you can buy boards from the hardware store and add levels yourself. Lacquers and glues…