Minimum hamster cage size

Here in North America, most hamsters are kept in cages much too small. Insufficient cage space can cause physical and psychological health issues for your hamster. Syrian hamsters are the largest species of pet hamsters and Minimum hamster cage size see stress behaviors like bar chewing, pacing and obsessively trying to escape when hamsters are housed in cages under square inches. This minimum cage size is similar to the requirements in Europe.

Caring for a pet hamster includes providing a cage with bedding, food, and water. You want to provide a big enough cage so your hamster can get enough exercise every day and has access to plenty of mentally stimulating toys. For Syrian hamsters, the minimum amount of floor space needed per hamster is square inches, or 40 x The height should be 24 inches to allow for several inches of bedding. Chinese and dwarf hamsters need a minimum of square inches of floor space. This equates to about 40 x

Minimum hamster cage size

Hamsters and other small rodents need plenty of space to move about as they are highly active at night. Unfortunately, they no longer advocate a minimum cage size, but they do state any pet should be able to exhibit all normal behaviours, which for hamsters includes running, exploring, climbing, and burrowing. We make 4 standard sizes of Pet Home for small pets — all of which will be suitable for your hamster, mice or gerbils depending on how much space you want to provide. Our smallest size is 90 x 60cm see first pic above. To view our range of Hamster Cages, just click on the button below. Syrian hamsters must be housed individually, but dwarf hamsters, mice and gerbils are more social creatures, and can be housed in pairs or groups. When housing two or more dwarf hamsters together, choose a cage without any platform levels or compartments, as this can lead to territorial behaviour and fighting. Our 90cm Hamster Home is ideal for a dwarf pair, as there is plenty space for a separate wheel, nesting box, food bowl and water bottle for each animal, which will help them get along harmoniously. In the wild, hamsters can run up to miles every night foraging for food, which is a long distance for such tiny feet! Scroll down to view some options. Your hamster will be much happier in the largest home space you can give them, with a deep substrate and plenty of interesting and fun activity toys to play with, and some chew toys to gnaw on. If your hamster has had a tendency to bar bite, this is most likely learned repetitive behaviour due to being unhappy in their current or past environment, particularly in the case of a rescue hamster. To prevent your little pet from biting the bars of their cage, we recommend choosing a home with a perspex front, rather than one with bars or mesh. We hope this information helps you choose the right home, but if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch. Email address:.

Your email address will not be published. This article contains instructions, advice, or how-to content. Beddings with added scents are not safe for hamsters.

Although hamsters are an inexpensive pet to buy, the cost of suitable housing should not be overlooked. How much space do hamsters actually need though? Hamster cages available in pet shops vary hugely in size, and design; so what should you be looking at when considering cage size and type? Winter white, Roborovski, Campbell or Chinese dwarf, these species vary in size but are all smaller than the Syrian hamster. The dwarf species can sometimes live in pairs or small groups if care is taken to provide enough space and resources. For some time, there has been a commonly quoted size of 80cm x 50cm minimum cage dimension length and width for a Syrian hamster and 70cm x 40cm for a dwarf hamster. However, while the the RSPCA have moved away from an official size recommendation due to lack of evidence, stating only the cage should be as large as possible, while the PDSA and Blue Cross have adopted the newer Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare guidelines of x 50cm, and 50cm high to allow for lots of digging space — ideally 25cm or more of substrate!

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. The ideal cage for a hamster is escape-proof, easy to clean, and, most importantly, provides your little furry pet enough living space for eating, sleeping, playing, and exercising. Ramsey also recommends looking for a cage that has bar spacing of a half-inch or less, can hold four inches of bedding, and is tall enough for a full-size hamster wheel. Our favorite is the Prevue Pet Products Universal Small Animal Home , which is spacious, has tight wiring, and includes two separate entry doors.

Minimum hamster cage size

Do you want your hamster to be happy? As we learn more about our pets, we discover that the gear that was once widely accepted may not be in their best interest. We see this with the evolution of pet nutrition, the development of new toys, and, of course, the perfect habitat for small animals like hamsters. This article will delve into the latest discoveries and science behind creating the best quality of life for your furry friend, starting by setting up the ideal cage or habitat. If you walk into any large-scale pet store, you will likely discover shelves of wire cages and plastic tubes, all marketed as the ideal setup for your new hamster. The exact size recommended varies from organization to organization. It also depends on the breed of hamster, with Syrian or Golden hamsters needing a larger habitat than Dwarf hamsters understandably.

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There were no significant differences in running-wheel activity. Learn how your comment data is processed. Therefore, bedding made from cedar or pine is considered unsafe for hamsters. The wobbling may upset hamsters, who prefer stable ground. Add your comment. A wheel for exercise is important to allow the hamster to keep fit and active. Small Cages are Cruel '; document. Main article: Hamster wheel. A Glass Tank! Tubes and tunnels replicate the natural burrows which hamsters live in and are enjoyed by hamsters. Research shows that a smaller cage size causes more bar biting. Back to forum.

Even though hamsters are very small they actually require a lot of space, it is not uncommon for hamsters in the wild to run 9km in one night. It is the minimum cage size for ALL species of hamsters including Dwarf.

Lost your password? Plastic cages and aquariums do offer better protection from drafts. This will allow the hamster to imitate the burrowing behavior in the wild. Please note this is a minimum of unbroken floor space not levels , the more space the better. Be sure to check the gender and separate males and females to avoid unwanted breeding, and observe interactions as aggression may occur between cage mates. In some cases, two or three dwarf hamsters may be housed together if they are of the same sex and come from the same litter. Wood cages are more difficult to clean and are easily chewed on. Winter white, Roborovski, Campbell or Chinese dwarf, these species vary in size but are all smaller than the Syrian hamster. Although some other types of hamster do well in small groups, Syrian hamsters are loners that tend to fight if kept in a cage with another rodent. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.