Hamster Cages and Hamster Wheels - Our Guide
How long do hamster live for?
Keeping a hamster is great for all groups of ages of children, but it's important to know that it will be with you for a short period because it has a short lifespan.
In the wild, the hamster can live about one year, but at home in a cage, you can increase its life span up to two or three years. So, keeping it in a protected environment like a cage is good for its longevity!
So, the first thing that you would need to get before getting a hamster is a hamster cage. We have hamster cages of different sizes and shapes that you can get on your own need.
How large should a hamster cage be?
Hamster cages are specially designed for hamsters and the minimum space required for an adult hamster to live freely in a cage is about 60cm by 31cm and the ceiling of the cage should be at least 30cm high.
Is a plastic hamster cage good for hamsters?
Plastic Hamster cages are useful for moving your pet hamster around, so if you plan to transport the hamster or move the hamster around the house because they are closed from the underside and tubing system.
One downside is that plastic hamster cages are quite difficult to clean. Though there there are some models that are much easier to clean, so make sure you research on the different models available.
Are there different types of plastic hamster cages?
Plastic hamster cages come in two types.
One is a plastic hamster cage that is closed from all sides and has a few openings for ventilation and the other plastic hamster cage option uses plastic wires and is completely ventilated.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages - and both types of cages can be opened from the middle and can be cleaned easily depending on the model.
A closed plastic hamster cage can reduce ventilation for hamsters when it's hot, but it’s ideal if you’re living in cold areas.
Is a metal hamster cage good for hamsters?
One of the oldest and most commonly used cages is the metallic hamster wire cage.
The main benefit of such type of hamster cage is its durability. You can also house several hamsters in a single cage.
Besides the durability, it’s well ventilated and hamsters will live happily in it.
The other benefit of these cages is the cleaning as they have plastic or metallic trays under the wired floor and you can easily clean it by just removing it from the cage.
Which is better - metallic or plastic hamster cages?
Metallic wire cages the best cages for hamsters if you are going to keep them inside the house.
Air remains open from all the sides and the cage remain ventilated all the time.
However, if you have to keep changing the location of where your hamster lives or if your children are naughty and they can’t leave their hamster in one place then you shouldn’t go with metallic hamster cages because changing places regularly can cause contamination of faeces in your hamster’s water or feed.
What are our hamster wheels and are they good for hamsters?
You may have several questions after reading the word “Hamster Wheel” like, is it necessary for the hamster? Or is it bad for its health? Or how should I select a perfect wheel for my hamster?
Hamster are part of the rodent family and they run very fast and, in the wild, like all other rodents, hamsters have to roam along large routes to get their food – often travelling several miles in a single day.
So, we strongly recommend installing a hamster wheel in the hamster cage. It acts like a treadmill for your hamster and it’ll keep hamsters healthy and happy by providing daily exercise and something to do in the cage.
What if I don't have a hamster wheel in my hamster's cage?
If you don’t provide your hamster with a hamster wheel, then it’ll not only deteriorate the health of your hamster, but also cause depression. Such circumstances can lead to severe health problems and lower life expectancy.
What is the best hamster wheel size and what material should it be made up of?
As hamsters are from the rodent family, you should provide a hamster with a durable materials, so they can’t chew it or, if it can chewed, then it should be safe for its health.
The best options are metallic and wooden hamster wheels for hamsters and the size of an average hamster wheel is around 30cm in diameter, but you can purchase a larger or smaller depending upon the breed of hamster you have.