How big should my hamster cage be?
A hamster requires significantly more space than one would assume at first glance. Some scientists even argue that it is not possible to keep hamsters as pets in a species-appropriate manner.
Fact is: The more space you can offer your hamster, the better for him. In the wild, hamsters like to walk several kilometers through their territory at night - so you have to make sure they have enough space.
As an absolute minimum, your hamster should have 0.5 m² of space to live in. This would mean for example a floor space of 100x50cm.
Important: Additional levels do not increase the floor space and do not belong in the calculation!
If you want to keep your hamster happy in the long run and prevent species-unrelated behavior like nibbling on bars, you should pay attention to a floor space of approx. 1 m².
What kind of hamster cage should I buy?
Hamster cages are divided into three different types: the grid cages, the hybrid cages and the nagariums. The lattice cage is the cheapest way to start, while the nagarium gives you the greatest scope for design.
Grid cage
The lattice cage is the most economical way to start keeping a hamster. This usually consists of a plastic tray for the floor and a (as the name suggests) lattice top. Overall, the lattice cage resembles a bird cage.
Advantages
Many lattice cages directly bring several levels, which can be put into the lattice mesh. Creating multiple levels is thus very easy.
Also accessories like hamster wheels or water bottles can be attached securely to the mesh of the side walls.
In addition, most mesh cages offer two or more access panels that allow you to feed your hamster or make changes to the cage from both the front and top.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of a lattice cage for hamsters is the low fill level. A hamster should get enough litter to dig, 15cm should be possible at least. However, the plastic tubs are often shallower - or they just reach the height and your hamster makes for a dirty floor around the hamster cage when digging.
Speaking of too small, you should pay attention to the size of the cage, especially with mesh cages. Several levels are not bad in principle, but the base area is important for your hamster. And it must be large enough to satisfy your little rodent’s urge to move.
The most obvious disadvantage arises especially for very small hamster species. Depending on the grid spacing, the cage may not provide sufficient protection from nighttime exploration missions in the house. Means in plain language: Be careful that your hamster does not escape through the bars!
In addition, you should always keep an eye on your hamster’s urge to climb when using lattice cages. Hamsters have very poor eyesight and are even worse at judging height. If your hamster climbs up the bars of your cage and slips off, he can injure himself very quickly.
Especially if the cage is too small, your hamster may chew on the upper bars. This can be recognized very quickly by the fact that the paint is missing in certain areas. Nibbling on the bars massively damages the teeth and can even lead to maldevelopment of the teeth.
So you see: Unfortunately, this type of cage has more disadvantages than advantages. However, if you consider your hamster’s preferences and the design of the cage, a mesh cage can still be a nice home.
Hybrid cage
One step more expensive is usually the hybrid cages. As with the lattice cage, a lattice top forms the upper cage area, while the lower area is made of glass.
Advantages
In contrast to the lattice cage, the hybrid cages often offer a much deeper glass bowl, which allows you to fill a lot of litter for digging in the cage. The glass also allows you to watch him explore and dig much more enjoyably.
The advantages of the lattice cage also remain largely intact. Several wooden levels are often included directly in the purchase price or can be installed very easily by the lattices themselves. If you place water dispensers on the upper levels, these can also be secured very well to the lattice. And several access gates allow you easy access from any side.
Most importantly, the average footprint of hybrid cages is usually much larger than that of mesh cages, so your hamster has more room to move around.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, many of the disadvantages of hybrid cages are also identical to those of mesh cages. Even with hybrid cages, you should keep an eye on your hamster so that he doesn’t start climbing or gnawing at the bars.
Nagarium
Nagariums offer you the greatest scope for design. Nagariums are a modified form of an aquarium, usually with a large glass tank and a grid cover on top. For this reason, it is relatively easy to convert an old aquarium into a nagarium.
Advantages
Nagariums offer you the highest filling height of all cage formats. Theoretically you can fill your nagarium up to the rim with material. This makes it perfect for hamsters that like to dig and build burrows or dens.
At the same time you have a free hand for the decoration of your enclosure. And last but not least, nagariums often look classier than cages with bars.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, the design of the nagariums also has some disadvantages. Especially you should pay attention to a good ventilation. Due to the closed construction and the many glass heat can accumulate very quickly, which you should avoid at all costs. So never mount a massive top plate on a decommissioned aquarium, but provide sufficient ventilation!
Who now thinks he can better do without the lid: Hamsters are great escape artists, depending on their nature. By building towers of litter, climbing the furniture and sudden jumping abilities, your little rodent is faster in the room, than you would like. So a lid is mandatory to keep the hamster in a safe atmosphere.
The advantage in the design also means some tact as a disadvantage. You’ll have to put levels in the cage instead of hooking them to the sides. And even when attaching wheels, water fountains or sand baths, you should make sure they are securely held. After all, you don’t want your hamster to hurt himself because his wheel tips over or falls off.
You should also consider the weight of the nagarium. Because of all the glass, the cage weighs a lot more than a cage made mostly of bars. So make sure you have a stable surface.