Dwarf Hamster Cages

There are many cages available for hamsters and there are many factors to consider when choosing the best one for your pet. Most importantly, you want to pick a cage that is a good size, escape-proof, safe, and easy to clean. Unfortunately, many cages you will find at the pet store do not meet all these requirements when it comes to dwarf hamsters.

Here are a few of the things you need to bare in mind when you’re out shopping for your hammy’s new home.

• Style of Cage

Your main choices will be between a wire cage (usually on a plastic base), a plastic modular cage (the kind with many compartments and tubes), or an aquarium (with a secure mesh lid). Each style of cage has advantages and disadvantages.

• Ease of Cleaning

In general, a wire cage with a plastic tray is the easiest to clean; just lift the wire off the bottom, clean out the bedding, and wipe down the wire part as necessary. The more complex the cage, the more difficult it will be to clean, which is very important if you are looking a plastic cage with multiple compartments and tubes. These cages can become a real chore to clean. Let’s face it, cleaning cages is not a fun task, so keeping it easy will make owning a hamster more fun.

• Ventilation

A wire cage is easily the best option here. The tubes and enclosed compartments of plastic modular cages can pose real problems with ventilation, so air quality and condensation can become problems. Likewise, aquariums can also have inadequate ventilation. Keep in mind that the openness of wire cages gives them great ventilation but means you must keep the cage out of drafts. Plastic cages offer better protection from drafts.

• Size

Despite their small size, dwarf hamsters need ample space to run and play. Aim for a minimum of 24 inches by 12 inches, and at least 12 inches tall. However to keep your hamster active and happy, try to get a bigger cage — when it comes to hamster cages, bigger is always better!

• Cage Security and Safety

The space between the bars on a dwarf hamster cage should be no more than 1/4 inch apart – a dimension that is really difficult to find on wire cages that are large enough. Check the doors on any cage to make sure they are secure, as hamsters can become quite expert at opening doors .. If you choose a cage with multiple levels or tubes, make sure there is no place where your hamster could fall a long distance.

• Dwarf Hamster Cages and Chewing

The drive and ability of hamsters to chew can affect the type of cage they are suited for. On plastic cages, make sure there are no exposed edges or ridges of plastic where a hamster can start chewing the cage, or your hamster is likely to escape at some point.

• Bedding Depth

No matter what style of cage you use, make sure you can provide a nice deep layer of bedding for burrowing. This is most important for wire cages — choose one with a nice deep tray to allows a nice deep layer of bedding, and also to reduce the amount of bedding your hamsters will push or kick out of the cage.