Hamster Homes/Cages
Before purchasing your hamster, you will need to have it's home and accessories ready.
Cage:
You will need a cage. There are three main types of cages: wire cages, aquariums (glass or plastic), and cages that are a mix of wire bars and plastic panels. For Syrian hamsters, any of these three are suitable; for dwarf hamsters an aquarium is more fitting, as they can slip through the bars of wire cages. Plastic cages are often chewed and destroyed fast by the hamsters. If you want a pretty, multi-colored cage and don't mind them destroying and possibly escaping from their home, then a plastic cage is for you.
The average cage size is 38 x 25 x 23 cm (15 x 10 x 9 in), this tends to be much too small for Syrian hamsters, which grow to be around 20 cm (7 in). The bigger the cage, the better. The ideal size would be 60 x 40 x 30 cm (24 x 16 x 12 in). This allows your hamster to have plenty of room to exercise and move around. A cage can never be too big, but they can be too small.
Bedding:
There are several types of bedding that you can use for your cage.
The best bedding is shredded toilet paper or paper towels, or a type of soft bedding (like Carefresh), or aspen bedding. All three are practically harmless. Some types of bedding can be hazardous to your hamster. Any fluffy bedding, such as cotton, can kill your hamster.If you use wood shavings, avoid cedar. It releases aromatic oils into the cage that can be fatal to your hamster. Pine isn't a wonderful choice but it's better than cedar so if those are your only choices, pick pine.
Equipment & Accessories:
Cage:
You will need a cage. There are three main types of cages: wire cages, aquariums (glass or plastic), and cages that are a mix of wire bars and plastic panels. For Syrian hamsters, any of these three are suitable; for dwarf hamsters an aquarium is more fitting, as they can slip through the bars of wire cages. Plastic cages are often chewed and destroyed fast by the hamsters. If you want a pretty, multi-colored cage and don't mind them destroying and possibly escaping from their home, then a plastic cage is for you.
The average cage size is 38 x 25 x 23 cm (15 x 10 x 9 in), this tends to be much too small for Syrian hamsters, which grow to be around 20 cm (7 in). The bigger the cage, the better. The ideal size would be 60 x 40 x 30 cm (24 x 16 x 12 in). This allows your hamster to have plenty of room to exercise and move around. A cage can never be too big, but they can be too small.
Bedding:
There are several types of bedding that you can use for your cage.
The best bedding is shredded toilet paper or paper towels, or a type of soft bedding (like Carefresh), or aspen bedding. All three are practically harmless. Some types of bedding can be hazardous to your hamster. Any fluffy bedding, such as cotton, can kill your hamster.If you use wood shavings, avoid cedar. It releases aromatic oils into the cage that can be fatal to your hamster. Pine isn't a wonderful choice but it's better than cedar so if those are your only choices, pick pine.
Equipment & Accessories:
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