Best cage for New hamster...

[Hamster207]

Hi. Im new to this forum becuase I just got interested in hamsters. I was wondering what kind of cage should i get? I dont know if I should just get a Habitrail or a Critter-one. I would like ti to be cheap but not a metal cage. Id like a connectable one like S.A.M or Habitrail.

[yodelinghamster]

It depends on what kind of hamster you want. Roborovskiis would squeeze thourgh the bars of a wire cage. I think the best cages are the ones you make at home! They are also the cheapest! Just buy a 90qt clear bin from walmart. Cut most of the lid out, or the side and take some wire (make sure the holes are small enough so your hamster can't squeeze thourgh!) and glue it (I used gorilla glue) to the cage. Then fill it with tubes, ramps, a few chew sticks, hiding houses and of course a wheel! but not the ones with bars, they could hurt your ham!

[yodelinghamster]

Oh and do not use pine or cedar bedding!! Do not house 2 syrians together!!! They WILL fight to the death! You can house dwarves together though. I have not had very good experiance with anything but glass tanks and bins!

Why you should not get a cittertrail:
1. hard and anoyying to clean
2. break easily
3. water bottles are always at they top, so if you have a ham that does like to climb... well you know!
4. They only go up, not very much space if you think about
5. wheels are very loud!! Or at least once they have been used for a while!
6. They cost BIG $$$ To buy and to add things to them

I love bins and so do my hammies! I suggest you get one of those. I'm sure you will be happier!

[Hamster207]

OK. Im not very happy with this idea because I want a fancy looking one like habitrial and also where do buy bars? I think Im just going to buy a habitrail because I like it or a S.A.M. Thanks!

[Leahv1]

Those are to small for the bigger hamsters. Like the teady bear,. black bears, etc. Which are all syrian hamsters. Those cages would maybe work for a drawf hamster. But they are small and hard to clean.
Leah

[PetLuver21257]

I would reccomend a glass aquarium. they are about $7 and if you add a lot of cool stuff in it, it will look very pretty. You can't put any connecting tubes in it though. I personally think that simple (No connecting tubes, just a plain cage) is better than complicated (Connecting tubes everywhere!). With tubes, you have to clean them out constantly and the hamsters sometimes clog it. It is a hassle!

Here's what I mean:

http://kathyskritters.com/tales/hadventure/images/cage.jpg

Hope that helped! :)

[PetLuver21257]

Also, this makes me nauseated! :tongue:

http://www.maisel.de/~eva/sandra.jpg

Lol these ppl must really enjoy their hamsters! :p

[Michele4Mouse]

OMG!!! :eek: That hamster maze would take me all day to take apart and clean. A bin cage is so much easier to clean and most of all, they are most escape proof. Hamsters are very smart critters, those ports in the SAM & critter trail cages are too easy for the hamster to get in & out of. I've had my hammie get out of those cages. Skittles was able to push the water bottle out & pull himself out of the cage. Luckily I was nearby and was able to catch him fast. I was very surprised at how strong he is to do that. I now have my Skittles in a bin cage, he is so much happier. And so I am, I can relax and know that he can't get out. :)

[Hamster207]

So what your saying to me is to just get a big transparent rubbermaid box with toys, a food dish, a water bottle, and all that and just leave it like that? That doesnt seem too much fun for the hamster.

[Leahv1]

It will if you get creative, add levels to the bin, etc. Get creative, you could also add on to the bins, like add on those sam cages, but the sam or what ever cages by themselfs are just to small fora syrian hamster.
Leah

[Hamster207]

How do you add level to the bins? Im not sure how to cut a rubbermaid tub and add levels to it. Can any show me pics?

[Michele4Mouse]

I don't have any photos of my hammie bin, but I found a web site that shows how to make one, it includes photos too. Here is the link. http://www.bitterepiphany.com/bin_cage.html

[PetLuver21257]

Well, either a bin, or a glass aquarium. I guess you can make it look "pretty/cool" with connecter tubes by cutting out a hole in the screen top and adding the tubes...

But I don't think it is a good idea... :confused:

[HammieLover]

If you get a Syrian you should not get CT because they escape and thats how mine got pregnant, male and female escaped! I do use bins i think they are the best :) They are all connected to give them more space. But it depends :)

[yodelinghamster]

A 90qt is not to small for a syrian. Dwarves are waaaaaaay more active anyway. just because syrians are bigger doesn't mean they need way more space then dwarves. :rolleyes: I think hamsters are just fine with bins! Do you really want to clean those S.A.M things!?!? ug! I wouldn't like it nor even have the time for it! Hamsters don't useally mind one way or another how big their cages is, as long as it is big enough of course! Some hamsters have a VERY strong desire to escape, so sometimes a bigger cage helps, but they may just run up a tube away from you when you try to get it out!

[Hamster207]

Is a 66qt to small for one syrian? The 66qt was the biggest I had so I had to use it. It looks big enough to me but I just want your opinion.

[animalkeeper34]

i think gallon tanks are better. they do sell wheels at walmart. i sure u can buy water bottle at petsmart and a bowl for food.do buy this hamster a toy and chew stuff aslo.let me know what u decide.recall got 8 these little critters.

[yodelinghamster]

glass tanks and bins are pretty much the same in this case. I think a 66qt will be just fine! good luck, and anymore questions?