Minimum hamster cage size

Hamsters and other small rodents need plenty of space to move about as they are highly active at night. Unfortunately, they no longer advocate a minimum cage size, but they do state any pet should be able to minimum hamster cage size all normal behaviours, which for hamsters includes running, exploring, climbing, and burrowing. We make 4 standard sizes of Pet Home for small pets — all of which will be suitable for your hamster, mice or gerbils depending on how much space you want to provide, minimum hamster cage size. Our smallest size is 90 x 60cm see first pic above.

Even though hamsters are very small they actually require a lot of space, it is not uncommon for hamsters in the wild to run 9km in one night. It is the minimum cage size for ALL species of hamsters including Dwarf. Please note this is a minimum of unbroken floor space not levels , the more space the better. Pet shops usually always sell cages which are far too small, this is because they are often cheaper for customers to buy and they save on shop floor space. If you buy a cage which is too small, your hamster will sadly live a miserable life.

Minimum hamster cage size

A hamster cage is an enclosure designed to house one hamster. It is recommended that hamster cages contain at least x 50 cm in of floor space , although there is evidence that hamsters experience less stress if housed in larger cages. The recommended cage size for a hamster is a minimum of 50 centimeters by centimeters, and at least 18 inches tall. The ideal floor for a hamster is solid and covered with bedding. A wire-top cage is a plastic base with an overarching wire structure. A wire cage with wired stairs may cause bumblefoot. Wire-top cages for hamsters are often marketed in two varieties; [10] one version for larger Syrian hamsters, with approximately 12 mm 0. It is recommended to choose a wire-top cage that has at least square inches 5, square centimeters of unbroken floor space and a plastic base with a height of at least 8 inches 20 centimeters. Well designed wire-top cages have doors that are specifically placed to allow humans to open them as needed, accessing any part of the pen. The wobbling may upset hamsters, who prefer stable ground. Plastic tank cages range from simple boxes to elaborately designed structures with tubes, tunnels, and separate rooms to encourage exploration. These modules are generally sold separately. Due to the design of plastic cages, hamsters may be able to gnaw on parts of the interior.

Should I keep more than one Syrian hamster? Remove the excess tie by cutting the tabs short. Make the enclosure big enough to dig and roll in such as a glass baking dish.

Although hamsters are an inexpensive pet to buy, the cost of suitable housing should not be overlooked. How much space do hamsters actually need though? Hamster cages available in pet shops vary hugely in size, and design; so what should you be looking at when considering cage size and type? Winter white, Roborovski, Campbell or Chinese dwarf, these species vary in size but are all smaller than the Syrian hamster. The dwarf species can sometimes live in pairs or small groups if care is taken to provide enough space and resources. For some time, there has been a commonly quoted size of 80cm x 50cm minimum cage dimension length and width for a Syrian hamster and 70cm x 40cm for a dwarf hamster. However, while the the RSPCA have moved away from an official size recommendation due to lack of evidence, stating only the cage should be as large as possible, while the PDSA and Blue Cross have adopted the newer Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare guidelines of x 50cm, and 50cm high to allow for lots of digging space — ideally 25cm or more of substrate!

Even though hamsters are very small they actually require a lot of space, it is not uncommon for hamsters in the wild to run 9km in one night. It is the minimum cage size for ALL species of hamsters including Dwarf. Please note this is a minimum of unbroken floor space not levels , the more space the better. Pet shops usually always sell cages which are far too small, this is because they are often cheaper for customers to buy and they save on shop floor space. If you buy a cage which is too small, your hamster will sadly live a miserable life. Blue Cross say a cage should be no smaller than cm x 50cm x 50cm for ALL species of hamsters. Woodgreen recommend a minimum cage size of cm x 50cm x 50cm for ALL species of hamsters. Switzerland legal minimum is cm 2 they advise the cage length should be cm — cm.

Minimum hamster cage size

Your hamster may be tiny, but in the wild, it can easily cross over five miles in a night. How does that translate into cage size? The majority of hamster cages are too small for hamsters. When hamsters are confined to small spaces, they exhibit more stress-related behaviors. These behaviors are a cry for help from the hamster. These include monkey barring or climbing up the walls of the cage.

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Adding soft hay layers in between bedding layers may help the tunnel stability. Thank you for your help. Plus, wood chips can be dustier, which is potentially an irritant to your hamster's lungs. The drive and ability of hamsters to chew can affect the type of cage that suits them. Certain bedding materials such as aspen flakes, hemp shavings, and Care Fresh may not allow proper tunnels to hold up. They also lack adequate floor space for running around, and the running wheel is too small for bigger hamster species such as the Syrian hamster, which could contribute to back injuries. Sadly though, there are many other cages available similar to these and many hamsters across the world that have to live in them:. Cedar and pine wood contains harmful oils that have been known to cause respiratory infections in small animals. Measure content performance. Your hamster can then be placed in the enclosure and the lid secured to complete your DIY hamster cage. Most commonly, they escape when a cage door has not been closed properly. There is a good argument that Hamster cages which are too small to fit an adequate size wheel should be banned. Laola Nagarium x 50cm cm2. Small pet. Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care.

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Many cages readily available in pet shops and online are significantly smaller than x 50cm, though it is now increasingly possible to get larger enclosures. Retrieved 30 November As a general rule, wire cages are easy to clean, but if the bars aren't spaced closely enough, make it easy for your pet to escape. Don't handle it too much at first, allowing it to settle into its new home. A hamster cage is an enclosure designed to house one hamster. For some time, there has been a commonly quoted size of 80cm x 50cm minimum cage dimension length and width for a Syrian hamster and 70cm x 40cm for a dwarf hamster. The recommended cage size for a hamster is a minimum of 50 centimeters by centimeters, and at least 18 inches tall. Develop and improve services. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals 8th ed. Remember me.