One of the first things you need to decide is what type of house you will provide for your hamster. You have several choices to choose from. Each type of housing will have its pros and its cons:

Wire cages

These will work just fine for your pet hamster. Just bear in mind that the wire bars will allow bits of bedding, food, and dropping to make a mess around the cage. Apart from the obvious mess that this can create, you should also know that your hamster will likely gnaw on the metal bars of her cage. It is quite an unpleasant sound to say the least. Syrian hamsters are active during the nighttime, which means that they are nocturnal – meaning they are active at night. Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, are usually active in the early morning and early in the evening. They are usually considered crepuscular.

Glass aquariums

Although glass aquariums are harder to clean than wire cages, you might want to go that way if you are concerned about mess and noise. You need to make sure that the glass aquarium is always clean. This type of house is prone to a build up of ammonia gas. Hamster are pretty clever and have been know to find a way to climb out and escape. Because of this, you need to make sure that the top of the aquarium is covered at all times. Pet shops carry special covers to place on top of the aquarium. Be sure to buy one that has clips. As I said, hamsters can be pretty resourceful. Some have even figured out that you can push the cover off and then get out!

Combination of wire and plastic

This combination is certainly acceptable for your pet hamster. You just need to know that not cleaning the plastic often enough will cause it to become discolored.

Whichever housing you decide on, keep these things in mind:

1. The cage should be at least 24 inches by 12 inches. Also make sure that it is at least 10 inches tall. It should have enough space to allow your hamster to have an area to sleep, an area to eat, and an area to potty. Some hamsters tend to hide food in their sleeping area.

2. Keep in mind that hamsters are not good climbers. Stay away from multi-level homes as your hamster could fall and be seriously injured. Your hamster will be better in a cage that has a larger floor area than in a cage that is narrow but tall.

3. The cage should always be kept clean. Hamsters are more likely to become sick if they are living in a dirty home.

4. The cage should be kept dry. Always check to see if the water bottle has a leak. You do not want it leaking into the bedding material. One cause of a leaky water bottle is if the bedding is allowed to pile up just underneath the bottle. It touches the bottom of the water bottle and allows the water to flow out.

5. Stay away from wooden cages, unless you want your hamster to chew its way to freedom. I recommend you stay away from cages with any wooden parts. Your hamster is pretty clever at finding the weak spots.

6. Buy a cage made especially for hamsters. Cages that were made for other types of rodents may have spaces between the bars that are large enough for your hamster to escape.

7. Keep the cage away from drafts.

8. Keep the cage away from direct sunlight.

Once you have decided on the type of cage you want, its time to select the other supplies you will need.

Be sure to visit our store for your supplies for a hamster, dwarf hamster cage, and habitat of hamster.