Bin or aquarium with topper

[nblackwell33]

So I am going to get a hamster, but first I need to prepare its habitat. I found a great, great deal on a used 20-gallon long aquarium with a Jotco tank topper. If you had to choose between that and making a bin cage with a 110-quart bin, which would you choose and why?

Has anyone ever had a Syrian chew through a bin cage? Are toppers safe for a hamster's feet - 1/2 by 1 inch galvanized metal on topper.

Thanks to anyone who has time to share your thoughts with a newbie.

[Biscotti]

I would suggest you go with the 110-quart bin cage as you will have a more width 16-17"ish instead of 12" to work with when you place your hamster's toys. 4" might not seem like much, but it makes a big difference as syrians require larger furnitures than dwarf hams. As long as the bin you choose do not have weird edges that the ham can latch onto, chewing will not be a big problem (although some hams are "talented" :\). Bins are highly customizable with a little time, and you can stack them if you ever want to expand.

I'm honestly not a big fan of that tank topper, and I'm not sure if 1/2" x 1" openings are small enough to prevent escape. It probably won't be an issue for a grown syrian, but perhaps a concern for when it is still young? If you do decide to go with the 20g-long with topper, I'd definitely cover the topper floor with wood shelves as it will hurt their feet.

[TwistedAngel]

Tank toppers are a messy nightmare. The shelves need to be covered and either way, urine and feces get all over the surface the cage is on.

[Kiki_3173]

Having just gone through this experience with my syrian hamster, I would echo Biscotti's sentiments exactly! I loved the 20 gallon long, but it was heavy (a pain to clean) and didn't have as much room as I thought it would even with the shelf. With advice from many members on this forum and a DIY instructions from strawberrysmom (DIY Hamster Cage (Bin Cage) | Hammy Happenings) I went with a 110 quart bin (from Big Lots) that has very smooth edges inside, so Darwin couldn't really get a hold of anything if he tried to chew. I'm so glad I made this decision and I haven't seen my hammy happier! I can fill the substrate pretty full in the back of the bin & Darwin burrows like crazy and the bin is much more portable & easier to clean than the 20 gallon tank Good luck with your hammy!

[nblackwell33]

Thank you all so much! You've confirmed my gut feeling. I'm glad to know that the Big Lots bin will work. We've got a Big Lots nearby. I can't wait to get started!