How big is too big?

Drago · 03-08-2017, 07:55 PM

Within the past few months I have been considering what size cages to upgrade my little chance and Duncan up to and have finally decided that I will work them up to a square metre cage (if they seem to respond well). However, I was thinking about all the bathtubs (typical strange me) and showers that could possibly be turned into a hamster home! I'm not in a permanent housing situation currently so turning a spare tub/walk in shower into a hamster area wouldn't be practical, but a few years down the road I plan to find what will hopefully be my forever place

that got me to thinking about walk in showers. Perhaps I'm literally insane, but after ham-proofing them completely, I think they could make an excellent place as they're super roomy and secure! However, I also began to think, would it be too big? Which of course made me think, how big exactly is too big? I know it would certainly depend upon the species and the individual's confidence level, but do any of you feel there's a maximum in which the space is just too overwhelming? Anyway, that's all for my crazy rambling (as you can see I'm probably crazy for even considering this lol) but do any of you have an opinion?

JLPrairie · 03-08-2017, 08:05 PM

I had a dream about bathtub hamster cages!
No, seriously.
I don't think there's such a thing as too big, hamsters in the wild cover miles in night foraging for food. There was a German study (obsessed with German hamster forums, lol) that said something to the effect of that hamsters aren't actually practical pets, since no one can provide a properly large space for them.

cypher · 03-08-2017, 10:39 PM

I think it depends just as much on how you set up the space as how big it is, if you can give your ham a really interesting environment with loads to do, lots of substrate to dig in & a wide variety of different areas to explore & enjoy then the space isn't so intimidating, it depends on what you want from a ham too given a really large naturalistic set up you might have a very happy ham that you rarely saw!

Pebbles82 · 03-09-2017, 02:36 AM

I also think you can't go too big as long as it's not just open space and has lots of substrate, tunnels and hidey places. The main thing is that they have a good big house to retreat to in a large space I think.

I think as long as they felt secure in a big place, with lots of things in, you would see them enjoying it - especially if you put the wheel at the opposite end to the house lol.

I think a metre square sounds good. I'm not sure about an enclosed shower tray - it would need to be opened sometimes, and even if set up with a lot of things might feel a bit open above. Similar with a bathtub. Although if you give them a roof they want to get out of it usually

I used to imagine a whole room set up as a natural terrain lol

cypher · 03-09-2017, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I used to imagine a whole room set up as a natural terrain lol

I still do

Not sure about a shower for a cage either but I did see quite a nice playpen set up in a shower!

BorisPasha · 03-09-2017, 08:45 AM

oh lol, that looks to be a lovely playpen in the shower but maybe a bit of a nuisance when you actually want a shower :P

Drago · 03-10-2017, 05:18 PM

You do bring up a good point on the whole sufficient cover point and such! of course a whole room dedicated to a hamster would be hard to pull off, but I bet someone out there has done it! Cypher, that's an absolutely beautiful playpen

chesca_27 · 03-11-2017, 06:50 AM

As long as there is sufficient cover and enough things to fill the space and the hamster is comfortable then you can't go too big. I think a lot of hamsters have got used to the current cage recommendations and may struggle in a larger space though.

I think a square meter would be amazing for a hamster but you might never see it. I had this with Jasper when he first went into his big cage, he was very nervous with all the space and we never saw him. I made some adjustments (deep bedding in a small area of the cage and the rest shallow) and now he's a lot more comfortable and confident.

With Oreo and Pemba, they are both a bit skittish in their square meter cage (106.5cm by 106.5cm) and there are plenty of people who have far bigger guinea pig cages than me. It just depends on the animal and how comfortable they feel having that space.

JLPrairie · 03-17-2017, 06:19 PM

I just bumped into this video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmhgTEf2INg
Obviously, it's a bunny cage, but...

Pebbles82 · 03-18-2017, 02:51 AM

That's a nice shower cublcle! I guess they have two bathrooms lol. I was imagining shower trays being those curved plastic things, not very big. But I guess some are square and solid like the one in that video. I still think it would need a roof.