Hamster cage size

[NodrogJRB]

Hi there,
Me and my girlfriend have just purchased a hamster ("Jerry") and we purchased this cage from willow that says its okay for Syrian hamsters, however looking online recommended sizes for cages seem to be bigger.

The cage is a Pico XL cage, it's 47cm high, 50cm wide and 36cm tall. It has the floor, 4 levels, and a top bed area.

We picked this cage as it had a large height with multiple floors. We do however plan to let it out in the ball everyday to run around too.

Another point is that the wheel may be too small, so I'm unsure what size to get, and whether it'd fit.

[BorisPasha]

Hello and congrats on Jerry

If Jerry is still young he might be ok in the cage you have for a little while but it is likely he will need something bigger. There are no minimum guidelines here in the UK (anymore) on cage sizes as one size doesn't fit all but usually people would suggest at least 80cm in length for a Syrian and without the multiple floor levels.

I don't know where you are based but zooplus do have a good selection of cages at reasonable prices.

For a wheel a 12 inch would be ideal.

[BuddyBW]

Hi there, congratulations! I have a savic hamster heaven for my Syrian and wish I'd gone bigger even, savic Plaza would be good but it's expensive! I'd recommend less platforms as they're fall risks. Wheel wise, a 28cm/12inch is an ideal size for a Syrian. If you decide to get a larger cage then make sure it's big enough for either of those. The two popular cages on here seem to be the Alexander and Barney cages which can be found on Zooplus. But I think the Savic range have a front door design which makes taming and handling easier. Good luck with your new little man!

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi and welcome to HC and congratulations on Jerry.
The cage will be ok for now but as he grows he will need something more suitable and bigger.
Syrians do need a bigger house and preferably on the bottom of the cage. Like the others have mentioned a large wheel to prevent their backs from arching.
On this forum we don't judge but offer advice and alternatives.

[Pebbles82]

Hello there! Unfortunately that is not a good cage for a Syrian. It is tall and has fall risks and the house is right at the top and enclosed, so doesn't allow for normal behaviours. They aren't cheap either and you can get a much more suitable cage for about the same or less money. I would really try and get a refund and get them to take it back. It also has a very small floor area (50cm x 36cm). You can tell them that the Wood Green animal charity recommend a minimum floor area of 80cm by 50cm for a Syrian and that the cage also doesn't meet the RSPCA welfare requirements for enough floorspace to have normal behaviours.

Hamsters do much better with more floor area and less height. Ideally a house would be open underneath and on top of substrate at floor level, so they can burrow down and bury hoards under the nest. And also so their nest doesn't get soiled by being in an enclosed plastic house where it gets condensation. The nest ends having to be removed a lot and cleaned out then which causes stress to hammies.

They are quite clean little creatures and will use a litter tray, which also helps on reducing the amount of clean-outs needed, but if the house is at the top they are unlikely to go all the way down to the base to do their toiletting.

Zooplus sell good cages suitable for Syrians and they're not too expensive either. The Alaska, Barney and Alexander are all good and popular. (Link below).

Some people have been successful in taking a cage back for a refund and saying it isn't suitable, even after it's been used. I am not sure whether the place you bought it from would accept this, but it's worth a try, or if they stock the Hamster Heaven or Savic Ruffy (both suitable) they might exchange it.

Most cages need some adapting, but a cage like the Barney is good value as it comes with everything needed included and you only need to add a few toys. It has a good sized house for a Syrian, a good shelf and a basic 8" wheel (which would do to start with).

Yes unfortunately most cages are sold with only 5" or 6" wheels which are only suitable for the smallest of dwarf hamsters. An 11" Trixie wheel is not too expensive and is a popular choice.

A good basic starter set up for a syrian that doesn't cost too much is the Alaska cage and 28cm (11") trixie wheel

Alaska Hamster Cage | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

Trixie Small Pet Exercise Wheel | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

Although the Barney cage costs about £15 more I think it is better value, if you have the space, because it comes with a house (the one in the Alaska is not suitable for a Syrian but might do as a toy), a better shelf and a basic starter wheel. So adding the cost of those things to an Alaska might end up making it cost more in the end. The other advantage to the Barney is you are unlikely to ever need to upgrade to a bigger size cage. Speaking as someone who had to upgrade twice! Our first cage was too small and unsuitable (a Rotostak thing) and our Syrian grew very large and got stuck in the tubes). So I upgraded to an 80cm by 50cm cage but it still felt a bit cramped when set up (even though it seemed huge at first) and eventually upgraded to the 100cm Barney - which is great. An 80cm by 50cm cage like the Hamster Heaven (or the Alaska - similar size) is absolutely fine though - we just happened to have a particularly large Syrian and I like big houses and toys as well so there is more space for them in the Barney.

Barney Pet Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

The Hamster Heaven is a great cage, but most of the colourful plastic contents are pretty useless and end up being removed, as do the external tubes and penthouse (which hammies block up and are an escape route). The cage itself, starting from empty, is good though.

Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

The Alexander cage costs a bit more but I have never heard of a Syrian who wasn't happy in an Alexander cage (I am sure there are some rare cases of a hamster who needed something bigger!). It comes with three houses, including a good long built in one, and three platforms like a kind of racetrack so lots of space and things to do.

Alexander Small Pet Cage | Available at zooplus!

I have the Barney cage for our Syrian and it currently looks like this

Attachment 42899

It is a total pain when a shop sells you a cage that isn't really suitable for a hamster. They just sell cages and don't know much about hamsters.

If you can't get a refund, you could adapt it a bit so there aren't any fall risks, a house is at substrate level and replace the wheel but I think you'd want to upgrade fairly soon anyway. I would say it's not suitable for your hamster and ask if you can bring it back for a refund, or at least a partial refund, as soon as a replacement cage arrives.

[CMB]

Congratulation on getting a hamster. Hopefully he will settle in well and you can have lots of happy times together.

[Pebbles82]

I forgot to say that Congratulations on your new hammy Jerry. I lost my previous post and missed some out when I retyped. It was in no way intended to sound critical of you and didn't intend to suggest that everyone does the same as I did. More criticial of pet shops! I am on my third cage. The first one wasn't suitable - our hamster grew large and got stuck in some tubes. I upgraded to an 80 x 50 one which seemed huge but didn't quite fit all the big things our Syrian needed and wasn't quite tall enough, so now have the 100cm Barney cage and wish I had got it in the first place! It would have saved a lot of money.

[NodrogJRB]

Thank you all for your welcomes and congratulations!! Thanks for all your advice and we have opted for a bigger cage for Jerry, which is one you suggested Serendipity7000, the Alaska Hamster Cage in fact I'm currently at home waiting for it's arrival!!
We would have liked to get a larger cage too but as we're only in a small rented flat (I'm a student) we're limited on places to put him, however the cupboard he's on now will still support his new home.
I do agree with the falling hazards as he has fallen a few times, however this is more as he likes to climb the cage!
We began to notice as well that not many things cut be put in there due to the small size, and as such he seems to get very bored.
We do plan to clean up his current cage and return it as ive seen that other people have from the same place I got mine, so hopefully should be no issues!!

Thanks again for all your help

[NodrogJRB]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hello there! Unfortunately that is not a good cage for a Syrian. It is tall and has fall risks and the house is right at the top and enclosed, so doesn't allow for normal behaviours. They aren't cheap either and you can get a much more suitable cage for about the same or less money. I would really try and get a refund and get them to take it back. It also has a very small floor area (50cm x 36cm). You can tell them that the Wood Green animal charity recommend a minimum floor area of 80cm by 50cm for a Syrian and that the cage also doesn't meet the RSPCA welfare requirements for enough floorspace to have normal behaviours.

Hamsters do much better with more floor area and less height. Ideally a house would be open underneath and on top of substrate at floor level, so they can burrow down and bury hoards under the nest. And also so their nest doesn't get soiled by being in an enclosed plastic house where it gets condensation. The nest ends having to be removed a lot and cleaned out then which causes stress to hammies.

They are quite clean little creatures and will use a litter tray, which also helps on reducing the amount of clean-outs needed, but if the house is at the top they are unlikely to go all the way down to the base to do their toiletting.

Zooplus sell good cages suitable for Syrians and they're not too expensive either. The Alaska, Barney and Alexander are all good and popular. (Link below).

Some people have been successful in taking a cage back for a refund and saying it isn't suitable, even after it's been used. I am not sure whether the place you bought it from would accept this, but it's worth a try, or if they stock the Hamster Heaven or Savic Ruffy (both suitable) they might exchange it.

Most cages need some adapting, but a cage like the Barney is good value as it comes with everything needed included and you only need to add a few toys. It has a good sized house for a Syrian, a good shelf and a basic 8" wheel (which would do to start with).

Yes unfortunately most cages are sold with only 5" or 6" wheels which are only suitable for the smallest of dwarf hamsters. An 11" Trixie wheel is not too expensive and is a popular choice.

A good basic starter set up for a syrian that doesn't cost too much is the Alaska cage and 28cm (11") trixie wheel

Alaska Hamster Cage | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

Trixie Small Pet Exercise Wheel | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

Although the Barney cage costs about £15 more I think it is better value, if you have the space, because it comes with a house (the one in the Alaska is not suitable for a Syrian but might do as a toy), a better shelf and a basic starter wheel. So adding the cost of those things to an Alaska might end up making it cost more in the end. The other advantage to the Barney is you are unlikely to ever need to upgrade to a bigger size cage. Speaking as someone who had to upgrade twice! Our first cage was too small and unsuitable (a Rotostak thing) and our Syrian grew very large and got stuck in the tubes). So I upgraded to an 80cm by 50cm cage but it still felt a bit cramped when set up (even though it seemed huge at first) and eventually upgraded to the 100cm Barney - which is great. An 80cm by 50cm cage like the Hamster Heaven (or the Alaska - similar size) is absolutely fine though - we just happened to have a particularly large Syrian and I like big houses and toys as well so there is more space for them in the Barney.

Barney Pet Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

The Hamster Heaven is a great cage, but most of the colourful plastic contents are pretty useless and end up being removed, as do the external tubes and penthouse (which hammies block up and are an escape route). The cage itself, starting from empty, is good though.

Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

The Alexander cage costs a bit more but I have never heard of a Syrian who wasn't happy in an Alexander cage (I am sure there are some rare cases of a hamster who needed something bigger!). It comes with three houses, including a good long built in one, and three platforms like a kind of racetrack so lots of space and things to do.

Alexander Small Pet Cage | Available at zooplus!

I have the Barney cage for our Syrian and it currently looks like this

Attachment 42899

It is a total pain when a shop sells you a cage that isn't really suitable for a hamster. They just sell cages and don't know much about hamsters.

If you can't get a refund, you could adapt it a bit so there aren't any fall risks, a house is at substrate level and replace the wheel but I think you'd want to upgrade fairly soon anyway. I would say it's not suitable for your hamster and ask if you can bring it back for a refund, or at least a partial refund, as soon as a replacement cage arrives.

We've also gotten the trixie wheel which I'm hoping he'll be more inclined to use

Could you recommend any good toys and such to use in the cage as I'm finding it difficult in pet shops as they all seem to be very small, and it's difficult to tell proportions online

[Pebbles82]

Jerry will love the Alaska cage and trixie wheel One of the best things you can give them is lots of substrate to dig in and shift around - it also helps reduce the amount of cage cleaning. It uses up quite a bit of substrate at first but doesn't work out more expensive because you just need to spot clean mostly and could easily go 6 to 8 weeks before needing to change the substrate. Even then I only change half of it - the bottom half is usually clean and it helps keep the cage smelling familiar for them, mixing the old in with the new. The other good thing to have is a hamster litter tray - they tend to use them if you put it in the right place. They choose a place as a toilet - often a corner of the cage, so you put it there, with Chinchilla bathing sand in it and you can put a tiny bit of smelly substrate on top at first so they know it's still their toilet corner.

Apart from that, a good sized house to build a nest in and some floor toys like cardboard tubes are good. Rat sized toys work better for Syrians.

You don't need to spend a lot. A shoebox makes a good house if you cut the bottom out and a hole in for a door and keep the lid as a lift-off roof - that way you can check on them without taking the house out and the nest collapsing.

Some people use old pringles tubes as floor tunnels - you just need to check they're well cleaned out and no sharp bits on the edges.

You can also tie cardboard or plastic tubes to the bars as a route from a shelf to a house roof for example. Sisal string is good for tying things to the bars as it's safe to chew, but toys with chains are best avoided - otherwise you can end up with a hamster hanging by a broken leg - they can get their feet caught in chains.

The basics are enough substrate (you can fill it to within a cm of the top of the cage base), a good house and wheel and something to run through. They also like hidey places to sit in and a shelf to sit under. The Alaska already comes with a shelf. The white cat house is easily removed (the holes are a bit small for a Syrian - it might be ok at first but they can grow quite big quite quickly) - personally I'd remove that.

Hidey places could be household items like a ceramic mug on its side, or a tissue box. Some people make things out of lolly sticks and elmer's school glue.

Also a big pile of paper nesting material (plain white toilet paper torn into strips) - if you've been sold any fluffy bedding then don't use it, as it's dangerous.

Bendy stick bridges are one of the most popular toys.

So you don't need to buy many toys but if you get the urge, these are some of my favourites

For tying to the bars or in a playpen area (I didn't use the chains)

Savic Play Tunnel Giant Tube | Great deals on small pet accessories at zooplus!

Sputnik - for hanging from the roof next to a shelf with some bedding in - you can get them in different colours from rat rations.

Tunnels & Dens: Sputnik Hanging Den | Small pet accessories at zooplus

Cork tunnel - these are big so make a good floor cover toy and an interesting texture to climb over and run through. It's best to put them in the freezer for a week before use just in case there are any microscopic bugs living in them! They sometimes need a wipe out inside as well. Anything stuck to the outside is fine though.

Tunnels & Dens: bargain prices at zooplus: Trixie Cork Tunnel

You can get all of the above on Amazon as well

If you only get one tunnel, this is my favourite. Both our Syrians loved these - they're soft and can be chewed and have holes in the side they can weave in and out of.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...h+tunnel+small

I also like these. They often don't do much with them but you can stick treats into them like pumpkin seeds and it gets them all excited getting the treats out. Again I like the hyacinth one best - the sisal one is ok too but I pulled mine to bits to use as string to tie the tubes on The wicker one had sharp bits on mine so watch out for that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...h+tunnel+small

This potty litter tray is a good size and fits in a corner - both our syrians seem to like the corner shape and pee in the very back corner - very clean and tidy, but you can use anything as a litter tray really - an old casserole dish or pyrex oval dish or something.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamster-cor...=Hamster+potty

This is the Chinchilla Bathing sand a lot of people use in litter trays. I get those from viovet 2 at a time to save on postage. One tends to last a few months.

And a chew stick to keep their teeth trim.

The main thing really is to try and have the cage set up before he moves in so you don't have to change anything for the first couple of weeks. It's best to not do any cleaning or change things while they settle in for a couple of weeks (other than empty a potty eg). After that they don't usually mind the odd new thing being added but a change of layout can stress them out.

If he's climbing to the top and falling in his current cage he could injure himself to it could be an idea to try and reduce the fall risk for now. Piling the substrate up in the middle would cushion a fall a bit but they can still bounce off platforms on the way down. You could maybe rearrange the platforms so they make one sort of full level or put a bit of wood or cardboard across the gap with a hole in for a ladder so he doesn't have so far to fall to the first "level".

Not sure what substrate you're using but Fitch is popular - you buy it in bulk so it works out much cheaper than something like Carefresh. It's paper bedding and doesn't have any dust, plus hammies seem to like it. It could be difficult storing a bag though if you're short on space. I get the 10kg bag which is about the size of a child's beanbag chair. It comes in an oversized plastic bag though so you can squish it into different shapes - long and thin or short and fat Ours is in the corner of a room with a throw over it so it looks like a beanbag chair.

https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...-delivery.html

One of those lasts me about 6 months. Good luck with getting the refund!