Ideal bin cage size for Chinese hamster??

Fluffler · 08-30-2018, 04:45 PM

Hi all!

I’m new to this community!

I am looking to get a Chinese hamster pretty soon, I had a lil lady called Smudge growing up and she was the sweetest. I also had a Syrian called Jean Luc about five years ago, so having had experience with both, I would love a Chinesey again!

I don’t have anything left over from before, so I’m looking to make a bin cage, as I know it’s the best way to provide enough room, I know the minimum floor space is 450 square inches but I’m struggling to find a suitable box with enough floor space here in the U.K. for a reasonable price!

I’ve been looking at the 64L Really Useful Box, which is 74cm long x 44cm wide and should provide about 484 sq inches of floor space. Now I know this is a too small for a Syrian, but would it suit a Chinesey? If not do you have any recommendations on where I could get a larger box in the U.K.?? I know Ikea have the Samla but I would like a box that doesn’t slope in as much at the bottom.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Really-Usef...--64L/p/134010

Thanks!!

cypher · 09-01-2018, 01:41 AM

Hi & welcome to HC.

I have a 64L RUB which I have used for out of cage time or putting a ham in while cage cleaning but I personally think it's a bit too small as a cage, the internal dimensions are only 61x37cm I think.
I have one of mine in a bin cage but I used the 145L RUB, expensive but it does make a great cage.
Do you specifically want a bin or would you consider a barred cage? The Hamster Heaven is a reasonable size for a Chinese, the Grosvenor cage would be another option, I have kept Chinese in the Alaska cage too with hammocks though due to the height.

Fluffagrams · 09-01-2018, 02:18 AM

There is actually no minimum enforceable cage size in the UK at the moment and any sizes you see quoted are often the size that the particular organisation recommends.

In my experience of keeping Chinese Hamsters, I have found that many do not do well with a lot of space and out of the 30+ Chinese I have had through my hamstery, I'd say about 5 have preferred larger cages. Hamsters are very individual in what they like though and there's no way of knowing what your hamster is going to like until you get them home.

I have noticed though that more of my females have preferred larger cages than my boys who tend to be rather lazy and I've also found that my pet shop Chinese have often preferred more space than those from showing lines who tend to have a more laid back approach to life.

Personally I feel that the 64L RUB is a good 'in the middle' option between larger and smaller cages. It's a good sturdy bin and I use RUBs for all of my cages.

mangoandmimi · 09-01-2018, 04:01 AM

I don’t think the 64L RUB is big enough to be honest. It’s also quite low compared to the samla, which you’d be able to fill with lots of bedding to lessen the loss of floorspace effect of the samla (even though the samla already has a larger internal area). I think it’s important to have lots of bedding anyway so something taller would be better. There’s also a big bin at Asda which looks good.

Fluffler · 09-01-2018, 06:54 AM

Thanks all for your responses!

Ideally I would like to make a bin cage for the time being because it’s more cost effective and I love a DIY project, I’d also like to get to know the little one’s personality and preferences before I make an investment so I can get it right!

I appreciate all your suggestions, and I’m now rethinking as I’d rather take the risk of going too large and then having to downsize if necessary than going too small. Do you think too large of a space could stress the lil Chinesey out as much/more than a too small space?

Crystal 133L Box and Lid - Clear https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0157BJW..._7wPIBbGV0MV57

I found this box on Amazon and the dimensions seem pretty perfect for where I would like to put it, and also had the most floor space out of the other two (606 sq inches) but again I don’t want to stress the lil fluffer out with too much space, although I’m leaning more towards a female. In terms of the burrowing space, I can add more bedding and make it a little bit deeper on one side.

Mangoandmimi - do you have a link for that Asda bin? Or even just the dimensions because that would be a great help!!

Again thank you guys for your advice!!

mangoandmimi · 09-01-2018, 07:26 AM

No I don’t think that bin is at all too big. Remember the internal size of a bin is much less than what’s written. It’s also quite narrow so it won’t feel that big, and is easy to fill up with toys. If you crowd the cage a bit they feel much more secure instead of having more open space.
Just checked the Asda bin - it’s the 150L clear box on wheels one but it’s out of stock atm! And I’ve never seen it in stores either sadly.
Honestly it’s always a bit of a gamble with whatever size cage you get - better to start with a good size cage in my opinion because a lot of the time setting it up correctly for them solves large cage nervousness.

cypher · 09-01-2018, 07:29 AM

I don't think that bin is too big either, it is fairly narrow so it won't be that big a space really.
I find it's how you set up the cage as much as the amount of space so as long as you have plenty of substrate, as deep as you can, to dig & burrow in which they love & little places to hideout & or climb on as well as a good sized house, sand bath & wheel you won't have much open space which is what they don't like.
My boy who's in a bin cage actually settled much better when I upgraded him but it does depend on the individual to some extent.

Fluffagrams · 09-01-2018, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluffler

I appreciate all your suggestions, and I’m now rethinking as I’d rather take the risk of going too large and then having to downsize if necessary than going too small. Do you think too large of a space could stress the lil Chinesey out as much/more than a too small space?

Having seen examples of both a hamster that is distressed by being kept in a small cage and one that is unsettled in a larger one I would say that the effects of a too small cage have been more drastic and immediately obvious, whereas the effects of a hamster that is upset by being in a cage that is too large are more subtle and easy to miss, particularly in a new hamster where you don't know their normal temperament.

One of my lads had to be downgraded a few weeks ago because of a cage that was too large for his needs (and I had tried many different ways of setting it up to try to help him). He had become incredibly skittish and was reluctant to leave his nest at all. He lost weight because he wasn't eating as well as he would have done. I bred this boy and I own both of his parents so I know what his natural temperament is like and the way he was behaving was unusual. Having witnessed similar in his father a couple of years ago, I knew that his cage was likely to be an issue so I tried him in a smaller cage and sure enough he settled down quickly and was once again the hamster I knew that he was.

Whether you choose to start big and downgrade if necessary or would prefer to start smaller and then upgrade is up to you but I felt that it was important to let you know that there may be occasions where bigger cages don't always equal the happiness that you'd expect.

Fluffler · 09-07-2018, 09:06 AM

Thanks all! Sorry I’ve been a bit busy the last couple of days!

I ran the bin cage idea past my mum (I don’t live with her) and she’s worried a dwarf could chew through a bin cage, and also that the plastic wouldn’t be hygienic. I’m now thinking about the Alaska cage, after measuring it and what not, however the gaps between the bars are 9mm and the recommended maximum is 8mm, for a Chinesey, would this be a risky move? If so are there any recommendations for a similar size and price cage more suitable?

Thank you guys so much for your help!

mangoandmimi · 09-07-2018, 09:20 AM

Honestly you’re much more likely to get a Syrian chewing through a bin than any dwarf! I really don’t think chewing would be an issue. Not sure quite what you mean about the plastic being unhygienic but again, doesn’t sound like an issue because bins are perfectly fine to use. This is my personal opinion but since chinese like to burrow a lot (more than other dwarves I find) I do think a bin where you can add more bedding than a barred cage would be the better option. Then add lots of items to climb on in there.

Some people have kept (adult) chinese in Alaskas and it’s been fine. I don’t think it would be a problem. The Alaska is pretty much the cheapest you can get, the Barney however has smaller bar spacing (~7mm) but is bigger and a bit more expensive.
Both the cages are pretty tall and although Chinese can climb well you’d need some shelves and items to break any falls so the cage setup could cost more.