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Old 05-05-2019, 06:37 AM   #1
lucyhope
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Join Date: May 2019
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Question Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Hello, I'm looking to get a dwarf hamster sometime between June and September and I am trying to do the research.
The largest possible cage I can accommodate is 80x50. This is because my bedroom is about 190x210 cm in diameter so any larger and I wouldn't be able to have a wardrobe or a desk which I need for my work. The cage will have to sit between the bed and the wardrobe on a dresser 80cmx40cm. It's okay to have some overhang to the front but overhang to the side will mean that the cage won't fit in the gap it needs to go in.
80x40 is above the commonly quoted minimum and the RSPCA has switched its focus to enrichment rather than just a big empty space so I do intend to keep a hamster in this space. There are also many hamsters who do manage to live happily in this amount of room. I have already made the decision to get a dwarf because the space is definitely too small for a Syrian. I'd love to go larger but absolutely cannot.
I'm not looking for criticism of the space I have available, I'm looking for some advice on ways to manage keeping a hamster in a smaller than ideal environment. Is having levels beneficial? How often should I be rotating toys and hideys? I want to get a good balance between not stressing the hamster out and keeping them entertained. Would having both a wheel and a running disk be beneficial? What about scatter feeding?
I'm also wondering about cage recommendations. The 80 width limit is pretty fixed but I might be able to manage 85ish if I removed the skirting boards and switched my bed around so that the slight overhang wouldn't interfere with my pillows. I like the Savic Ruffy link and I like the look of the multi Maxy Duna but unfortunately this is too big for the space available.

Thank you for reading all that information and for any advice you're able to give

TLDR : How can I keep a hamster happy/busy in a small (but still above minimum cage?
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Old 05-05-2019, 10:30 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

I think dwarfs can be happy in cages 80x50cm (do try and get 50cm deep instead of 40 if you can as it makes a big difference) so I wouldn’t worry too much about that.
The ruffy is nice, might sound silly but some 80x50cm sized cages seem larger than others with what you can fit in there so my personal favourite would be the ferplast Mary which has top and front opening and did feel larger. The base doesn’t slope so much as the ruffy and hamster heaven for example so I found I could get more in there. If you can fit the Alaska in that would work but it’s a bit taller so would need careful setting up with levels and things like that.

I wouldn’t rotate toys often, that’s more likely to unsettle them more than anything. Some hams might like a new setup now and then but it shouldn’t be too frequent. Scatter feeding is always a good idea. Main thing is plenty of enrichment, so as deep bedding as you can fit and plenty of different textures and types of toys. Cork tunnels, bamboo root, grapevine, different tunnels are all natural with different feels. A natural setup in my experience can and does make a huge difference with how much they enjoy the enclosure. A big sand bath would be good for a dwarf. I personally don’t like flying saucers all that much tbh having used them on and off but most dwarfs are perfectly happy with one large upright wheel (eg silent runner) and that leaves you more space for extra items. For a Russian and chinese there is a good chance they won’t be big enough either. A level or shelf would be good, helps make use of the height and acts as a bit of cover. Have a look at the Rodipet website where they have some very nice houses that double as levels, as those are great.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 05-05-2019 at 10:37 AM.
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Old 05-05-2019, 12:01 PM   #3
Juls
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Personally I would not recommend having a hamster in a cage that size, but you seem like someone who's willing to work to keep your hamster happy, so I it might work.

I've had 4 dwarves, I have 2 now and 2 that have passed, and from experience they all have very individual needs. One of my hams lived in a cage that was 130x50 cm big, and he was NOT happy. He is a very active boy and it became clear very quickly that he needed a bigger space. He now lives in a cage that's 180x80 cm and he's now happy. But I do still need to take him out to play, and he has a lot of toys to keep him busy. I also have to scatter feed and hide treats in his cage.

My two hams who have passed were both happy in the 130x50 cm cage, but one of them was just always very calm, and the other one was already an adult when I got her, and also a bit lazy.
I've just gotten my forth hamster, and so far she seems happy in the cage, but she also has a very calm and gentle personality.

So my tips for you are:

1. If you can, get a hamster from an ethical breeder! That way you can ask about their personality and activity levels, and you can pick the one who seems to be least active. (You're also more likely to get a hamster that's already tamed if you buy from a breeder, and they also might have less health issues). If you buy from a pet shop take some time to look at them and pick the one that seems most calm.

2. Scatter feed and hide treats around the cage to keep him/her busy.

3. After your hamster is tame and settled in, make sure you take him/her out to play, either in a playpen, or in a hamstersafe room. Her you can also hide treats and provide more toys to play with.

4. Make puzzle toys with treats for your hamster. There are lots of videos on youtube on this. You can also make foraging piles that you hide treats in, so your hamster has to smell for it and dig to find it.

Other than that I would just make sure to keep an eye on the hamster and look for signs of stress/boredom. Barchewing is one of the first signs of this, so if you see that you might have to change things up a bit.

Good luck!

Last edited by Juls; 05-05-2019 at 01:22 PM.
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Old 05-05-2019, 12:03 PM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Unlike you, i got a cage and a hamster before doing the research and joining this site. 70cm was the maximum space i had available so got the 70x45 XL P@H cage and the hamster that was first in the queue to get out of the small, shared pet shop tank. He happened to be a Syrian.
Then i joined this site and realized that i had gotten it all wrong. Cage should be bigger for a Syrian etc.
Thing is though, my hamster likes his cage. No bar chewing or sitting by the door asking to get out. He built two nests, sulks when i spot clean his cage and sometimes refuses to leave his cage when i try to get him out for play time.
I moved the furniture around last week so could get a bigger cage now but don't want to upset my hamster by rehousing him. First sign of bar chewing or cage related stress and i will order a bigger cage rightaway.
It's not about my hamster but what i'm saying is that it depends on the hamster what size of cage they're happy in and 80x50 sounds plenty big enough to me, especially for a dwarf.
Congrats on being so sensible and doing the research first. You'll get it right first time, whatever right is for you and your hamster.
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Old 05-05-2019, 12:48 PM   #5
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Lots of cardboard is a great idea. Loo roll inners with food inside. Erins animals on youtube has some great videos on home made hamster toys.

Hiding food around the cage and introducing a new item in the cage from time to time for them to investigate.

My roborovski hamster is in the hamster heaven which is 80 x 50 x 80cm high. It has a lovely big front opening door. It seems plenty big enough for him. He has a sand bath, a wheel, various tunnels and a large wooden house.

Sounds like you are well prepared. Zoollus sell some great cages and cage accessories. Happy shopping!
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Old 05-05-2019, 05:42 PM   #6
lucyhope
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Thank you for your advice. I like the sound of the hamster heaven but am worried about all that height just being a waste of space and hammy falling from badly designed levels. Are there any good tutorials etc. or examples of cages with extra levels in?
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Old 05-06-2019, 02:01 AM   #7
alpacassei
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucyhope View Post
Thank you for your advice. I like the sound of the hamster heaven but am worried about all that height just being a waste of space and hammy falling from badly designed levels. Are there any good tutorials etc. or examples of cages with extra levels in?

You can buy woodens platforms on ebay!

The Criceti 15 and Duna Multy are my favourite cages for a Russian Dwarf, the Criecti comes with a large corner platform. The “Fun” version of the multi comes with two large platforms but it is very expensive for a 70x40cm cage if its not on sale.

I’ve found the minimum size for a Russian to be 70x40cm, between that and 80x50cm is what all 7 of my russians past and present have been kept in and theyre all very happy in a cage that size. There will be exceptions though as every ham is different but generally 80x50cm is more than enough.

Male Russians, like male syrians, are a lot calmer and less active than females so if you’re worried about not being able to upgrade if needed, I’d adopt a male Russian rather than a female.
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Old 05-06-2019, 04:06 AM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Hi there. I think it sounds perfectly fine for a dwarf hamster - and the way you set it up can make the most of the space to provide enrichment.

Our Robo hamster is in an 80 x 50 cage. It is identical to the Hamster Heaven apart from the bar spacing which is narrower, and it doesn't come with all the plastic innards (Savic Mickey 2XL). The Hamster Heaven is much cheaper than the Mickey 2XL though, and the 1cm bar spacing is fine for a dwarf hamsters, so I think it would be the best option for an 80 x 50 cage for a dwarf hamster

The main reason is that it has a really great large front opening door. That is partly why I moved our robo to that style of cage - because the large front door is very good for better interaction and handling, on the hamster's "level".

It is also one of the 80 x 50 cages that isn't too tall, so less chance of fall risks. Filling the base with substrate will help in effectively reducing the height.

I think a platform/shelf is essential in a cage - it helps them feel secure and is somewhere else to go. They like sitting under a shelf and have a place to go if they're feeling a bit nervous or exposed.

Re the questions you asked:

1) I wouldn't rotate toys or change things around - the opposite in fact. It can stress them having things changed and moved. Adding the odd new thing usually goes down well.

2) I find plenty of space still in an 80 x 50 cage with both a 9" wheel (attached to the bars at the back) and a 7" flying saucer, and our robo uses both. So yes having both would give added interest.

3) Scatter feeding always goes down well - it stimulates their instinct for foraging. However I do both - put some food in the bowl and scatter a little bit as well, because they do seem to enjoy sitting in the bowl to feed too!.

The main way to enrich it is to think about variety, hidey places and levels and to ensure there aren't too many open areas or large areas exposed from above.

So you can have things hanging from the roof (I had a rat sputnik next to the shelf in our robos cage - he would often sit in it and it also gave "overhead cover" underneath.

A house that is dark inside is important too as they need that to have somewhere to retreat to. I'm a bit of a fan of labyrinth houses for that reason. It is dark inside due to the angled entrance (light doesn't go round corners) and has different rooms. It encourages their normal behaviours to nest, hoard and pee in different places within a burrow. But a normal house with a bendy bridge tunnel over the door can have the same effect.

You don't need to buy lots of hamster toys. Some aren't that good, or break easily and I've found they're not that interested in toys unless they are hidey places, tunnels or a dark house! I also use the large cork log tunnels - they can climb over the top of them or sit in a nice big dark tunnel. Our robo also liked scratching the inside of it. So it's another texture too.

But having a few hidey places and tunnels can help fill up the floor space and keep it interesting.

So the main things are:

Fill the base with substrate
Have a good shelf or level
Yes get a wheel and a saucer. Dwarf hammies run really well in an 8" or 9" wheel.
A wheel screwed to the bars frees up a lot of floor space (for that the 9" Silent "Runner" would be good but it's not that cheap and the bar attachments are extra).
A good sized house that mimics a burrow, has a tunnel entrance and is dark inside.

Also have a look at the "Lets see your cages thread - lots of ideas on there".

Have added a photo of the 80 x 50 Savic Mickey 2XL set up for our robo (the Hanster Heaven is the identical cage, if you remove the penthouse, tubes and plastic shelves etc) but with 1cm bar spacing.

There's also a photo of the 80 x 50 cage on top of the 75 x 45 Kerry Terrarium. The extra 5cm does make quite a lot of difference as to what you can fit in a cage to make it interesting. It enabled me to fit the flying saucer in as well as the wheel due to the extra depth.

You can't see it but front right is a large labyrinth house sat on the base of the cage.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...erracotta.html

This one is also popular - it has a solid base in one narrow section and most people knock that out, so the house is open underneath.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-6201...r=8-1-fkmrnull



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Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:45 PM.
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Old 05-06-2019, 03:01 PM   #9
NibbleeTheHamster
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Default Re: Keeping a Hamster in a small cage.

Hi! I know what situation your in because im in it right now, except the cage i have is under the minimum but what i do with my ham is just take her out for at least an hour a day, she always has something to do out of her cage whether its climbing the stairs or even free roaming my room, i suggest you take your ham out a lot and try and maybe train her to climb something or just let your ham play in a playpen or on your bed! Just make sure your ham has a lot of play time outside the cage and you should be okay, and i know because i do this with my hammy and shes always happy, her cage contains a food bowl, water, wheel, house, a few chews, and bedding, just the stuff she needs and i usually provide her with the rest of the exercise she needs
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