I'm Confused Re: Unbroken Space Recommendation

[Cotton]

I read repeatedly that to meet the minimum size restrictions, a hamster's cage has to be unbroken space instead of joined habitats. Then I look at people's beautiful set-ups for their hamsters and there is so much stuff in the cage for enrichment, it is broken space. What's the difference? This is a genuine inquiry so I can provide the best living arrangement for my Syrian.

My Roborovski, Finnegan, clearly loves to burrow so I meet his needs with unbroken space, deep substrate and additional items for enrichment along the back of the cage.

A Syrian is bigger so I'm not clear how to do it, adding large items for enrichment, but keeping the space unbroken.

Thank you for any feedback or comments.

[Ziggy Hamster]

Thanks for posting this question, I was wondering the same thing and have started to think I'm not providing enough enrichment for my hamster after reviewing other people's cages too. Hopefully someone can enlighten us.

[10Minutes]

I think the theory behind it is that with unbroken floor space, you get to live in a big house consisting of a single room with lots of toys inside it. Whereas if it's a series of way too small cages, it would feel like you are living in a series of small toilet sized rooms that are filled with toys.

I do have the same concern though, and would love to hear more on this too, as I am concerned about how much free empty space to leave for my hamster. I would love to give her more toys but at the same time, I don't want to risk breaking up her space.

[LunaTheHamster1]

I think the unbroken space is to determine the size of cage you need to start with, before you start adding anything to it. So once you have a cage that is large enough you then need to start adding everything to it. Hamsters don't really like open spaces so then you need to be providing hides/tunnels/shelves and other things that they can run thru and hide under or sit and clean themselves in. Just makes for a happier hamster.

[Shannonmcn]

"Unbroken floor space" doesn't have anything to do with what's inside the cage. It's the phrase that's most often used to convey that you can't have 3 x 150sq inch cages and call it 450sq inches of floor space. It has to be a single space. That's it.

You can't and shouldn't infer anything about enrichment or burrowing or hidey places or the actual cage setup from that phrase. Those are completely separate issues.

[alpacassei]

Some hamsters prefer quite crowded cages and some prefer more empty cages. The unbroken floor space rule refers to overall cage size rather than what’s in the cage.

Generally the only exceptions to the cage size rules would be hospital cages and starter cages for certain baby hams and anxious hams.

[Ria P]

Yes, i also believe that unbroken floorspace means the total size of the floor of the cage, the measurement of the base of an empty cage. The term "unbroken" is confusing and not very clear at all. Time for an update.

Observe your hamster to find out what he feels comfortable with. My hamster walks around his cage through tunnels and over and under shelves which told me that he would not like an open space in his cage. When free roaming he does not run across a room but along walls, under the sofa and sots under or behind things to wash.

[Cotton]

Thank you very much, everyone. This is clear now. Your responses were very helpful. Unbroken space refers to the total size of the cage or habitat instead of the total measurements spread out over small cages, levels and tubes. For example, comparing it to a human living space, one bachelor apartment would be more comfortable than four tiny closets with the combined total measurements of the bachelor apartment. Thank you for your responses!