do hamsters really need toys in their cages

[WinterbellHams]

I don't have much in my hamsters cages.. There just is not as much offered here in the U.S. and we certainly don't have all the really neat cages that you all have in the UK. All of the toys here are too small for usually even a fully grown pet store syrian. Usually only the dwarfs fit them! It is dwarf heaven!
My hamsters all have wheels, TP rolls, and some have these really neat cardboard chewable igloos that I found at the local feed store.

[fluffymunchkins]

i must agree homemade inexpensive toys normally go down best!
I do have store bought toys simply because my dwarf does love them. Occasionally there is the one toy they detest - i know exactly wat you mean about the igloo ink, peggy detested when i offered instead of her usual bed and slept in her cardboard box
She now still prefers a cardboard box but i cut windows, doors and a chimney to make it look better XD
Porridge isn't a huge fan of shop bought toys, or if he is he gets bored quite quickly.
A good cardboard box, pringle tube and a wheel keeps him happy. Everything else is just extras for when his in the mood. Along with of course plenty of playtime.

[ameyjaney]

Spud has quite a few. Most of them he uses, although his new favourite is an egg box that I put in. He didn't like it at first and attacked it straight away...but now he really likes it. I'm going to have to scrounge egg boxes off of people as I don't really buy them...He's actually still got the original toilet tube that I first put in with him, although he's actually started to chew it (finally!).