Guide to Buying a Cage

[Pazzie]

Yes it would be for a Syrian hamster. Thanks for the advice guys. I’m going to pop to my local pets at home and see if they have one. I was thinking about getting a hamster around June time as I may be going away only for 3 nights max and have no one to come in and feed him (definitely getting a male). Plus, warmer weather is better for the very young hamsters?

[Pebbles82]

Two nights away is the maximum you could leave them on their own really - putting extra food out and an additional water bottle. Maybe someone could pop in just for one day to put some food out? It wouldn't be a lot to do. I got a petsitter to come over and do it If they put it out during the day then the hamster will be sleep so not likely to escape. It would need to be someone you trust to just do what you ask though.

I believe a lot of breeders have their litters around spring time due to the better weather by then, so if you're thinking of one from a breeder, then contacting them now would be good as they may have waiting lists.

Otherwise, rescues have hamsters all year round Smaller pet shops sometimes breed their own hamsters as well.

[Pazzie]

Thanks, I best get doing a search for local breeders. I was hoping to get one from pets at home - not sure if they sell them, but they may know someone if they don’t sell them. I have never been in that shop before so won’t know until then.

[alpacassei]

Pets at home do sell hamsters. My 2 Syrians are from [email protected] and they are very healthy boys!

[Pazzie]

That’s good to know that Pets at Home sell hamsters. Shame they’ve just put that Plaza cage up to £75, hopefully they’ll sell it again at £56.

[Charlie Dunn]

We have just upgraded our dwarf hamster Boo’s cage to the Elmo XXL and he loves it! We had to do some modifications but the door configuration and platform is just what we were looking for. It was on amazon and is super quality. A def recommend x

[flowerfairy]

I also have the elmo xxl. It is like a short barney cage. Wonderful. My robo seems happy in it!

[Pebbles82]

Ooh another Elmo! I would really have liked that for Nugget, but couldn't justify another cage. Now he's older he's fine in his 80 x 50. I think it's a great looking cage. Exactly the same floorspace as the Barney but without the height and fall risks.

[Charlie Dunn]

I am interested to see what you have done with your Elmo cage flowerfairy. It given me some ideas as Boo loves to dig and tunnel. X

[Rashy]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The US minimum is now 450 square inches.I am a firm believer,however,in the UK minimum being the more suitable minimum,and for this reason as well as the US minimum a 20 gallon breeder is no longer an acceptable size to house any hamster species.Modular cages simply don't count,due to the fact that hamsters are terrestrial by nature and would not benefit in any way from leveled cages in terms of actual living space.Definitely do not trust pet stores to know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable,and even some vets are wrong.Your best bet to finding the right cage is to just get yourself acquainted with various minimum sizes but also figuring out the absolute largest space you can offer in your home.

What is 450 square inches in cm?