Opinion on cages

[Snowball]

Hi, our hamster has been in a regular plastic cage with the wire bars and the spiral stairway that goes to the top where there is a ball wheel up there and a small area to walk. My son has decided that he would rather have a 10 gallon aquarium tank instead, he made a wood shelf with legs and a ramp to go up it with popsicle sticks.. he is ordering one of those silent wheels and of course have the water bottle and food bowl, but what else is good for her to have in there. i dont want to overcrowd it, but i know they need alot of space and things to climb on. i told him he cannot keep changing her place i dont want to stress her out. how should we transition her into it. I was going to hang one of those plastic tubes with the hideout on top to the corner of it for her to go in, but she has never been in one. i tried letting her go up it last night and she started up it but then tried to back out. Thanks.

[Kissa]

I hate to say it, but a ten gallon tank is too small. A hamster needs a wheel at least 8" in diameter, with most needing 11". I assume that you are in the US? The recommended minimum cage size over there is 360 square inches, equivilent to a 20 gallon LONG aquarium, but most on the forum will quote the RSPCA recommended minimum of 75x40 cm, or the general forum rec of 80x50 cm. A 30 or 40 gallon breeder makes a great home for a hammy in the US, as there is a very poor selection of commercial cages over there.

ETA: But yes, if you transfer all of the substrate and bedding it'll still smell familiar to your hammy

[ElliotHamsterHeart]

if you put some of her old bedding in the ne cage when you put her in there that will help, however when I am changing cages I always find it helpful to put something of their old cage in their, if it be a tube, bed or toy. Also with hamsters they don't like open spaces so don't worry too much about overcrowding the cage, they need stuff to do. Hope I helped

[Scampi16]

What type of hamster is it?
Possible items to have in cage (these are things I have) other than what you have mentioned are:
Flying saucer (as well as wheel)
Wooden tunnel
Toilet tissue tubes
See saw
The sticks that you buy all connected together that you can bend into a tunnel ect
House
normal wooden chew sticks/toys
hanging toys
Sandbath
Toilet
Hamock

(ps, these are old photos, i no longer have fluffy bedding)

i have uploaded a couple of old photos with some examples of things you could use.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Kissa

I hate to say it, but a ten gallon tank is too small. A hamster needs a wheel at least 8" in diameter, with most needing 11". I assume that you are in the US? The recommended minimum cage size over there is 360 square inches, equivilent to a 20 gallon LONG aquarium, but most on the forum will quote the RSPCA recommended minimum of 75x40 cm, or the general forum rec of 80x50 cm. A 30 or 40 gallon breeder makes a great home for a hammy in the US, as there is a very poor selection of commercial cages over there.

ETA: But yes, if you transfer all of the substrate and bedding it'll still smell familiar to your hammy

I kind of felt the same way when he got it. I think the 15 gallon long, not tall would be sufficient, but the 10 gallon we got now is 4 inches longer and a bit wider than the cage she was in. So at least it is bigger than before. we had to take the shelf out with the four legs that hold it up, she was diving off of it into her substrate i told him he needs to build up a side for it or put something next to it so she can step down.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Scampi16

What type of hamster is it?
Possible items to have in cage (these are things I have) other than what you have mentioned are:
Flying saucer (as well as wheel)
Wooden tunnel
Toilet tissue tubes
See saw
The sticks that you buy all connected together that you can bend into a tunnel ect
House
normal wooden chew sticks/toys
hanging toys
Sandbath
Toilet
Hamock

(ps, these are old photos, i no longer have fluffy bedding)

i have uploaded a couple of old photos with some examples of things you could use.

Thanks for the ideas. we bought one of those silent wheels ( she seems to love it, has been in it alot since we put it in there) her old hut from the other cage, food dish, water bottle, we had to hang it from the side with tape, need to find a holder for it to hang off the aquarium, her chew log that has treats inside, some wood sticks and a wooden house with holes in it that i bought that wouldnt fit in the old cage.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Scampi16

What type of hamster is it?
Possible items to have in cage (these are things I have) other than what you have mentioned are:
Flying saucer (as well as wheel)
Wooden tunnel
Toilet tissue tubes
See saw
The sticks that you buy all connected together that you can bend into a tunnel ect
House
normal wooden chew sticks/toys
hanging toys
Sandbath
Toilet
Hamock

(ps, these are old photos, i no longer have fluffy bedding)

i have uploaded a couple of old photos with some examples of things you could use.

She is a winter white i believe, not as small as the dwarf but not as big as regular hamsters.

[Kissa]

Originally Posted by Snowball

She is a winter white i believe, not as small as the dwarf but not as big as regular hamsters.

If you got her from a pet shop, she will not be a pure winter white. Pet shops only sell hybrids -- the winter white and the Campbells are similar enough genetically that they can produce young, similar to how a horse and a donkey can produce a mule The only way you can be sure of having a pure WW or Campbell is to get one from a reputable breeder.

There are all sorts of potential issues with hybrids you might want to look into, the main one being that they are prone to diabetes, so I'd avoid any and all sugary treats

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Kissa

If you got her from a pet shop, she will not be a pure winter white. Pet shops only sell hybrids -- the winter white and the Campbells are similar enough genetically that they can produce young, similar to how a horse and a donkey can produce a mule The only way you can be sure of having a pure WW or Campbell is to get one from a reputable breeder.

There are all sorts of potential issues with hybrids you might want to look into, the main one being that they are prone to diabetes, so I'd avoid any and all sugary treats

We give her small amounts of spinach leaves, cauliflower, carrot, brocolli, the only fruit i have given her so far is strawberries, but again we only give a small amount of this at a time. just a taste. my son bought those Papaya fiesta dried fruit pieces. i told him dont give those to her alot. how would i know if she ever got diabetes??

[littlescruffies]

I've only had one that I know of. She used to drink and pee loads.
I think they can be tested. Someone else on here will know better!