Small Animal and Fish World
Hoppping
Houdini's
Setting Up The Hamster Cage
So you've convinced your parents to let you have a hamster, but you don't know how to set up a basic hamster cage. Well that's what this page is for.
The bedding is the most important step, there are different kind of bedding like wooden cat litter pellets, paper based bedding and Aspen bedding. When you set up the cage, be sure to include at least 3-5 inches of bedding for your hamster to burrow in. Tissue paper also falls in this category since tissue paper that is unscented can be a good alternative for bedding but it can also be used as nesting material.
A water bottle is the next step that I prefer to put in, your water bottle should be at least a small or medium size bottle with the appropriate water bottle holder (if in a cage with no bars). Be sure if your attaching it to a bin cage you can swap out the hanger part for industrial velcro to keep it in their better and easier for your hamster to get to. Don't fill up your bottle until you know when your getting your hamster so the water doesn't get any harmful bacteria in it.
Food bowls are the next essential for any hamster. Food bowls can range in all sort of colors, patterns, sizes and shapes. There are two types of food bowls you can usually find; ceramic and plastic food bowls. Ceramic food bowls are best since they aren't able to be moved or chewed through but plastic can be a good alternative if money isn't an option for you since some ceramic food bowls can be pricey. You can also use old small glass/ceramic bowls round your house that you haven't used in a while or don't use anymore for your hamster but be sure to wash it first to make sure no dust or harmful things are in the bowl.
The next essential to have in your hamsters cage is a hamster house. Hamster houses can range from plastic to wood to paper to ceramic. They can come in different shapes, colors, patterns and sizes. DIY houses are also a good alternative to store bought hamster houses since you can usually make one out of a small cardboard box or a plastic food container. Ceramic hamster houses are usually heavier in size but are good if your hamster is a chewer. They also can be bought from other items you usually see in your kitchen or house like a sponge or soap holder, candle holder or other such items, even a ceramic pot for a plant! Plastic hamster houses come in different shapes as well as colors but they aren't a good option for chewing hamsters. Wood houses tend to be smaller in size and are usually best for dwarf hamster rather than Syrians but they do come with larger wooden houses for Syrians (since I do own one for my dwarf hamster Nibbles). Paper houses are usually made from DIY stuff like regular computer paper or cardboard and you can customize it however you like.
Chew toys are also needed for a hamster teeth to stay warn down and a healthy yellow color (yes it is suppose to be yellow). Chew toys can come in many colors, shapes, sizes, types, and flavors. Many chew "toys" people use are dog biscuits which isn't technically a chew "toy" but it still works to wear your hamsters teeth down. Many other types of chew toys can come in mineral chews, these chews are usually flavored and come in many shapes like cupcakes or cheese. Chew toys can also be apple sticks or other wooden chew toys which most chew toys are made out of. Others tend to use DIY chew toys made out of hamster safe food like pine cones (cleaned and free of bugs) or sticks from your back yard (cleaned and free of any chemicals) and string. It is a money saving alternative if you don't have money to get chew toys from the store.
A wheel is something you need to have in your hamsters cage since hamsters run at least 6-8 miles a night in the wild and when in captivity they need something to help them exercise. Wheels come in three types; plastic, wooden and metal. Plastic wheels are a good type of wheel since hamsters can't get their feet caught in the mesh since there is no mesh in the wheels. It is also made out of very strong plastic so if your hamster is a chewer then it is a good wheel for them. Wooden wheels tend to be a good alternative for DIY wheels since they're easy to make and don't cost as much as buying one, however the aren't as thick as plastic wheels so they can be chewed through if you don't have a strong wood that you built it with. Metal wheels usually are mesh wheels and aren't recommended for hamsters since they can get their feet and toes caught in between the mesh of the wheel when they run. If you do decide to use one of these, be sure to wrap duck tape on the inside and outside of the wheel so your hamsters feet don't get caught in the mesh bars.
Hamsters also need toys to keep them interested and happy. Toys can be a range of anything from tubes to climbing toys to even slides. Wooden/cardboard, plastic, or metal are usually the most common types of toys to find though sometimes you can make your own toys out of paper or cardboard if you choose. Climbing toys should be at about 45 degree angle and has grips on it so the hamster can climb up easily. If you do decide to use climbing toys, be sure it isn't to far off the ground our your hamster could get hurt if they fall. Tubes can usually be made from toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes, just place it in your hamsters cage or if you want, you can draw on it with non-toxic crayons to make it more colorful.
That's it for your basic hamster cage set up, however, if you want to learn more or see a video on how it's done be sure to check out ErinsAnimals or my channel on how to set up a basic hamster cage!