Connecting many smaller cages that end up being 600 sq. inches doesn’t count, as is done in Habitrail Ovo or Crittertrail. Hamsters run miles and miles in the wild, so they need a continuous running space, not a lot of tiny compartments connected together. Syrian and Chinese hamsters can NOT be kept together in one cage as they are very territorial and WILL fight. They could seriously injure or kill each other. [3] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source

American/Hamster Hideout forum minimum - 360 sq. in RSPCA/United Kingdom minimum - 80x50cm German minimum - 1 sq. m Although recommendations vary, the basic principle is the bigger the better. [4] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source

Hamsters are very sensitive to light and high-frequency sound. Don’t put it in a room that will have lights going on and off at night, and keep it away from things such as televisions, computer screens, sources of running water and vacuum cleaners. These generate ultrasound which can be distressing for hamsters. [5] X Research source If you have a wire cage and want to avoid your floor getting too messy from the flying substrate, cut down a cardboard box, which the cage can comfortably sit in (with a few centimetres of clearance around the sides), so that it’s sides are not higher than 10cm, and place it in that.

One way to tell if it is too small is to look to see if your hamster is running with an arched back, like a smiley face. If they are, then the wheel is likely too small.

If you get a bowl, buy a small one so it doesn’t take up too much cage space. [6] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source

Shredded tissue or toilet paper, in this case, is the best nesting material.

It’s a good idea to have a regular cleaning schedule, as your hamster could be distressed if the cage is cleaned too often or too seldom. [8] X Research source Spot clean the cage to remove poo daily to prevent wet-tail.

Make sure you give them a chance to get comfortable with their new cage before handling them (about a week is best). Moving into a new cage is a big event for a hamster and they will be more interested in human attention once they are happy.

You may consider weighing them to see if they’re gaining or losing weight, which could tip you off to problems.