The Best Dwarf Hamster Cage: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (03/23)

Welcome to our big dwarf hamster cage test 2023. Here we present all the hamster cages we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web. We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best dwarf hamster cage for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a dwarf hamster cage.

Summary

• Dwarf hamsters are solitary animals. They need plenty of space to hide and the opportunity to burrow.
• Due to their small size, the little animals can easily squeeze through gaps and injure themselves. Great heights are also sources of danger because they simply jump down.
• The ideal cage is at least one metre long and 50 cm wide and high. It has a deep floor pan and enough climbing possibilities made of non-toxic wood.

Best Dwarf Hamster Cage: Our Picks

Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a dwarf hamster cage

Decision: What types of dwarf hamster cages are there and which is right for you?

Small animal cages come in a variety of materials. If you want to buy a cage for your dwarf hamster, there are four alternatives to choose from:

• Glass terrarium
• Wooden cage
• Enclosure with bars
• Plastic cage

Often a cage consists of a combination of several materials, whose advantages and disadvantages can thus be combined. Below we present the variations most dwarf hamster cages are made of and their advantages and disadvantages to help you decide.

What are the features of a glass dwarf hamster cage and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Your hamster can move into an aquarium or terrarium for rodents. These are often, or at least half, made of glass and are good for animal observation. The smooth walls are good and easy to clean, but also offer fewer climbing opportunities.

The glass tub prevents litter from falling out and muffles the noise. Nevertheless, you have a good view of what is happening. The material does not splinter and cannot be gnawed on. Under no circumstances should you place a cage in front of a window, as direct sunlight heats up the glass box very strongly. Your little dwarf hamster will not tolerate this well. An aquarium that has no mesh walls deprives the rodent of an additional climbing opportunity.

What distinguishes a dwarf hamster cage made of wood and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Classic variants are increasingly being replaced by wooden cages. Wood is a noble material. Often chipboard or solid wood frames are used. Plexiglas panels are usually embedded to provide more brightness.

You can easily convert your wooden cage to suit your individual needs. It is visually appealing and offers plenty of space for a thick layer of bedding. If Plexiglas panes are built in, you have a good insight into your hamster’s life. However, wooden cages are often more expensive or you have to assemble them yourself. If you have an animal with strong teeth and a lot of motivation, it may gnaw its way through the cage. Natural wood absorbs odours quickly and should be treated with animal-friendly products.

What distinguishes a dwarf hamster cage with bars and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Probably the most common variant of a small animal cage consists of bars. With dwarf hamsters, however, special attention should be paid to the spacing of the bars, otherwise they will easily slip through.

The enclosure is bright and permeable to air. Drinking bottles, platforms and hanging bridges can be easily attached to the edge and the hamster can run around on the bars. But be careful: if you have a particularly brave hamster, he may fall down from a great height. It’s best to install wooden bars in the upper half so that the little one can’t get over them. Any dirt can fall through the bars onto the floor and also contaminate the environment around the cage.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a plastic dwarf hamster cage?

Plastichamster cages are available in all colours and shapes. Often a system of tubes in which the rodent can move is already integrated.

Plastic cages are inexpensive, do not weigh much and are easy to clean. However, they are often too small and air-impermeable. They are usually only suitable as transport boxes. A possible solution is a cage with a tub made of plastic and bars. The tub offers plenty of space for bedding and several tiers can be attached to the bars. Just make sure that the hamster does not start gnawing on the plastic.

Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate cages for dwarf hamsters

In the following, we will show you which criteria you can use to decide between the many possible dwarf hamster cages. The aspects you can use to compare the small animal enclosures with each other include:

• Material
• Climbing levels
• Dimensions
• Equipment
• Cage quality

In the following paragraphs, we will explain to you what is important in the individual criteria.

Material

The material says a lot about the product. Boxes made of solid wood and glass terrariums are often of higher quality, while cages with bars or plastic tubs are cheaper. While wood and glass are heavier and more sensitive to damage, plastic does not break as quickly. It is important to choose a wooden cage: It should be well made and not splinter or resin. Since odours are easily absorbed by natural materials, the boards should be treated with a non-toxic glaze. With plastic cages, the size and good ventilation are especially important, as the closed walls do not allow good air circulation. Watch out for protruding pieces of plastic. If you want to buy an aquarium or terrarium, make sure that the lid is made of wire. It is best if you can open the cage from the front and not only from the top. Stagnant air can also be a problem here.

Climbing levels

Your hamster cage should have at least two levels, three would be better. The little rodents like to climb. You can also move the stairs and bridges around so that the animal doesn’t get bored.

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Caution: Dwarf hamsters cannot estimate heights. The levels should be no more than 15 cm apart from each other or from the floor, so that the little one can fall without risk of injury.

Dimensions

Often, commercially available small animal cages are too small to guarantee species-appropriate keeping. In other words, it is neglected that the area must be correspondingly larger for several animals. Dwarf hamsters in particular are sensitive, as they do not get along well with other animals of the same species. The glass or plastic tub should be deep enough for a thick layer of bedding. The height does not play such a big role, quite the opposite. A lattice cage that is too high runs the risk of your hamster injuring itself when it falls. With wooden frames and glass walls, you don’t have to pay so much attention, as the animal cannot climb up the cage. In nature, hamsters run long distances and should also have the opportunity to exercise in your cage.

Equipment

Depending on the price, you should make sure that some accessories are included. Often a bowl, ladders and several platforms are included. Some models include a complex plastic tube system and a running wheel. However, everything should be removable and easy to clean. The equipment should ideally be made of wood (hardwood) or ceramic so that your small animal cannot gnaw on it or, above all, injure itself. Often, running wheels and houses integrated into the cage are too small or made of plastic and should rather be bought separately.

Cage quality

If you want to buy a cage with bars, pay attention to the distance between the bars. This should not be more than about 0.7 to 0.8 cm, so that your dwarf hamster cannot squeeze through and possibly injure itself. To prevent the animal from getting trapped, a cage with horizontal bars instead of vertical bars is recommended. The material should be stainless steel. This is more expensive, but prevents considerable damage to health. Since hamsters like to gnaw, wires that can corrode should be avoided at all costs. Grids in dark colours with a powder coating are preferable to shiny colours. Refrain from bars that are painted, as the coating can peel off over time.

Interesting facts about hamster cages

How should a dwarf hamster cage be equipped?

The most important utensils in a hamster cage are water and food bowls, bedding, a small house, a sand bath and a running wheel.

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You can fill a tube, a toilet roll or a bowl with litter so that your pet can bury itself in it. He will feel more comfortable. It prefers tunnels, tubes, climbing facilities and nests to free space. Hamsters use the sand bath for their body care. This is therefore essential for the health of the animals. Optimal for this is chinchilla sand without additives. You should make sure that the wheel is not too small, 28 cm in diameter is a good size. The rodent must be able to run with a straight back. Because that’s what they do, for a long time and with passion. It is important that nothing could fall on the dwarf hamster and injure it. Because they like to dig tunnels, the floor quickly becomes unstable. The food bowl or house should be heavy enough and stand on a solid surface. Ideally, none of the equipment should be made of plastic. If your hamster swallows plastic splinters, it can be a great danger to his health.

How much litter should I put in the cage?

The dwarf hamster must be able to burrow in. A continuous layer of at least 20 cm or more is ideal. There should be no foreign objects that the animal could cut itself on. Mix the bedding with hay to make the hamster tunnels more stable. The type of bedding depends on the type of cage and the breed of hamster.

(Source: hamsterinfo.de)

Where should the dwarf hamster enclosure be located?

Dwarf hamsters, like all hamster breeds, are nocturnal. During the day, your furry friend should definitely have his peace and quiet. So place the cage in a room where there is not a lot of activity. It should not be placed in front of a window to be protected from draughts and direct sunlight. To gain the hamster’s trust, place its home at eye level against a wall with a 180 degree view into the room. If you have room for a run in front of it, this is of course ideal.

The hamster cage should be placed in a room with windows where the animal is not disturbed during the day and humans are not disturbed at night.

How many dwarf hamsters can be kept in one cage?

Basically hamsters are solitary animals. If you keep several rodents together, you will definitely need a lot of space so as not to provoke fights. You may be able to keep several dwarf hamsters of the same sex together, but there is no guarantee that they will get along. The best thing to do is to see if the animals have already been kept together in a pet shop and how well that worked out. If you are a big animal lover and would like to keep several rodents, you can of course keep them separately in different cages.

How and how often should the dwarf hamster cage be cleaned / mucked out?

You should clean the sand bath daily, or sift the sand to remove the dirt. Wipe out the food bowl and change the drinking water and bedding. In the meantime, you can put your friend in a transport box with straw and food so that you have enough space. You don’t have to completely clean out and put away the hamster house. It is enough to remove dirt from the platforms and toys and to remove the top layer of litte.