What Is the Recommended Hamster Cage Material?
Whether you choose a barred cage, a plastic cage or a traditional glass aquarium, the best cage for your hamster is the one that will keep your pet safe and clean while providing enough room for exercise.
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Considerations
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First, you'll want to consider the size of your hamster. A barred cage may not be the best choice for a dwarf hamster because the bars might not be spaced closely enough to prevent escape. Conversely, a glass aquarium big enough to comfortably house your full-sized hamster and a few toys might be prohibitively heavy.
Wire Bar Cages
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Wire-bar cages make good hamster cages because they're light, inexpensive and easy to clean. They are generally made of metal, though sometimes the bars are coated with vinyl, and sometimes a wire bar framework is fitted into a plastic base and cover.
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Glass Aquariums
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Glass aquariums with a metal mesh cover for ventilation are a great choice for hamster housing. Hamsters love to dig, and a glass aquarium will keep your pet from pitching bedding outside the cage. While easy to clean, glass can be heavy and is easier to break than wire or plastic cages.
Plastic Cages
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Plastic cages provide the same benefits as glass aquariums but tend to be much lighter. Some disadvantages are that they can be easy to scratch and provide less ventilation than wire bar cages.
Homemade Cages
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With a little ingenuity, you can make your own hamster cage from inexpensive materials. A storage tub with a lid doctored with a sufficient number of holes for ventilation can work perfectly, or maybe you have an old bird cage that can be safely retrofitted for the task.
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