Wire Cage: Wire hamster cages are the bog standard cage that many will see as soon as they walk into a pet store. They usually have fairly small gaps in between the wire, usually around 1/2” or 3/10”. When shopping for a wire hamster cage, it is best to make sure the gap in between the wire is sufficient for your hamster, as they are not “one size fits all” – as otherwise your hamster could get it’s leg trapped. However, wire cages are great. They offer great ventilation due to being relatively open, and usually come with accessories – such as drinking bottles, exercise wheels and a food bowl. They also sometimes have a second platform, which can allow your hamster to explore! Check our Top 5 Hamster cages.
Wire cages tend to be much cheaper than any other cages, and also have a rectangular shape – making them perfect to place on a table, desk or shelf with relative ease.
Many accessories also include clips which can only attach to wire cages, so take that into consideration when you look for the perfect cage for you! Wire cages also come in multi-storey variants, allowing you to pack your hamster cage full of toys and accessories to entertain them!
However, as with everything – there are cons. The wire gaps allow for mischievous hamsters to kick shavings out of the cage, and some hamsters tend to chew on the plastic base.
Aquarium Cage: Some hamster owners love aquarium cages, however they tend not to offer the best ventilation – and therefore, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your furry friend. However, due to the space being rather large vertically compared to wire cages, you can have a huge “bedding” corner! Which means you can make a large bed that your hamster can nest into during colder days.
Unfortunately, aquarium cages aren’t recommended for hamsters. Sure you can use one; however it may cause some hamsters to feel separated from people, and therefore it can be harder to domesticate your hamster.
The pros of aquarium tanks are that you can easily see your hamster wherever they are, and they tend to be chew proof. However, they are harder to clean, and provide bad ventilation.
Plastic Cage: Plastic cages are great, they offer a huge amount of versatility – and are available in all sorts of wacky designs! If you want a fun and interesting home for your hamster, then a plastic cage is the way to go. Many plastic cages are compatible with each other, allowing you to have a huge cage made from multiple cages. They also tend to feature huge tunnels, and ramps and slides! Plastic cages can keep your hamster entertained for huge amounts of time, due to the amount of accessories that can be used.
Plastic cages also tend to come with accessories such as a food bowl, an exercise wheel and a drink bottle; some even come with more accessories.
Unfortunately, plastic cages are harder to clean because of all the tubes and tunnels. Mischievous hamsters may also chew through many plastic accessories, such as tubes and tunnels.
