Posted by Ken on January 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment
You may well be looking for a hamster cage for your pet. There are many different types of cage out there ranging from large pink hamster cages to small wire hamster cages. But you may also have come across a number of articles or sites that discuss glass hamster cages. This article will discuss the pros and cons of selecting a glass hamster cage for your little friend.
Historically, and mainly as a result of manufacturing limitations, the options that were available for you to choose from were limited when it came to small family pet cages. They were either rectangular wire cages, or, well, frankly rectangular wire cages. This obviously meant that choice was somewhat limited. There are so many ways you can present a wire cage in an interesting way, indeed, some might say there is no way to present a rectangular wire cage in an interesting way. However, at some point someone had the intelligent idea of using an old aquarium as a substitute hamster residence and because the idea is a good one, the idea caught on. Thus the glass hamster cage became a reality. Since that time a number of different manufacturers have started creating specially made hamster cages to capitalise on the demand for these more interesting environments.
Glass hamster cages are good choices for a home for you little pet. They allow you to see into the hamster nest whilst the hamster is sleeping, they protect your hamster from drafts and generally provides a safe and secure home and perhaps importantly prevents your pet from having any chance of chewing through a door, or the plastic surround of a cage and never being seen again.
There are however drawbacks to glass hamster cages. They are not particularly good for ventilation, the lack of can really be very harmful to hamsters and for this reason they should never be placed in an area where it is exposed to direct sunlight as this would create very unpleasant conditions. They also suffer more than wire or plastic cages from condensation and as a result they require cleaning perhaps more often than alternative habitats. They are heavy and difficult to move. And finally, a small point but it is sometimes difficult to attach a water bottle to the side walls.
All in all, as you will probably know, there is no right answer to the question of what is the best cage for your hamster. A glass hamster cage that works well for one person may be totally unsuitable for another, but hopefully from this article you have gained a sense of what is good and bad about glass hamster cages.
Filed under Aquarium Hamster Cages, Glass Hamster Cages · Tagged with aquarium, Aquarium Hamster Cages, aquariums, chewing, condensation, direct sunlight, glass hamster cage, Glass Hamster Cages, Hamster Cage, hamster cages, high temperature, pink hamster cage, ventilation, wire mesh
Posted by Ken on December 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment
When looking for the ideal hamster cage you will have to consider a number of different factors. You can purchase a specially design plastic hamster cage, a simple wire framed hamster cage or even use an old aquarium for housing your hamster. Each type of habitat has benefits and drawbacks, but the number one consideration is to ensure that your hamster is safe and secure in their home environment. This means that on wire and plastic cages you must ensure the door is properly latched when closed and that there are no areas in the cage which they can gnaw through and escape. An aquarium should have a wire mesh cover to ensure that the hamster cannot escape somehow out of the top of the cage.
Because it is also very important to make sure that your ideal hamster cage is kept clean you really need to make sure that the one you choose is practical and easy to clean. Larger is better, and not just for the hamster, as large hamster cages are more easily accessible to clean. A solid plastic bottom will always be easier to clean than wire mesh and will probably be much more comfortable for the hamster to live on. Some plastic hamster cages have lots of in built tunnels and nest areas which make the cage look as though it is interesting when making you buying decision but may well cause you to reconsider later when it comes to cleaning them as they are fiddly and difficult to access. Despite this it remains important to clean these hard to get areas as the ammonia present in urine can otherwise cause your hamster breathing problems.
Every hamster cage should encourage your hamster to play, exercise and climb. One way to achieve this is to ensure your wire hamster cage has horizontal bars approximately half and inch apart which your hamster can climb. But you can also provide ramps and ladders for you hamster to play upon. These are particularly important if you are using an aquarium hamster cage as your hamster will not be able to climb the glass sides of the cage.
The size of your hamster cage is also important. Even for the smallest hamster your hamster cage should be at least 18 inches long by at least 12 inches high and 12 inches across. These sizes should be considered as minimum dimensions. The larger your hamster cage the better. Wire hamster cages tend to be larger than plastic hamster cages and are probably best for Syrian hamsters as they can grow quite large, well over 4 inches long potentially and they can also find that they get stuck in some of the tunnels and dens that are integral to the plastic hamster cages. Aquarium hamster cages provide good visibility of the surrounding area but are less well ventilated and early on this should be watched carefully as it is important that the hamster cage is well ventilated as otherwise the hamster may well suffer. Aquariums are a good choice for Chinese or dwarf hamsters due to their small size.
The other items that you should provide your hamster are a water bottle attached to the side of the cage filled with fresh water at all times and a shallow food bowl. A hamster wheel should also be provided as this provides excellent activity for your hamster. The only other thing necessary is something for your hamster to gnaw upon like an old piece of rope or a lump of soft wood.
You should locate your hamster cage in an area with good visibility, it should not be in a draughty location and not in direct sunlight, especially if you are using an aquarium as a cage. The other factor you should ensure is that their cage is not easily accessible to any other family pets especially cats.
So, is their an ideal hamster cage? The answer to this is of course that the ideal hamster cage is the one which suits your hamster the best, is kept as clean as possible, provides the most interesting and active environment and is located in a suitable position in your home.
Filed under Ideal Hamster Cage · Tagged with ammonia, aquarium, Aquarium Hamster Cages, breathing problems, direct sunlight, draughty, glass sides, gnaw, hamster habitat, horizontal bars, Ideal Hamster Cage, plastic hamster cage, ramps and ladders, safe and secure, simple wire framed hamster cage
Posted by Ken on October 17, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Dwarf hamsters are also known as Chinese hamsters! Dwarf hamsters are small in size but are cute as ever! There are many options that you need to consider when it comes to picking a dwarf hamster cage! So why not take your time, look around and make sure that you get a cage that’s just right for your little dwarf hamster!
You can pick a cage that is made of plastic with string metal bars or an aquarium, which makes an ideal hamster cage. If you choose to pick an aquarium as your dwarf hamster cage, keep in mind that although they are great for viewing and cleaning, they can be heavy and quite cumbersome when it comes to moving them around! A plastic cage for your dwarf hamster is probably the ideal solution! But make sure that the cage you choose has a large tray on the bottom. This gives you the opportunity to put into the hamster cage a hamster wheel and some other play devices allowing your hamster to be properly active and it also makes it easier for you when cleaning.
Now that you’ve decided on the perfect dwarf hamster cage, it’s time to show you a few tricks and tips on how to clean it! Dwarf hamsters are very delicate and usually have fun cleaning themselves. You can help them by buying some sand from your local pet store. This is not your ordinary sand that you get at the beach. The sand is called chinchilla sand! Please make sure that you purchase chinchilla sand and not dust, chinchilla dust can be extremely harmful to your hamsters respiratory systems!
When cleaning the cage, make sure you use pet safe cleaners and not your home based cleaners! Home based cleaners leave behind a residue which is harmful to your hamster! Make sure you clean the cage at least once a week and change the bedding at the same time! This ensures that your hamster is clean at all times and thus stays healthy!
Do not mistake your hamster for your pet dog and give them a bath! Hamsters are dry animals and enjoy being that way. Giving them a bath can cause them to get wet tail and could be harmful! Your dwarf hamster cage must be filled with fruits, vegetables and water at all times! These tips will ensure your dwarf hamster stays healthy and nourished forever!
Filed under Dwarf Hamster Cage · Tagged with aquarium, Big Hamster Cages, cheap hamster cages, chinchilla dust, chinchilla sand, Chinese hamsters, Dwarf Hamster Cage, dwarf hamster cages, Dwarf hamsters, Hamster Cage, hamster cages, hamsters cage, hamsters cages, Large Hamster Cage, large hamster cages, pink hamster cage, Rotastak Hamster Cage, rotastak hamster cages, string metal bars
