Types of Hamster Cages and Their Pros and Cons

A good hamster cage is well-ventilated, easy to clean, is safe and comfortable for your dwarf hamster, and prevents it from escaping. Whether you are getting a hamster cage for the first time or looking to upgrade your existing one, learning about the types of hamster cages available and their pros and cons will help you make a better decision. This article explores the various hamster cages you can get and so you can make the best choice for your dwarf hamster.

Wire-Top Hamster Cages

Wire-top hamster cages are made up of a plastic bottom tray and a wire-based top. Wire-top cages usually come in 0.5 inches (12 mm) or 0.3 inches (8 mm) gaps between the bars. For dwarf hamsters, a cage with 0.3 inches gaps such as the Prevue Hendryx Deluxe Hamster and Gerbil Cage is more suitable as the smaller gap prevents them from squeezing through the bars. When buying a wire-top hamster cage, you should inspect the cage for the appropriate gap size, any exposed wire that may injure your hamster, and whether it is securely attached to the bottom tray.

Pros of wire-top hamster cages

• Easy access to your hamster
• Good ventilation
• Easy to clean
• Usually comes with accessories like water bottle and wheel

Cons of wire-top hamster cages

• Hamster tends to kick bedding out of cage
• Opening or shutting cage doors may produce loud sounds
• Your hamster may chew on the bars

Glass Tanks or Aquariums

Glass tanks come in a variety of sizes and with or without covers. Some have ventilation holes and others are simply aquariums that have been converted into a hamster tank.

Pros of glass tanks

• Easy access to your dwarf hamster
• No chance of hamster escaping through bars
• Able to see your hamster clearly through the glass
• You can have a thicker layer of bedding for your hamster to burrow
• Chew-proof

Cons of glass tanks

• May be too heavy to move around
• May not be easy to clean due to weight

Plastic Hamster Cages

Plastic hamster cages such as the Super Pet CritterTrail Extreme Challenge Habitat usually come with tubes and attachments and can be easily expanded.

Pros of plastic hamster cages

• Expandable
• Usually comes with accessories such as wheel and bottle
• Can usually have a thicker layer of bedding for your hamster to burrow

Cons of plastic hamster cages

• Ventilation may not be as good as wire-top or glass tanks (with open tops)
• Harder to clean with all the tubes and various attachments
• Poor access to hamster if it hides in a tube
• Hamster may chew and destroy plastic components

DIY Hamster Cages

DIY cages come in many shapes and sizes. There are the smaller ones made out of plastic bins and larger ones made from re-purposed bookshelves. The variety of DIY cages available is too large for me to make an accurate list of pros and cons. I may include a separate page in the future to do that but if you’re interested in such cages, take a look at an awesome one made from a coffee table below: