Budget Hamster set up 2025

[Maz]

I was thinking we could do with an updated basic budget hamster set up. Not everyone can afford nice hides and bedding gets expensive too! I always like the idea that anyone could keep a hamster in a good environment, even if a bit strapped for cash. Last time it still came to about £100. This time I'm going to do four versions - two for the Uk (DIY and non DIY) and two for the US (where they have large bins!) DIY and non DIY, and anyone else can add their own version of a basic budget set up to this thread as well - because there may be multiple options! These are mine! Food not included here - just cage set up.

Uk non DIY Option (for dwarf or syrian hamster - deduct £5 for dwarf hamster wheel but may need more bedding for height reduction of this cage).

Total £115.48 (for 100cm cage)

£35 to £40 (approx) Second hand Savic Plaza 100 (example of used one)

£31.99 Fitch bedding 70 litre bag (this should give about 8" to 10" in a 100cm cage)

£11 Omlet multiroom cardboard houses (pack of 3)

£7 Rosewood PicknFly sprays selection

£4.50 - childrens play sand from Argos

£3.30 cork granules as alternative substrate

£4 (approx) Carrot hay cottage (alternative substrate/forage/additional hide)

£16.99 Trixie 28cm plastic wheel

Free - large cardboard box to cut up and create bedding depth panels inside bars (may or may not be suitable for female syrians who could chew it off!)
Free - 2 x empty ice cream tubs as sand bath and alternative substrate
Free - large strong cardboard box with one side cut out, to make a freestanding platform
Free - pringles tube, wiped out or silver inner pulled out (assuming you eat pringles)
Free - alternative cardboard tubes - eg kitchen roll inner tube slit down one side
Free - strips of toilet paper for nesting


UK DIY Option

Total £133.78 (for 120cm diy enclosure - assumes you have basic tools).

£40 Ikea Platsa wardrobe frame 120cm x 55cm x 60cm (laid on its back)

£15 (approx) Lid made from strips of wood and mesh

All the other items are the same as above! 70 litres of Fitch should give about 8" of bedding


US Non DIY

Total $213.66 (equivalent to £157.51 Uk money approx)

$99.99 New Sahara enclosure from exotic nutrition (not sure how easy it is to find used enclosures)

$30.99 100 litres Kaytee Clean and Cozy bedding from Amazon (note you can get 184 litres of Boxo paper bedding from Walmart for $57.80 which will last longer)

$15 Omlet cardboard multiroom hides x 3

$7.99 selection of sprays from Amazon

$11.99 Reptisand (non calcium) from Amazon - couldn't find anything cheaper

$17.99 Niteangel cork/coco bedding - alternative substrate (couldn't find anything cheaper)

$12.02 - Prevue nature's hideaway grass hut - additional texture/forage/hideout

$17.69 Wodent wheel 11" from exotic nutrition

Free - Pringles tubes/cardboard tubes
Free - 2 x empty ice cream tubs for sand bath and alternative substrate
Free - large strong cardboard box with one side cut out to make a platform

Note - someone from the US maybe able to come up with better options if they know where to shop!


US DIY

Total: $211.67 (equivalent to £156.04 Uk money approx)

$88 (approx) 200 quart sterilite plastic store bin
$10 (approx) mesh and cable ties to cut out roof panel and mesh

The rest of the list is the same as above for the US Non DIY cage set up!

Note - someone from the US may be able to do a better list if they know where to shop!

Note 2 You can buy Boxo paper bedding in bulk from Walmart - 184 litres for $57.80 - which is a lot of bedding!

Pstl Boxo Small Anim Bedding 184L - Walmart.com

Buy Pstl Boxo Small Anim Bedding 184L at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[Yorkie]

This is an amazing thread Maz,would just like to add,350.litre of chipsi classic is less than twenty quid on Amazon and tea bag bedding is only 20 quid for two massive bags that most struggle to store lol I am **** at links ,but I got my Trixie's on eBay ,brand new for 14.60. And for quite a while I used a couple of pirex dishes ,second hand,and those storage jars that I have as a sandbath now for hides etc. I can't think of anything else now,hope this is useful .

 

[Maz]

That's really good to know. I've heard of teabag bedding but haven't tried it before. Is that from Amazon did you say? £14.60 is a much better price for the Trixie wheel, so that's worth remembering.

I think a lot of people in the US dont know about Boxo bedding - it works out so cheap for paper bedding and it's a really big bale - it's been around for years, but for some reason is only available at Walmart (I think!). Maybe an own-brand product.

Decided to adapt this thread into an article for the home page.

 

[Yorkie]

That's really good to know. I've heard of teabag bedding but haven't tried it before. Is that from Amazon did you say? £14.60 is a much better price for the Trixie wheel, so that's worth remembering.

I think a lot of people in the US dont know about Boxo bedding - it works out so cheap for paper bedding and it's a really big bale - it's been around for years, but for some reason is only available at Walmart (I think!). Maybe an own-brand product.

Decided to adapt this thread into an article for the home page.

The teabag bedding will just pop up if you search for it on Google. It is available through various shops,so you can choose your cheapest. Chipsi 350 is on Amazon .There is another cheap one by Norfolk industries too that supports people with disabilities,their bales are massive,and they sell through Amazon. Also,the teabag bedding is best mixed with something else. So although you pay more at the start,you will take forever to go through it.

 

[Maz]

I'd be really interested to see the link for the one by Norfolk industries. Is it this one? If so it seems a good price. 85 kg/litres of bedding plus paper nesting material for £21.50 with free delivery! That definitely works out cheaper than Fitch. I am tempted to substitute the Fitch for it above, but I haven't actually tried it, so have only included things I've tried and can recommend.

Have you used their bedding? Is it good and not dusty?

Large Cosy Pack - Small Pet Bedding - Norfolk Industries

Promote natural nesting and burrowing behaviours in your small pets with our bundle of Paper Flake Bedding and Recycled Paper Bedding. Ideal for small animals.

www.norfolkindustries.co.uk

 

[Yorkie]

I'd be really interested to see the link for the one by Norfolk industries. Is it this one? If so it seems a good price. 85 kg/litres of bedding plus paper nesting material for £21.50 with free delivery! That definitely works out cheaper than Fitch. I am tempted to substitute the Fitch for it above, but I haven't actually tried it, so have only included things I've tried and can recommend.

Have you used their bedding? Is it good and not dusty?

Large Cosy Pack - Small Pet Bedding - Norfolk Industries

Promote natural nesting and burrowing behaviours in your small pets with our bundle of Paper Flake Bedding and Recycled Paper Bedding. Ideal for small animals.

www.norfolkindustries.co.uk

Yes,it's this one.We haven't used it sadly,but I have always earmarked it in my head as a cheap option.Now that I have mentioned,I may give in and get some.The reviews are quite good

 

[Yorkie]

Yes,it's this one.We haven't used it sadly,but I have always earmarked it in my head as a cheap option.Now that I have mentioned,I may give in and get some.The reviews are quite good

But obviously an idea for budget friendly

 

[Maz]

I probably need to get some to try as well. Then I can make the budget set up cheaper! Trouble is I have loads at the moment and don't need any!

It's a really good find - thank you very much We all need cheaper hamster bedding!

 

[Yorkie]

Likewise,but you can ask them for a sample.i am assuming their paper flake bedding is more suited to our hammies,they do do hamster bundles

 

[Maz]

Likewise,but you can ask them for a sample.i am assuming their paper flake bedding is more suited to our hammies,they do do hamster bundles

I couldn't work out if the flake bedding was nesting material and the "recycled" paper was bedding - I assume so as the recycled paper was the bigger bag.

 

[Yorkie]

The recyled paper is old newspapers,so I would be worried about print and pAPer cuts,but I think the flakes are soft. What do you think? If I was going to buy,I would sample first for def

 

[Maz]

Hmm. I didn't see it said newspaper. Maybe it's been treated somehow to remove the ink?