Best cage

[Tigz]

Hi I am new on here. I have not got my hamster yet. I am getting everything set up first. I intend to get a male syrian hamster. I have been looking at cages and the Ferplast Domster 120 looks like a good cage with plenty of space to run and dig at 120cm long and 65cm high.

Does anyone have this particular cage? I am thinking I need to put about 25-30 cm of digging material in and also fit the wheel in it on the bars and leave room so he can't reach the top. Please tell me if I have the measurements wrong for the bedding! I have a 28cm plastic orange Trixie wheel already newly bought. If I need a bigger 30cm or we decide we need a silent wheel then I can get that later. He will be in the bedroom next to my bed

Also is the wood area safe from chewing please? If anyone knows this cage and can advise me that would be great. I want to get the cage on Clearpay as it is quite expensive with Xmas coming up and Pets at Home take Clearpay.

I am getting him for my 60th birthday which is this month and I really would like to get him soon. I lost my indoor rabbit Mischief 4 months ago who slept next to my bed and I am so heartbroken. My daughter has always kept hamsters and they are so adorable. I think a hamster will give me someone to love.

If anybody has a better cage in mind please feel free to say but I really can't afford much more than £160 as I need to get all the other accessories etc. I didn't
realise getting a hamster would be so expensive and I want to get everything he needs right so he has a happy healthy life.

Sorry if this post is too long. I will try and keep them shorter

 

[Maz]

Hello This is all exciting, but yes these days, cages can be quite exepensive and then there are contents etc. Although there are inexpensive ways to set the actual cage up.

The Ferplast Domster is very nice - it is not cheap though and I would worry a Syrian may indeed decide to chew through the wood. While it tends to be female Syrians that are more maverick, you can get some males that like to chew through wood as well.

I personally have mixed feelings about that cage. It only has small doors on the front so could be tricky interacting with the hamster or spot cleaning. It does have a large roof that comes off, but that could be a long reach down from the top to the bottom of the bedding, so also make it harder to clean out. The top and bottom sections do come apart so technically you could lift the whole top section off to clean out/spot clean the bottom, but I think that could be quite heavy with the shelves attached.

Having said all that, it's a lovely looking cage, you may be happy taking the top section off to access the hamster and bedding, but I think you'd need to be prepared for a bit of diy in case a hamster chewed the wood corner struts.

I'm assuming you mean the 100cm version? I think that is the best one as the 120cm version is far too tall for a hamster IMO. PAH certainly has it at a reasonable price at the moment, compared to some other cages and enclosures.

Before making that decision it could be worth looking at other options. Admittedly some are more expensive, but some are also less expensive. There are some barred cages with better access (a front opening door), that don't have a deep base like the domster, but you can put grass mats inside the bars to have deeper bedding at one end. It also depends on what kind of thing you think would work best in your space.

I've linked a couple of things below. One is our "Budget hamster cage set up" - to do it for as little money as possible! The other is our current list of recommended cages.

The most popular ones these days seem to be perspex tanks like the Bucatstate and similar alternatives. Also, in barred cages, the Savic Plazas which are more traditional and fold flat for storage when not in use. You can actually get custom made perspex panels to fit the Plaza and other barred cages from Viking Laser - however they then need screwing on and can add to the cost of the cage. A cheaper alternative is just putting grass mats and/or cardboard inside the cage.

Although the Bucatstate's are expensive, people tend to get them on Temu at the moment, where they are much cheaper and include a bale of bedding. That link is in our cages list as well

Front access is good to have - ideally a large-ish door - for easy access to the hamster and, in the case of the plaza cages, you can just do everything through the large front door and never need to take the bars off. Once it's put together it stays like that. However that depends what height you have the cage. On top of a cupboard or chest of drawers say, the front door is a good height for that. If it's on something lower like a coffee table, it would mean getting on your knees. The Bucatstate's have top opening as well for cleaning out and a front door for easy access.

There is no wrong decision, but it helps to think what will work for you in terms of where it will go, access to the hamster etc. There are a few options with large front doors, but also something like the Marrakesh tank which is part glass with wood end panels (not chewable as they are solid and no corners to get at), which also looks very nice and has a large top opening which is not bad either, as your arm can go in at an angle so less like a hand from above (which can scare some hamsters). I've often been tempted with that one but, it is expensive and only available from Zooplus online. It does have very good ventilation though.

I personally prefer bars - or part bars - but not everyone does. I find hamsters don't chew bars if the cage is big enough (ie 100cm x 50cm or more), and has enough enrichment inside and they are not cleaned out too often or their stuff swapped around willy nilly. But there are exceptions!

I hope this hasn't caused more confusion! But it's a few things to think about! I would have a look through the list at other options as well before deciding It's a big purchase and needs to work for you.

This is our recommended cage list, which has information about each cage or enclosure and links where they can be bought from. Incidentally, whatever you buy, if you buy it from one of our links, the forum gets a small commission Which helps our running costs but doesn't cost you any more. Although obviously if you can find the same thing cheaper somewhere else, then do so!

In terms of the wheel - a trixie wheel is fine - they are usually very quiet and almost silent. Providing it's a 28cm one for a Syrian. They are quite tricky to attach to bars, and when I've used them I've tended to just stand it on top of substrate and tie the stand to the bars to stabilise it (using sisal string as normal string isn't safe if chewed). The alternative is stand it on a platform. If getting a solid sided, tank style, everything needs to be on platforms as no bars to attach things to. Happy Henry Homes makes good platforms at various different heights.

Edit - as you can see on the cages list, some hamsters have chewed out of the Domster.

Hamster Cages 2026

Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2026. Whether you prefer tank style or barred cages, front access or top access, there is, thankfully, plenty of choice in the Uk and Europe. Choice in the US is mainly tanks and tank style or diy. Both tank style and barred cages...

www.thehamsterforum.com

This is the basic set up on a budget article

Hamster cage set up on a budget

How to set up a hamster cage or enclosure on a budget in 2026 and give your hamster a good home. Hint - cardboard is your friend. Our hamster site and forum will give friendly advice on everything you need for your hamster enclosure or cage...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Tigz]

Hello This is all exciting, but yes these days, cages can be quite exepensive and then there are contents etc. Although there are inexpensive ways to set the actual cage up.

The Ferplast Domster is very nice - it is not cheap though and I would worry a Syrian may indeed decide to chew through the wood. While it tends to be female Syrians that are more maverick, you can get some males that like to chew through wood as well.

I personally have mixed feelings about that cage. It only has small doors on the front so could be tricky interacting with the hamster or spot cleaning. It does have a large roof that comes off, but that could be a long reach down from the top to the bottom of the bedding, so also make it harder to clean out. The top and bottom sections do come apart so technically you could lift the whole top section off to clean out/spot clean the bottom, but I think that could be quite heavy with the shelves attached.

Having said all that, it's a lovely looking cage, you may be happy taking the top section off to access the hamster and bedding, but I think you'd need to be prepared for a bit of diy in case a hamster chewed the wood corner struts.

I'm assuming you mean the 100cm version? I think that is the best one as the 120cm version is far too tall for a hamster IMO. PAH certainly has it at a reasonable price at the moment, compared to some other cages and enclosures.

Before making that decision it could be worth looking at other options. Admittedly some are more expensive, but some are also less expensive. There are some barred cages with better access (a front opening door), that don't have a deep base like the domster, but you can put grass mats inside the bars to have deeper bedding at one end. It also depends on what kind of thing you think would work best in your space.

I've linked a couple of things below. One is our "Budget hamster cage set up" - to do it for as little money as possible! The other is our current list of recommended cages.

The most popular ones these days seem to be perspex tanks like the Bucatstate and similar alternatives. Also, in barred cages, the Savic Plazas which are more traditional and fold flat for storage when not in use. You can actually get custom made perspex panels to fit the Plaza and other barred cages from Viking Laser - however they then need screwing on and can add to the cost of the cage. A cheaper alternative is just putting grass mats and/or cardboard inside the cage.

Although the Bucatstate's are expensive, people tend to get them on Temu at the moment, where they are much cheaper and include a bale of bedding. That link is in our cages list as well

Front access is good to have - ideally a large-ish door - for easy access to the hamster and, in the case of the plaza cages, you can just do everything through the large front door and never need to take the bars off. Once it's put together it stays like that. However that depends what height you have the cage. On top of a cupboard or chest of drawers say, the front door is a good height for that. If it's on something lower like a coffee table, it would mean getting on your knees. The Bucatstate's have top opening as well for cleaning out and a front door for easy access.

There is no wrong decision, but it helps to think what will work for you in terms of where it will go, access to the hamster etc. There are a few options with large front doors, but also something like the Marrakesh tank which is part glass with wood end panels (not chewable as they are solid and no corners to get at), which also looks very nice and has a large top opening which is not bad either, as your arm can go in at an angle so less like a hand from above (which can scare some hamsters). I've often been tempted with that one but, it is expensive and only available from Zooplus online. It does have very good ventilation though.

I personally prefer bars - or part bars - but not everyone does. I find hamsters don't chew bars if the cage is big enough (ie 100cm x 50cm or more), and has enough enrichment inside and they are not cleaned out too often or their stuff swapped around willy nilly. But there are exceptions!

I hope this hasn't caused more confusion! But it's a few things to think about! I would have a look through the list at other options as well before deciding It's a big purchase and needs to work for you.

This is our recommended cage list, which has information about each cage or enclosure and links where they can be bought from. Incidentally, whatever you buy, if you buy it from one of our links, the forum gets a small commission Which helps our running costs but doesn't cost you any more. Although obviously if you can find the same thing cheaper somewhere else, then do so!

In terms of the wheel - a trixie wheel is fine - they are usually very quiet and almost silent. Providing it's a 28cm one for a Syrian. They are quite tricky to attach to bars, and when I've used them I've tended to just stand it on top of substrate and tie the stand to the bars to stabilise it (using sisal string as normal string isn't safe if chewed). The alternative is stand it on a platform. If getting a solid sided, tank style, everything needs to be on platforms as no bars to attach things to. Happy Henry Homes makes good platforms at various different heights.

Edit - as you can see on the cages list, some hamsters have chewed out of the Domster.

Hamster Cages 2026

Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2026. Whether you prefer tank style or barred cages, front access or top access, there is, thankfully, plenty of choice in the Uk and Europe. Choice in the US is mainly tanks and tank style or diy. Both tank style and barred cages...

www.thehamsterforum.com

This is the basic set up on a budget article

Hamster cage set up on a budget

How to set up a hamster cage or enclosure on a budget in 2026 and give your hamster a good home. Hint - cardboard is your friend. Our hamster site and forum will give friendly advice on everything you need for your hamster enclosure or cage...

www.thehamsterforum.com

Thank you so much for this! It is really helpful. I had been looking at the Ferplast Domster 120 so I am really glad I did not buy one as it is too high for Syrians.

I am now looking at the Savic Plazas -the 100 and the 120. I am also weighing up whether the Savic Aura 120 Plexi is indeed worth spending that extra money on. I like that it has the clear panels on it.

I have had French lop rabbits for a while now and lost my last one Mischief 4 months ago. The more I went on the rabbit forum the more I learnt about rabbits and giving them the best life. So I came on here before buying a cage and to get information from experienced hamster owners.

Is the extra long 120 cm cage needed do you think? I want to make sure it has plenty of floor space and I am a bit disabled so having doors in the easiest places for spot cleaning and full cleaning are a must for me. I think I would prefer a barred cages due to more ventilation.

My OH is actually saying get the bigger Savic Aura 120 now. It is for my 60th and I have been heart broken for months due to the loss of my rabbit and have a large hole to fill. We have decided not to get rabbits anymore as they are complicated pets and are planning to get a dog once I have saved up which could take years!

I really want my hamster to have a happy enriched life and so I am wondering whether to go big and get the 120cm cage. Do you think it would make much difference to have that extra room for a male syrian please? I just think getting the right cage is an expensive buy so it may as well be the best one that can last. I just don't know if getting the extra floor space is needed or I am just going mad getting the bigger one!

 

[Maz]

Honestly I think a male syrian would be happy in the 100cm one - both mine have been. With the Aura 120, the door is that much higher up because it's above the perspex part, so I found it quite a reach down to the bottom of the cage when cleaning and I struggled with that. But Yorkie seems to find it fine.

I also have a few physical issues! So I need the cage just the right height and easy access.

I personally think that the easiest one to manage, if you have restrictions - is the Plaza 100 - it's less deep, so not so far to reach inside. You can still do everything through the front door. Because it lacks a top door, you need another pair of hands if ever wanting to screw anything to the back bars - but that's usually just a one off for initial set up.

You can get the perspex panels tailor made to fit that cage - they just screw on - so you can have the 8" of bedding still in most of the cage, but still have the easy access lower door. However, that makes the cage more expensive adding perspex panels, but that is what I do. I decided they were worth investing in and have re-used them a few times for different hamsters on these cages.

Not sure if that makes sense, but I had to stick to the Plaza 100 when I started having some mobility issues and both my male syrians were very happy in it. It's perfectly fine. Even some female syrians have been ok in it.

For 14cm high perspex all around it costs another £81 on top of the cage though (see link below). It makes the cage cost £181 then - for the cage plus the screens - which is not cheap. And slightly more than the £165 for the Aura 120 plexi. However I think it's worth it to get something that works well for you. And is easier to manage both for cleaning and it case it ever needs moving. Of course if you get a second hand plaza 100 for £40 that reduces the total cost to about £120!

Savic Plaza 100 Draught/Bar Biting/Deep Bedding Cage Screens - Viking Laser

Customise your Savic Plaza 100 with these acrylic cage screens, suitable for stopping draughts, bar biting or for creating deep bedding areas.

www.vikinglaser.co.uk

The other alternative is the same idea but with the Plaza 120 plus the perspex panels to screw on - I've had that before. And I did find that much easier to manage than the Aura 120 for the same reason - the door is lower. So if you really wanted to go for a 120cm cage, then the Plaza 120 is lovely - I could easily reach inside, and there are also perspex panels available for that too (linked below)

Jollyes sell the Plaza 120 for £100 - which is the same price as PAH sell the Plaza 100 for - it's also £100. So the Plaza 120 is a good deal. But - the tailor made perspex panels cost more because the cage is bigger! So the perspex for that costs £111. Making the cage £211 which is expensive.

So personally - I would go for the Savic Plaza 100 plus the perspex panels

I've added some photos of it below from some of my previous hamster set ups

This one was for a male Syrian - it didn't have much bedding in at one end at that time but more fits because it has the perspex panels. You can just see the silver bolts on the outside where the panels are.



This one shows it with deeper bedding - but the set up was actually for a dwarf hamster

 

[Maz]

Having said that, it depends what you would stand the cage on. Mine is on top of a cupboard that is maybe about 80cm high - that is just right for me to stand in front of for spot cleaning, as the door is at waist level. If you were in a wheelchair for example you'd need it on something a bit lower. So the door was at the right height.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank you so much for this! It is really helpful. I had been looking at the Ferplast Domster 120 so I am really glad I did not buy one as it is too high for Syrians.

I am now looking at the Savic Plazas -the 100 and the 120. I am also weighing up whether the Savic Aura 120 Plexi is indeed worth spending that extra money on. I like that it has the clear panels on it.

I have had French lop rabbits for a while now and lost my last one Mischief 4 months ago. The more I went on the rabbit forum the more I learnt about rabbits and giving them the best life. So I came on here before buying a cage and to get information from experienced hamster owners.

Is the extra long 120 cm cage needed do you think? I want to make sure it has plenty of floor space and I am a bit disabled so having doors in the easiest places for spot cleaning and full cleaning are a must for me. I think I would prefer a barred cages due to more ventilation.

My OH is actually saying get the bigger Savic Aura 120 now. It is for my 60th and I have been heart broken for months due to the loss of my rabbit and have a large hole to fill. We have decided not to get rabbits anymore as they are complicated pets and are planning to get a dog once I have saved up which could take years!

I really want my hamster to have a happy enriched life and so I am wondering whether to go big and get the 120cm cage. Do you think it would make much difference to have that extra room for a male syrian please? I just think getting the right cage is an expensive buy so it may as well be the best one that can last. I just don't know if getting the extra floor space is needed or I am just going mad getting the bigger one!

Sorry to hear your little rabbit has passed. That is very sad. Rest easy over the bridge little Mischief

 

[Tigz]

I am a bit shocked that the perplex panels cost so much tbh. What exactly would I need then please? I saw that you said 14cm but do I just get one front, one back and 2 side ones please? Or 2 front and 2 back?

Also do the top half of these cages not come off for cleaning then or do you mean the daily spot cleaning? I understand what you mean about the cleaning though. This is the sort of thing you may not realise until you get the actual cage home.

My daughter just bought a new syrian hamster for my granddaughter's birthday. She bought the Habitat 3 cage. I did ask her to get the bigger cage due to the new regulations and the PAH assistant was really good and explained to my daughter about getting a large wheel as well.

I am just wondering about the Habitat 3 now as it has almost a metre length and 57cm wide so would the floor plan be big enough? It also comes with a level that can be put nice and low so gives her more floor span. She has a deep bedding now but personally I would put more in. Would that also need perplex around the top of the base though?

I thought it would be easier getting a hamster tbh and it is quite confusing and really expensive! I am now wondering about tanks instead but I realise they need good ventilation. Are there any good tanks on the market that have good ventilation please? I looked at the Pawhut range and liked them as I really wanted to have a natural looking environment but I wasn't sure they had enough ventilation but the wood is thicker than the Domster I believe?

I saw a lovely hamster today when looking for one for my granddaughter that I really wanted to get for me but as I am not sure about what cage to get I will have to get all that sorted first. Such a shame as he was adorable!

 

[Tigz]

Sorry to hear your little rabbit has passed. That is very sad. Rest easy over the bridge little Mischief

Thank you so much. He was actual a giant French lop rabbit and I am so sad. I was talking to the PAH assistant and we were talking about bunnies and showing each other photos and I started crying in the shop. It has been 4 months and I am still crying every day. Thank you for your kind thought. It means so much right now. He is with his bonded bunny Lillabelle now in the meadow over the rainbow bridge

 

[Socks' Mum]

Snuggle happily over the bridge Lillabelle

 

[Tigz]

Thank you yes they are back together now

 

[Maz]

Yes the perspex panels are expensive but you don't need to get them There is another alternative, where you can just put grass mats inside the bars and have deeper bedding at one end. Or you can use cardboard instead of perspex. Or a combination of both - maybe perspex for the front and cardboard for the sides and back. Some hamsters will chew off the cardboard, but some won't.

So it's not essential - it just makes the base deeper for bedding. Guidelines now say 8" of bedding plus for digging - however on here we say a minimum of 6" providing you have a multiroom house as well, as that mimics a burrow. 6" would be filling the cage base.

The Habitat 3 is a good size - it does have some drawbacks for a Syrian hamster. It only has the one small front door and one small top door, so you'd need to take the entire top off to do any spot cleaning at all (but no it doesn't need doing daily). My concerns with that also is if the hamster is in the cage when the top bars are taken off, they can jump out (it has happened to me!). It's also a bit low to fit a syrian wheel and enough bedding - but it could be possible to have the wheel at one end with less bedding and deeper bedding at the other end. It's mainly the access I would find an issue as you may need to take the top bars off every time you want to get the hamster out.

So a middling, less expensive solution could be the Plaza 100 without the perspex Either with 6" of bedding and a multiroom house, or some grass mats inside the bars at one end and deeper bedding at one end.

The Domster 120 is £155 and the Savic Aura 120 plexi is £165, the Plaza 100 on its own is £100 - however there are plenty of Plaza 100's second hand for about £40. It's a good basic cage. Tall enough for a Syrian sized wheel and easy access.

 

[Maz]

I would go for the Plaza 100 - new or used. And keep the cage purchase as low as possible, because the cost of contents can add up, although you can use cardboard for some things. Here's our basic/budget cage set up suggestions:

Hamster cage set up on a budget

How to set up a hamster cage or enclosure on a budget in 2026 and give your hamster a good home. Hint - cardboard is your friend. Our hamster site and forum will give friendly advice on everything you need for your hamster enclosure or cage...

www.thehamsterforum.com

If you did want to buy the odd nice thing for inside the cage (there are some nice ceramic hides available) there are lots of ideas for enrichment on this article as well. But cardboard items are fine too

Best Hamster enrichment items

Hamster enclosures need plenty of enrichment including hides, tunnels, sand bath and sprays. Here we show safe and unsafe items for hamsters so you can choose the best items.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Tigz]

I would go for the Plaza 100 - new or used. And keep the cage purchase as low as possible, because the cost of contents can add up, although you can use cardboard for some things. Here's our basic/budget cage set up suggestions:

Hamster cage set up on a budget

How to set up a hamster cage or enclosure on a budget in 2026 and give your hamster a good home. Hint - cardboard is your friend. Our hamster site and forum will give friendly advice on everything you need for your hamster enclosure or cage...

www.thehamsterforum.com

If you did want to buy the odd nice thing for inside the cage (there are some nice ceramic hides available) there are lots of ideas for enrichment on this article as well. But cardboard items are fine too

Best Hamster enrichment items

Hamster enclosures need plenty of enrichment including hides, tunnels, sand bath and sprays. Here we show safe and unsafe items for hamsters so you can choose the best items.

www.thehamsterforum.com

I do need to read the cage set up inside properly but I really like your review of the cages. I have been tending towards the Savic Aura 120 due to having the perspex already fitted and being a larger cage but I have had a re-think since your posts and also spoken to my partner who helped me with all the rabbit cleaning like litter trays and around their area. He has actually said that he could make these perspex fittings himself. With that in mind and the fact that we can get the Savic Plaza 100 on Clearpay through PAH I am now leaning towards that set up. And until I get the perspex fittings (one way or another) I can use grass mats or cardboard.

This would mean I can spend the money on enrichment things for inside the cage which work out really expensive when you tot them all up. And I can get things on Amazon and PAH through Clearpay too and still pay it all off in time for Xmas and with 3 grandkids it does get expensive.

The cleaning is a big factor for me although my OH can help. But late at night I can suffer from chronic pain and be up till the early hours and it would be lovely to eventually be able to sit with my hamster and give him a treat or run about in a play pen so to be able to get him out the cage myself and do a little spot clean to keep my mind busy would be great fun. The big door at the front would make life easier as I have a bad neck and spine.

I can relax now instead of my mind going back and forth wondering what to do now and actually look forward to ordering my hamster bits. Thanks so much for your help Maz

 

[Tigz]

https://share.temu.com/1vYp0oivaTB

 

[Tigz]

Hi I am sorry I couldn't work out how to share info on this cage. I saw the above Bucatstate 3.0 120cm by 60cm cage on Temu and I was wondering if this is a good cage for a male syrian? I really like the tank type cage but I have found the ventilation wasn't so great on some of them. I realise this is a big cage but I have this as a project idea to help me focus on something other than grieving the loss of my bun.

I don't know if I have mentioned this (I have brain fog sorry!) but it is my 60th birthday at the end of this month so it is a birthday present from my partner. I think it is to stop me moping about and crying everywhere!

I am loving this on first glances but I wanted to get feedback from you guys first...
*Mainly does it have adequate ventilation to support a syrian with 25-30cms of bedding?
*Are the sides strong enough to support deep bedding?
*Is there adequate height to support deep bedding along with a 28-30cm wheel?
*Have owners experienced any problems with condensation, air flow or temperature?

Thank you everyone!