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RainbowBrite
If the chest is 43 inches then a 75 gallon would fit really nicely on the top.
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Hmm. That sounds more like a 30 gallon tank. If you could go a bit bigger he'd really appreciate the extra enrichment and they can be very active at night and need the space.
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SarahBee
Are you referring to a 75 gallon storage bin? Do you have a link for a proper one on Amazon? Also, I have a cat too and would have to have a mesh lid and doesn’t come with oneIf the chest is 43 inches then a 75 gallon would fit really nicely on the top.
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SarahBee
Well I know a 40 gallon tank would be too difficult for me to clean and move if necessary. Someone said you can use a plastic storage bin as a cage , I remember being on a forum and some people used them. I’d love to have a set up with plenty of tunnels and a few hidey spots and a higher level. Would this be possible with a storage bin?
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SarahBee
I’ve been looking for larger cages that have lids, tunnels and platforms. I saw something on here about the Slavic. Would this be roomy enough?Hello and welcome. He's beautifulPoor thing being in a pet store for 8 months. He's lucky he has you now and a forever home. His cage will need upgrading as a 20 gallon tank is really small for a hamster unfortunately. The smallest you'd be looking for really would be a 40 gallon breeder tank (about 3 foot by 18") but ideally something about 40" x 20". If you're up for making a bin cage, there are some large 160 litre sterilite bins available quite cheap.
The best thing you can give him in a cage is lots of substrate (litter for the floor) ideally paper based although some people use aspen (you can mix the two as well). So he can dig tunnels and burrows. At least 6 to 8" deep. Plus a few floor tunnels and hidey places and a platform. You can make a lot of those out of cardboard - there's a thread on here for cardboard creations. He'll also need a wheel that's 8" or 9" diameter.
Your pet will love this Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Hamster Cage:
https://www.chewy.com/dp/327884?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=327884
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RainbowBrite
I actually meant a glass tank. I know in US some people do use storage bins. Ilguy on here uses one.
The cage you linked does not come up to 40 inches by 20 inches which is the minimum recommended size.
The plastic tunnels cages come with are often unsuitable. I use cork log and cardboard tunnels.
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SarahBee
A 75 would hold 3. I was told 40 gallon but that would be too heavy to move
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RainbowBrite
Why do you need to move it? My enclosure is too heavy to move and I never move it.
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SarahBee
How do you clean the substrate, including whatever urine seeps to the bottom?
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RainbowBrite
I only do spot cleans which removes any soiled bedding. I would only ever do a deep clean for a medical reason such as mites.
I sieve sand with a small sieve, sweep areas with a little dust pan and brush.
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SarahBee
It’s hard to be able to tell what substrate is soiled.i use oxbow which is what they used at the store, it’s very soft and fluffy and dries that way. Also, I have a hard time cleaning the poo that gets stuck to the bottom of the tank along with the urine and dust of the pellets he eats. It’s a messI only do spot cleans which removes any soiled bedding. I would only ever do a deep clean for a medical reason such as mites.
I sieve sand with a small sieve, sweep areas with a little dust pan and brush.
A glass tank rarely needs to be moved. About once or twice a year I take out all the bedding, sweep or vacuum up all the dust and debris that tends to accumulate at the bottom of the cage/tank, and put most of the bedding back in, only replacing the dirty bedding. In between these big cleans, I just spot clean. You don't usually get urine seeping to the bottom of the tank because hamsters tend to pee in specific places, such as the wheel, sand bath, or in their house.
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RainbowBrite
I use my nose. If it smells I remove it. I dont worry about poop because it doesnt smell and hamsters often use it to mark out areas.
Maybe you are worrying a little too much? Because hamsters rely on their scent, changing bedding is stressful for them.
The oxbow bedding sounds nice and cosy for him.
Once you get a bigger tank it will need even less cleaning. I just remembered you have a 20 gallon.
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Hi Sarah. The Hamster Heaven is a bit on the small side and the tubes and penthouse etc would need removing and blocking off anyway as external tubes just lead to abnormal behaviours and the hamster nesting in the tubes - plus steep sloping tubes aren't suitable for dwarf hamsters It also seems quite an expensive price. They do much better with just inidivual tunnels at floor level - it can be cardboard or plastic, but cork logs are very popular as they add texture as well for enrichment. When that cage was used in the past, most people just didn't use any of the plastic contents and set it up from scratch - even the shelves are a bit useless! A 40 gallon breeder tank would be bigger than the Hamster Heaven.
Recommended sizes do vary in different countries (are you US or Canada I can't remember?) But most people are going with the Uk recommended sizes which are 40" x 20" - but a 40 gallon breeder size (about 35" x 18") is also still used a lot and considered ok in the US.
If you prefer bin cages to the idea of a glass tank, then check out Home Mart - I can't put a link unfortunately as for some strange reason it won't let me access the web page because I'm in the Uk not the US - they have set their access to the site to US only it seems. There is a 160 litre sterilite bin available there I believe and some larger ones as well. However, for a bin cage you'd need to do the diy to fully mesh the top panel.
I can completely understand preferring the idea of a cage as there is no lid to worry about as with a tank or a bin cage Unfortunately the Hamster Heaven is about as large as they go in the US. There is the Prevue cage, which is about the same size but taller. That would allow for deeper bedding though if you put cardboard round the inside bars - to help increase the depth of bedding and lower the height. It also has front access. But a 160 litre sterilite bin would be a much better size. If you can make the lid ok.
I'm slightly concerned you mentioned your cat as a reason for needing a meshed lid. Really the cat should not be able to go in the same room as the hamster. It can really stress hamsters out if they can smell a cat in close proximity. Also with a bin cage, a cat can easily pull it over onto the floor. At least a tank wouldn't budge! Is it possible to have the hamster in a room where the cat doesn't go?
It also seems quite an expensive price. They do much better with just inidivual tunnels at floor level - it can be cardboard or plastic, but cork logs are very popular as they add texture as well for enrichment. When that cage was used in the past, most people just didn't use any of the plastic contents and set it up from scratch - even the shelves are a bit useless! A 40 gallon breeder tank would be bigger than the Hamster Heaven.Recommended sizes do vary in different countries (are you US or Canada I can't remember?)
But most people are going with the Uk recommended sizes which are 40" x 20" - but a 40 gallon breeder size (about 35" x 18") is also still used a lot and considered ok in the US.If you prefer bin cages to the idea of a glass tank, then check out Home Mart - I can't put a link unfortunately as for some strange reason it won't let me access the web page because I'm in the Uk not the US - they have set their access to the site to US only it seems. There is a 160 litre sterilite bin available there I believe and some larger ones as well. However, for a bin cage you'd need to do the diy to fully mesh the top panel.
I can completely understand preferring the idea of a cage as there is no lid to worry about as with a tank or a bin cage
Unfortunately the Hamster Heaven is about as large as they go in the US. There is the Prevue cage, which is about the same size but taller. That would allow for deeper bedding though if you put cardboard round the inside bars - to help increase the depth of bedding and lower the height. It also has front access. But a 160 litre sterilite bin would be a much better size. If you can make the lid ok.I'm slightly concerned you mentioned your cat as a reason for needing a meshed lid. Really the cat should not be able to go in the same room as the hamster. It can really stress hamsters out if they can smell a cat in close proximity. Also with a bin cage, a cat can easily pull it over onto the floor. At least a tank wouldn't budge! Is it possible to have the hamster in a room where the cat doesn't go?
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I've just seen your other thread Widgi is a lovely little chinese boy. Chinese hamsters like climbing a bit more than other dwarf hamsters - but not too high. But they are very agile. It doesn't really change cage size but something like the Hamster Heaven would be too low as well as being on the small side.
Widgi is a lovely little chinese boy. Chinese hamsters like climbing a bit more than other dwarf hamsters - but not too high. But they are very agile. It doesn't really change cage size but something like the Hamster Heaven would be too low as well as being on the small side.
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The Hamster Heaven isn't escape proof either 
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Well it is - if you don’t use the tubes . What would be easiest for you? Eg is diy difficult to achieve to make a bin cage lid? I think most people would get a tank for a Chinese but the Zanzibar cage would be ok - that depends on your cat really!
. What would be easiest for you? Eg is diy difficult to achieve to make a bin cage lid? I think most people would get a tank for a Chinese but the Zanzibar cage would be ok - that depends on your cat really!The Zanzibar would be a suitable size for a Chinese hamster but you'd need to be careful with bar spacing as it can have some larger gaps at the corners. You might be able to use wire or zip ties to close any wide gaps.
A cat should never really be unsupervised in the same room as a hamster, especially one in a barred cage as there have been cases of cats dragging hamsters out through the bars of their cages, and they will frighten a hamster anyway. If you can't guarantee the cat will never be the same room unsupervised, I think a tank or bin cage with a fine mesh lid, weighed down, would be a safer option.
A cat should never really be unsupervised in the same room as a hamster, especially one in a barred cage as there have been cases of cats dragging hamsters out through the bars of their cages, and they will frighten a hamster anyway. If you can't guarantee the cat will never be the same room unsupervised, I think a tank or bin cage with a fine mesh lid, weighed down, would be a safer option.
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Thanks Daisy - I wasn't aware of the gaps - it's the same as the old Alaska cage isn't it? It does sound like a 40 gallon breeder tank or 160 litre bin cage would be better and both would be a better size. I can understand the appeal of a cage as there is no lid to make and it comes with a shelf already - less to buy. It's a shame there aren't bigger cages in the US - the Zanzibar is about the biggest.