Hamsters – Pocket Pet Central

Hamsters are rodents kept at home as pets. They are friendly animals thus suitable for school-going children. Apart from that, they are interactive and fun to be with. Like Hamsters, Guinea pigs are also tiny and gentle rodents, ideal for companionship and require special care. This similarity is what makes them fit in the same cage. So, are guinea pig cages good for a hamster? Yes, they are perfect for hamsters to stay in. Since guinea pigs are larger their cages are often more spacious than hamster cages. This is positive since hamsters are active animals who thrives in a larger habitat. Why Should You Keep Hamsters in Guinea Pig Cages? Hamsters are known as cheerful and active animals. They need a fitting area to roam around. Since there are different designs of Guinea pig cages, some are huge and spacious. Hamsters are animals that love to run and play, but before selecting an enclosure, ensure that it is big enough to accommodate the hamster's activities. Guinea pig cages have tools for playing, such as chew toys. The hamster is known to be awake during the night and sleep during the day. Night time is when they love to perform their numerous activities like chewing on toys. The cages are well ventilated to allow a clean supply of air. What needs to be added is a wire mesh to cover the whole cage for a conducive environment to perform activities. When hamsters are awake, they spend most of their time grooming or investigating around. Guinea pig cages have a solid floor that is made with materials that can’t harm the rodent. Since hamsters love to move around, the concrete floor assists them safeguard their feet from any harm and facilitate easy movement from one point to another. Guinea pig cages are easy to clean and comfortable to stay. Since hamsters are messy animals, they require a cage designed in a way that is easy to clean. Most guinea pig cages are made with wire mesh and a solid floor like wood or plastic. These are easy to clean, thus a suitable environment for the rodents. Is it Cruel to Keep Hamsters in a Cage? Keeping hamsters in a cage is not bad as there are several animals kept in captivity. The most important thing is that their daily needs are met. Such requirements include adequate space, good ventilation, wheels, food, chewing's toys and a solid floor, among others. After all, you want the best for your hamster, right? Hamsters have no problem staying in cages as long as adequate space is provided to move around. On the other hand, a hamster can get bored just like human beings. When placed in a sparse set up with inadequate resources, they tend to become inactive and depressed. As mentioned earlier, hamsters are active animals that like to move freely. Therefore, it is essential to find a good guinea pig cage, one that is big enough and has adequate space to accommodate your hamsters so that they can become active naturally. Okay, now that you know it is not a crime to keep hamsters in the cages, let’s move into the types of guinea pig cages. Types of Guinea Pig Cages There are several types of guinea pig cages on the market. If you plan to convert your guinea pig cages to hamsters, here is a list to assist you choose the best. 1. Woody Wabbits Cavy Cage This cage is designed to provide space for a single pet. It is suitable for a hamster as it is built with strong galvanized wire to prevent the rodent's escape. Moreover, it is made with a plastic pan which you can replace in case of faultiness. The most exciting part about it is that it is easy to clean. What you need to do is to empty the dirty bedding and wipe the pan. 2. Homemade Guinea Pig Cage If you are searching for an affordable enclosure, make a homemade guinea pig cage. This cage will provide a spacious habitat for your hamster. Examples of such sections are; cube kits and coroplast and storage tub habitats. Cube Kits and Coroplast Also known as Coro and Cube cage, they consist of metal and corrugated plastic storage cube kits. On top of that, they are suitable for creating a spacious room for your little pet. The most important thing about this cage is that you can build it independently without getting any professional assistance. Since there is no lid to cover the top surface, you can get a wire mesh to cover for security and ventilation. To make the cage, cut a piece of corrugated plastic, then fold to create a liner. Connect the liner with wire panels to create the desired shape. Storage Tub Habitats Plastic storage is not only used for keeping food or other stuff. They have other uses like constructing a home for a guinea pig (or hamster). Making the tub is very easy. Just take a newspaper and place it in the tub to create comfortable bedding. The next thing to do is put a wire mesh in place of the lid so that air can move freely. After the set-up, put food, water and playing toys in a sunlight accessible location. Well, this is a perfect and simple habitat for hamsters, too, since it has almost all the features needed. 3. Ware Living Room Series Cage This cage is suitable to keep hamsters since it is made with steel and has a lock to prevent hamsters from escaping. Furthermore, it has a deeper tray to keep the bedding away from the floor. In addition to the tray, there's a ramp leading the way up to the feeding area. Cleaning the cage is an easy task since you only have to remove your pet and slide the tray to remove dirt. You can learn more about the cage over at Amazon here. 4. Prevue Hendryx Jumbo Small Animal Cage This cage has a lot of features similar to a Ware Cage. The better part is the availability of space. The grill floor is not good for hamsters since it can hurt their feet. For better results, you can replace the grill floor with more comfortable material. You can learn more about this cage over at Amazon here. With all that in mind, it's evident that you have an idea of how a guinea pig cage can be converted for hamsters. Now that you have adequate information let's look at the flooring tips. Tips for Preserving Floor Space 1. Water Bottle Using a Water bottle is much better than placing it in a bowl. Additionally, it will also maintain the hygiene of the cage. Unlike a water bowl that might soak the floor from consistent fouling, bottled water will prevent soaking since water is taken through the tubes. 2. Hanging Bee Feeder A hanging bee feeder is much better than placing feeding bowls on the floor. A hanging feeder's good thing is that it will allow food to drop from the top to the dish instead of feeding directly from the bowl. On top of that, the feeder will save up space and not allow too much dirt on the floor. 3. The Right Wheel Hamsters are known for sleeping a lot, but they play as much as they can when awake. Among the things that keep them busy is a wheel. Getting the right wheel size will not only create natural fun but will also save space. On the other hand, getting a wheel that does not match your hamster's size will create a mess. 4. Ropes and Ladders Another tip for saving floor space is to get either a ladder or a rope. The two will facilitate easy movement and space since they will occupy less area. 5. Hanging Toys Toys play a very integral part in the life of Hamsters. You can get chewable kid’s toys with a mixture of colours to entice them. Moreover, you can hang them to save floor space. To Conclude Hamsters are great animals because they are friendly and active. However, they need a comfortable place to stay and explore their surroundings. But this can only happen if they get a comfortable habitat. Since guinea pig cages are large and spacious, you can easily convert them into a hamster's space without compromising anything. This post has outlined what you need to know about converting guinea pig cages to hamsters. If you are planning to do so, follow the tips provided above.