Hamster cage

[My Baby Mu]

I am trying to get a hamster and was wonder if this kind of cage would be ok:
http://www.cavycages.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=1643&password=&sort=1&cat=512& page=1
EXCEPT with out 2 bins and the tunnels in between them. What do you think?

[dagwellismypigy]

http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/FeatureBin.html this is kind of the hamster version of c&c cages for piggies

[My Baby Mu]

Thanks Dagwell.

[dagwellismypigy]

no problem, what kind of hamsters do you have or are gettin?

[dagwellismypigy]

no problem, what kind of hamsters do you have or are gettin?

[My Baby Mu]

I think I am getting a dwarf.

[dagwellismypigy]

I want to get a pair of dwarfs

[My Baby Mu]

The male hamsters may fight when they get older. I think I will be getting a female dwarf or chinese hamster. One of the small ones.

[My Baby Mu]

I think I am actually going to use the petstore to small for a guinea pig but heaven to a hamster cage. It is about 1ft by 2ft. The minimum is 18 square inches which the one I may use is 2 square feet (about).

[dagwellismypigy]

they may fight but most likely wont, ive heard that in hamster females are more aggresive because they go into heat so often but if they didnt get along i would just seperate the cage "it will be a 1x2 c&c cage

[Furkidsmommy]

We rescued a family of baby dwarf hamsters back in 2003. http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/783507/babyhammies.jpg

Very cute little things they were to. I sexed and separated them and we ended up with 5 boys and 3 girls. Two 1 boy and 1 girl got adopted out into separate homes. We originally had the remaining six living in same sex groups and pairs but eventually had to separate everyone due to persistent fighting. And I agree the girls are more aggressive than the boys.

[dagwellismypigy]

wow now i feel smart!

[Guinea pig guy]

Well guys just to let you know,I know kind of alot about hamsters because I planned on getting them before I planned on getting cavies and I did alot of reading on them and just to let you know,Golden hamsters,Cinnamon hamsters and all those other breeds are best living solo because they will most surely fight but dwarf hamsters are best living in pairs because they can get really lonely and just love to have a freind to live with,so if any of you plan on getting dwarfs,it would be best to get two.Oh yeah and no hamsters really live to long.The teddy,golden and cinnamon hamsters average life span is between 2 to 2 and a half years old but the dwarfs will only live between 1 and 1 and a half years old.

[Furkidsmommy]

I disagree about the dwarf hamsters they fight big time. I have had many dwarf hamsters over the years and I have always had to split pairs up due to fighting to the point that one would constantly get picked on and forced to hide and would not come out to eat. They are much happier on their own. Just be prepared to house them separately if this occurs. I have found that when they are babies up to two months they are fine they cuddle play etc, but when they hit 3 months all hell brakes loose. My 6 little guys are now 20 months old and going strong. I believe the average lifespan for the dwarf hamsters is around 2 to 2.5 years.

[dagwellismypigy]

dont chinese hamsters live longer? like three years? just wondering

[Guinea pig guy]

Well, their life span might be longer now,because those books I read were written in the early 1990s but I'm sure that they do live shorter then the larger breeds of hamsters and about the dwarfs being social,well I've also read that they were supposed to live in pairs and the writers of these books dwarfs seem to live quite happily and never fought at all.I know that the golden hamster and all those other larger breeds will live well together happily after the first three months of birth and after which will start fighting like crazy but I heard that the dwarf breeds will love having company with another dwarf.Hamsters and Cavies will both seem exremely lively and happy the day before their death,than the day after they'll just leave you,it's quite unexpected from the owners and ofcourse a very sad time for them. I'm just telling you what I've read from the so called experts.If things have changed over the years than that surley is news to me.Maybe I'll read the newer books and new info I can about them.

[Furkidsmommy]

Guinea pig guy I am not disputing what you have read and I am not trying to create conflict. I have just kept many hamsters over the years and wanted to share my experiences. Plus I thought it was best for anyone to be prepared for what might happen. I would certainly try and get a same sex pair to live together and hope it works, just be watchful incase of trouble as they get older. The bigger breeds of hamsters do live allot longer around 3 years. I think when you get any new pet it is best to educate yourself with lots of information from different sources I think that everyone will agree that the books are not always correct. I mean how many guinea pig books out there give the right information. That is why this forum is such a great thing it allows people to exchange thoughts, experiences, etc.

I love my little hammies and I think that they are wonderful little pets.