How big does a cage need to be for a dwarf hamster?

[SistemaAddict]

Dd is obsessed with the idea that the cage we have is too small for her dwarf hamster. I have added a picture of the one we have. The dimensions are 35.99 x 50.01 x 45.01 cm.

Can anyone who is more knowledgeable please offer some wisdom?

She's right, minimum is 80 x 50, good cages are alaska, Barney and Alexander from zooplus, savic plaza from pets at home and there's a few on little pet warehouse too.
Unfortunately pet shops sell the bright colourful plastic ones but they really need the space rather than fancy looking cages.
There's a few sites on Facebook hamsters uk is good although they can be a bit preachy sometimes!
I have a dwarf in a slightly smaller cage than recommended but only as I have cats, as they are certain to kill him if he was in a cage ( previous experience unfortunately) however my Syrian is in a Barney cage and once you see them running round the bigger cage you wonder how they coped in the smaller one!

No wi dee her dad was only too happy to bring it here instead of his house knowing I'd have to buy a new cage. We have a cat too so needs to be cat proof

Tanks maybe better although depends on cat and hamster. My 3 cats won't bother the Syrian at all but keep their beady eyes on the dwarf!
Some people have diy'd an IKEA deltolf so that's an option. Or a fish tank both will need lids though. Keep an eye on shpock/ ebay etc they often come up on there

That cage is too small. I'd go for 70x40cm and bigger for a dwarf. The Duna Multy cage is above this size and it's a plastic rather than barred cage so reasonably cat proof.

www.portonaquapet.co.uk/shop/Cage-Duna-Multy-M36261

There's also a bigger version if you want to go bigger.

www.zoomalia.co.uk/pet-supplies/maxi-duna-multy-breeding-cage-100cm-p-11750.html

I think we will go for this one. Dd has only got a small room so it's going to take up a lot of space. I'm so annoyed that her dad didn't get an appropriate cage when he got the hamsters to start with. One died before they cane here so originally there were two in a cage too small

That cage is perfect for a dwarf hamster. It's one of the most popular cages. It's best to remove the green house at the top as it isn't terribly secure (a hamster can chew through it to escape).

By the way, if you haven't already bought it, that cage is cheaper on Zooplus (£64 plus a new customer discount).
www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/197362

It's arriving today and I did order from zooplus as it was the cheapest. Dd doesn't know so is going to be so excited when it arrives.

Does removing the green house leave a gap? With not having seen it in person I can't imagine it.

Removing the house doesn't leave a gap, you just get an extra door on the top. Hard to explain but you'll see when it arrives.

So far so good but I have 4 extra bits that o don't know what to do with and a tube that ends dangerously above the slide! The instructions are pretty rubbish.

Ok I w sorted the white ring as it goes on the open end of the tube and I've turned the tide around so it's not over the slide. The white clip is for the water bottle. So just the extra yellow clip thing and the clear disc?

I think the clear disc might be in case you wanted to remove the clear tube and cover the holes. Not sure about the yellow bit.

Oh he loves his new wheel! It's nice and quiet too unlike the old one. He's discovered one of the platforms and been in the sand box and seems happy in his new mansion. Dd was so happy too as she's been obsessing about the old cage size. It was a lovely surprise for her today.

He's become much tamer in the past week or so. He used to scarper if we went too close to him but he's started to let dd hold him and he doesn't run away and hide. She was convinced he did to like her and was very upset so I'm glad he's being more friendly.

Thanks for all the advice

We tried him in the penthouse tonight and he got stuck in the tunnels. He couldn't get back out and I had to dismantle them to get him out He doesn't seem to be going on the platforms but is very active at the bottom of the cage in his tunnels and boxes, on his sea saw and of course his wheel. He loves his wheel. Will he get used to it the rest of the cage and learn how to do the tunnels?

You can't beat an Ikea Detolf cabinet for hamsters I don't think. They need a whole lot more space than people appreciate. Hamsters in the wild travel a mile or more each night! They need lots of room and changeable enrichment. Just as people are now realising that rabbits aren't happy stuck in a hutch, so they're moving away from the plastic prisons that pet shops sell for small critters. Have a look on youtube for inspiration with the Detolf.

I'm sure he will get used to the rest of the cage in time. Some hamsters can have trouble adjusting to new cages. They're not animals that appreciate change at all, but it usually takes a couple of weeks with a new cage. Make sure there's enough overhead cover over the platforms as hamsters can refuse to use areas of their cage if they feel too exposed.

If he's a large dwarf hamster he may just be too big for the tunnels. If he gets stuck again I would remove them.

He's only little bless him. I'm thinking of getting some kind of bridge to go between the platforms and a better ladder so he can access them more easily. If I remove the tubes there'll be two holes in the cage where he could escape unless it's possible to get something to block the holes.

@bercows I have that cage. We don't use the tunnels as they are an escape hazard, but our cage was supplied with 'blanks' to securely block the holes. Yellow squares. You should have them too?