I'm suggesting plastic tank because it's cheaper and you can get a bigger size compared to a wire cage which will benefit the hamster. I use a storage bin for my hamster which is about 345 square inches and it cost me only RM 50.

There won't be smell if you clean the cage up in appropriate time - like I cleaned mine every 2 weeks and I put quite some bedding in to soak up the pee. If you need idea, you can google on how to make a bin cage for the hamster .. how old is the child?

if you want to go for bin cages, here's an idea :-

http://hammyhappenings.files.wordpress.com...10/rscn2778.jpg

if you prefer plastic tank, you can make it up to be this way :-

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu285/b...lyscam41009.jpg

besides, having a wire cage can cause a mess as the hamster will kick the bedding out of the cage and such.

This post has been edited by starrynight: Sep 4 2013, 04:14 PM

haha...actually tat day my dad did found one plastic tank which 1.5ft in our store room....so I juz keep it as extra cage in case my mum think the wire cage is bad (I did showed her how is the storage bin and plastic tank looks like).
but I can said my living room is not good in air ventilation coz fan cant blow to that corner (no direct sun to that corner so good to hammy also), only depends on natural wind....so it can be warm in the afternoon....I might put the cage out of the house but under shed in night time as we close all the door at night. oh...my house is single storey....

If you are using a plastic tank, leave the lid open. That should give plenty of air circulation. Its quite high so dont have to worry about hamster escaping if you didnt put any big tall toys in it.

Things to consider when using wire cages:
- Hamster will start biting the cage which leads to noise issue due to the teeth grinding on the metal bars (they usually do this in the night after 11pm)
- The metal bar paint will come off so it will start to rust.
- Bad for hamster health, this activity can lead to brain damage.
- Metal bar doors are usually not secured enough which might lead to hamster escaping.
- More work for cleaning especially if you get the metal bar cages with tubes attached.
- When a child put their finger into the metal bars, I can guarantee you the hamster will bite the finger.


This are all based on my experience which is why I changed to plastic tank. Much easier to maintain & less issues, but its up to you.

yeap im wired cage habitrail user and i endup changing to plastic tank.
- 1st you cant clean the wire completely clean.
- the residue inside the wire actually kinda smelly
- hamster like to bite the wire causing rust on wire.
- and they likely to lick your finger from the cage or anything near the cage keep licking.
(licking is bad cause illness, one of the hamster licking the neighbour cat and the cat attack it)
- i try wipe few time their yellowish residue never gone even in deep cleaning and the wire they chew rusted even worst.

Oh one thing I would highly recommend is those storage bins from Jusco/Carrefour.
I switch from wired cage, to plastic tanks, to storage bin.

Firstly, storage bins is easier to move around if there's wheels below. The material is also not as hard and fragile as the plastic fish tanks. I personally feel it's somewhat much lighter to carry storage bins. Plus, I think you can find storage bins that are much bigger than the plastic ones (the biggest so far is 2ft x 1ft? I'm selling mine though, there's pics there). It's also much easier to clean because now I fill it up with hot water from the toilet, then drag it all the way to the balcony then only start washing after a while.

One let down is that it is semi-transparent, but that hasn't affected me when I wanna see my girl playing in there. Not much issues I'd say. Ventilation, my room is quite small so the ceiling fan is practically on top of the cage.

Storage bins may cost more, but it's definitely worth saving all the trouble and pain later. I'll take a photo of my girl's cage if you want to see.

one more reason I like storage bin .. it's easier for me to get them should I want to take them out .. I find with wired cages, there's only a slot where you can put your hand in ..

Don't grab them when they're not tame though .. or else they might bite

I just changed to glass tank recently...easier to take photo haha. But I do think plastic tank is a good choice..cheap and it wont mess up the place

WOW....erm....then I shall see how long my mum can stand with all the problems that u all mentioned since I have a medium plastic tank as a backup....as last hamster that we kept is about 15 years ago, that time popular with Syrian hamster, wood shaving and wire cage...cant see any WW and robo at all....
Anyway, I will keep in mind for all the advise...Thanks...

my hammies are living in a toyogo box actually. if you're afraid your daughters will i dunno... poke the hammie or smtg, why not put it on a table? i put mine on one of our old dining table away from my shih tzu lol cuz he tends to get very excited with the hammie~

THAT. Is so scary. D:
How did you manage to get your Shih Tzu to not eat your hammy, or do anything crazy? D: D: D:

storage box with wheel, i prefer with no wheel cause wheel break and you cant stand balance adi.

robo -.-, its not friendly as other, Syrian and winter better

Oh? Your bin's wheel broke before?
If the wheel break then take out all 4 la haha.

yeap i took out all 4 at the end, so wheel not much use actually

Hahaha.. He is super guai. Just tell him no and he will not touch her.. But definitely have to supervise whn they r together

Ah, so nice to have an obedient dog. I can't have any pets bigger than hamsters, condo rules.

Speaking of which, just wanna ask you guys, what is the most memorable event you had with your hamsters?
It can be a happy, sad, or a scary one.

As for myself, I remember my hamster escaped from the cage, it was at the balcony, and it fell into the drain. ><
Quite a deep one. Luckily she just stood around there, didn't go further down the pipes.
It was really scary, it was night time, raining VERY heavily with thunder.
After 30 mins, I decided to put my arm in it and the moment I got hold of her paws, I carefully pull her up as fast as I could.
Because I managed to save her, later in the years she had 9 beautiful babies. :')

I blogged about it 4 years ago here (http://thatluxurylife.blogspot.com/2009/12/life-changing-moment.html)
(Excuse the language used and the stuffs I used to say there, that was me waaaaaay back then haha.)

What are your stories?
Would love to hear them.

hehe...finally got my hammy from home breeder (Mudah). 5 days with us now..He is not scare of us at all (let us touch him)...but hardly hold him coz he try to escape everytime.... only one problem now....the suitable wheel for Syrian hamster....so hard to make decision.....did u all notice that hammy hair might stuck into the nut of wheel? As my cage is second hand, I found so many tiny hammy hair tied to the nut of the wheel (plastic wheel with 14cm)....so I throw it as I felt so disgusting for let my hammy continue use it...I saw some pictures from internet that super pet comfort wheel have the nut in the middle of wheel too...anyone here currently using others brand of wheel which do not have nut in the middle of the wheel? About Wodent wheel, izzit hard to clean it and put it back?
Oh ya...he did bite the cage, so I juz blow on his face, then he stop...now whenever he is biting n heard me coming...he will immediately stop ..haha...scare me blow on his face la...and I did made him a plastic tank with bathing sand in ceramic bowl....but he din seem to enjoy the bathing...juz keep on climbing on the plastic wall....try to escape...haiz..

Anyone have any idea if this brand called CUNIPIC that produces hammy food is good?
From what I can see its mostly dried food but i dont know if its healthy for my hammy.

One of it is food and the other is as for treats..

-sher


[attachmentid=3636704]


[attachmentid=3636705]

Clearing off the last items I have from my previous hamster

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=2965278&hl=

ngaw! your story is so comel! I live in a Condo too.. lucky for me my Shih Tzu rarely / almost never barks lol.
He just looks at you with his huuge eyes. for mine, my hammie escaped once with a litter of her babies. found one baby here, there everywhere.
but found the last 2 with her under a rack in the kitchen super cute~

What??? Babies everywhere in the house with a Shih Tzu and they're found alive? Hahaha that's interesting.
My condo also has an elderly lady with a Shih Tzu, she carries it out using the baby pram to avoid suspicion haha.