Selecting a cage can be intimidating your first time around, but here we will outline some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Retail Plasic Cages

These are the cages that are typically offered by pet stores and was the first one that we purchased. These are usually all in one solutions that include a basic water bottle, hamster wheel, and possibly some tubing for hamsters to run though. These are nice because it includes most of the necessities that you will need for your hamster, however they tend to be overpriced, and the smallest versions are usually too small for your hamster, who are incredibly active. The larger sizes though will provide a lot of fun for your new friend.

If you look at the picture, you will also notice that there is a wire gate on the sides, which is great because you want the cage to have ventilation. However the plastic bottoms are too low on some of these cages, and it is possible that your hamster may fling bedding through the wires.

Cage set commonly sold at pet stores. Try to avoid the smallest sizes.

Another issue will be that these cages have a lot of pieces, so it can be a bit more troublesome to clean because you have to clean many small pieces.

Wire Cages

Wire cages are mostly made of wire all around except the bottom. These come in a large variety of sizes and shapes, and are usually very reasonably priced. These cages may even come with multiple levels and ramps if it is one of the larger ones. wire cages also will usually include most of the needed accessories to meet your hamster's entertainment needs, however you will want to check if the included platforms and wheels are wire or a solid bottom. Wire bottoms are bad for hamsters' feet, so you will want to either put something on it so their feet are less likely to get injured, or simply avoid it altogether.

Hamsters also love to chew and gnaw in things, and sometimes they may start chewing on the wires of your cage. This is bad and can cause deformities to their teeth, which can result in a few different problems. Because of this if you see that your hamster begins chewing on the wire frequently, you will want to seriously consider changing cages for finding a way for your hamster to stop.

Glass/Aquarium Cages

Aquariums are a cheap alternative to using the commercial cages plus you do not have to worry about your hamster chewing on any metal wires. However they are not designed for small animals, so some of the problems with Aquariums will be that it will not include the other accessories your hamster will need, so you will have to buy them separately. Also you will need to keep the top open because hamsters need to have an environment with circulation and fresh air.

Plastic Tubs and Containers

These are very nice because they are cheap, can be found at any store, and can be customized as you like. Again these are not made for hamsters though, so issues will be finding all of the needed accessories and ventilation. I recommend not using a lid in order to keep the container well ventilated for your hamster. If the container happens to be on the short side, you may need to put a wire mesh on top of the cage so that they can't escape and the tub can stay well ventilated.