Hello hamster friends!
Below are some links to products that I have tried and use for my Roborovski hamsters (and, as of Dec 2020, two Campbell’s Dwarf foster hams).
I’m located in the USA so all my links will be USA-centric. Hamster products vary from country to country so it is hard to provide something that is available everywhere, but I hope to expand to show what’s available in other countries in the future!
Most of the links are affiliate links (specifically the ones pointing to Amazon or PetCo)- meaning, I get a small commission if you choose to click on my link. I won’t add a link to anything I haven’t tried and liked, although I may include some aspirational things I would like, and I’ll make that very clear to you.
I’m in this for the pure enjoyment of happy hams and the promotion of happy hams everywhere. I hope you find this helpful to you!
(as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Enclosures:
Living World Green Moving Home Eco Habitat (link to Amazon, not affiliate link)
*Wish list item- I don’t own this, but I hope to one day!
Sadly, this one is currently unavailable from Amazon (the link above will take you there if you’d like to see it). I did find it at BigaMart. Unfortuantely any option for this enclosure requires a lot of shipping $$ from overseas, bring the price up to $275. BUT it is quite large and beautiful! According to their measurements it should be close to 900 square inches, plus 24 1/2” height means plenty of room for lots and lots of burrowing! :)
Niteangel Bigger World MDF Terrarium Aspen
Another wish list item, I would love to upgrade to this one day! As of Dec 2020 it is sold out on Amazon, but including the link to pictures from Niteangel’s website so you can see it. It’s so pretty and comes in three, roomy sizes! $150 and up. The smallest size is about 500 square inches (and that IS currently available from Niteangel’s website!)
200 Qt Bins: https://amzn.to/3geplCY
Sterilite 200 Qt Bins- they come in a set of three (if you’d like, and I do) and they are HUGE! Like enormous. But still light and easy to work with. You can see my videos using these giant bins on my YouTube Channel I love this bin because it’s super tall- I can really go crazy with giving them room for burrowing and no worries about a wheel touching the lid! Very happy with this purchase!
Kaytee Crittertrail SUPER Habitat: https://amzn.to/2JQuFR8
I now prefer my 200 qt bin cages for my hams, but this is still a good cage that meets the minimum size requirements for hamsters. Please see my blog or YouTube Channel for a full review.
40 Gallon Breeder Tank: From Petco
This tank is roughly 18” x 36” which makes it about 650 square inches of room, not too bad! The height is 16.94, which should be okay for most of the wheels I suggested, but they might need to be on the ground and not on a multichamber hide. I love the way aquariums look, but I find the weight overwhelming and I dread having to move one. One day when I’m not living the apartment life, I’ll upgrade to something fancy and glass!
Save some money by buying online and then picking up at the store (I think they give you 10% off for that!) PetCo also has several sales a year when tanks are a $ per gallon-ish, so you can get a great deal if you’re willing to wait for the right moment!
55 Gallon Breeder Tank From Petco.
This tank is very long and narrow- 48.75” long, 14” wide, 21” high. I like the higher height for a taller wheel and more room for burrowing. I’m not sure how I feel about that 14” wide detail, but it might be about the same as a Detolf hack (I’ll check). Square inches on that is actually about the same as the 40 gallon (I got 672”), but you do get more height here, so it’s maybe worth it.
75 Gallon Breeder Tank From Petco
This is a great option if you’re looking for a more permanent option with great floorspace. It’s a whopping 49” wide, 19.5” deep and 21.25” tall, adding up to 950 square inches of hamster-filled fun!
A warning that without water this tank weighs approx. 140 pounds, so please be prepared with some good friends to help you move it.
Iris Christmas Tree Box from the Container Store
OMG this is the best bin you can get! I haven’t tried it yet- only because I only recently discovered it. The dimensions are 52 7/8” x 20 7/8”, with a height of 14 1/16” ( little bit short :/…). This is roughly 1000 square inches of room! I’m having serious bin regrets now, my 200 qt bins sound so small! Anyway, please be aware of that short height (14”!) This means you’ll have to be careful how tall your wheel is and the wheel will need to be on the ground most likely. I haven’t seen too many reviews or images of this bin in action, so I can’t vouch for it per say, but there is no reason, in my mind, that this is anything but a great bin.
Prevue 528 from Amazon
For Roborovski hams this one is not recommended due to bar spacing, but it seems like a great option for other hams!
I have read that you can do updates to this to make it okay for Robos, but I’ve seen what tiny spaces they can get through and I’d personally prefer not to risk it.
Pros of this cage seem to be great ventilation, large doors on the top and sides, good floorspace for a cage (approx 600 square inches).
The only major con I can see is a pan depth of only 6”. This means a more limited amount of space for burrowing (same depth as the SUPER Habitat). 6” isn’t the worst, although 8-10” (or more for a Syrian) would be better!
Portable Enclosure:
The Living World Small Animal Carrier in size small (purple version). This is great for bringing your ham home safely from an ethical breeder or hamster rescue (please shop responsibly if you can!). It also works well for vet trips, you’ll want to have an easy way to quickly escort your hamster to the vet when you need to.
Wheels:
Even for a tiny robo I wouldn’t go smaller than an 8” wheel! Although both of my robo hams can run on 6 1/2” wheels without bending their backs, they flip and fly out of their 6 1/2” much more frequently. They also seem to enjoy running on the smaller wheels less- when I give them both options, they always go for the larger wheel!
Finding the right wheel for your tiny friend is a bit of trial and error (as I have found), and variety might be great! You can see my detailed review of these wheels on YouTube
TLDR: For Dwarf hamsters & Robos I recommend 8” and above, for Syrians I recommend 12”.
Niteangel Super Silent Hamster Wheel: https://amzn.to/3lKs1JF
Niteangel Acrylic Hamster wheel: https://amzn.to/3tLyRDr
Niteangel Enclosed Wheel: https://amzn.to/3fVl0Xo
Silent Runner 9”:https://amzn.to/2JUegLe
Silent Runner 12”: https://amzn.to/2VG2pD9
Zacro Acrylic Silent Wheel: https://amzn.to/2VG4XBt (review of this wheel here)
Kaytee Comfort Wheel 12”: https://amzn.to/37Wcge2 *please note- this wheel is not silent! But it is a really great running surface and the 12” size is great if you have a pair of robos so they can both run together :)
Bedding & Burrowing:
*I always freeze my bedding & nesting materials overnight to make sure there are not mites or insects in it.
Kaytee Clean and Cozy: https://amzn.to/2LdxIU3
Clean and Cozy bedding- it’s great for burrowers like robos.
Moss: https://amzn.to/3mPdqxV
I’m a big fan of moss in hamster cages. I find the pillow or sheet variety works really well under water and food bowls- it keeps things really neat and keeps the other bedding out of there. I haven’t found that any reptile moss is bad for hamsters (please let me know if you have heard otherwise). It seems like some hammies will try to taste it, realize it’s pretty gross and never try again. Again- make sure you freeze it overnight to kill any bugs in the bag
Aspen: in the US it is widely regarded that aspen is the only safe wood for hamsters. Many people say that other woods (like cedar or pine) will give your hamsters upper respiratory infections due to the phenols it emits. I don’t recommend using aspen alone- it doesn’t allow your hamsters to burrow very well in it, but it does make a great addition to a cage. It smells so good and is soft and not splintery! I personally don’t use it because after trying it once, I realized I am VERY allergic to it! If you have allergies I might stay away from this, sadly :/. Buy from PetCo, or Amazon.
Eco Earth Loose Coconut 🥥 Fiber: makes a great, additional substance for your hammies to dig in and have fun with. Super light 💡! Still exploring how to use this, more details to come! Purchase from Amazon: https://amzn.to/37zNaRU
Sandbaths & Digging Areas:
Acrylic Tray: https://amzn.to/39MaGhm OR Acrylic Trays (set of 3): https://amzn.to/3qxmppR
Acrylic bathroom tray- these work great as sand baths! Robos should have a lot of their cage (I’ve heard 1/3) be sand! So you need a nice large space for it and space to put things inside the sand bath (like a hide). I would love a larger sand area but I haven’t found anything quite as nice lookin and convenient. Plus the acrylic is pretty hard to chew (although I don’t find that robos are big chewers anyway!)
Crystalia Glass Baking Dish: https://amzn.to/2XcLvg9 or direct from their website here.
I decided to buy this very large, 16” x 10” baking dish so that I could put a Niteangel multi-chamber hide on top of it (link to Amazon). I haven’t received it yet, but I will tell you all about it once I’ve given it a try! Unfortunately they are not acrylic options in this size range that I could locate.
ReptiSand: https://amzn.to/3lNeMZ1
ReptiSand seems to be the highest rated hamster sand I can find. It’s really soft and yet not too dusty. You can also get children’s play sand from any hardware store, but you need to sanitize it by baking it first and ensure that it isn’t wet.
Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate: https://amzn.to/37zNaRU
I just ordered a bag of this to give it a try with my hams! I would like to encourage Sofia to do some more digging, I’m hopeful this will give her a new and delightful experience! Also available from PetCo here!
Niteangel Sand bath for Dwarf Hamsters: https://amzn.to/355MtPQ
Niteangel Sand Bath for Syrian Hamsters (okay for dwarves too): https://amzn.to/3rOFEvN
I really want both of these Niteangel sand baths, but I’ve already invested in my acrylic tray options. I love these Niteangel options because they really help keep the sand tidy and give your ham a sense of privacy. I don’t know if the smaller one would work for my robos (can they get in and out of it? This might be too tall for them…), but if I try it in the future I will add my full review here!
The advantage of doing your own sand bath in an acrylic tray or Pyrex baking dish is it does give you the opportunity to design it yourself and put hides, a wheel and toys in their sand bath if you’d like.
Hamster Lava Rocks (pack of 10): Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JXfFk8
These aren’t exactly for digging, but hopefully they help keep hamster nails trim! I’m giving them a try to see if they help, I’ve been placing them in areas they have to run over them to get where they are going, or as a little stool to help them up to higher spots (since I have teeny, tiny robos).
Things to Go Under, Through and Over:
Hamsters, particularly robos, enjoy lots of cozy spots to hide under, crawl through and generally feel protected in. Provide them with lots of variety to keep them happy, healthy and feeling safe!
Niteangel Multichamber Hide: https://amzn.to/39PGRfU or https://amzn.to/2JTXGLB
I just got one of these and I LOVE IT (so do my hams!) Before I could afford it, I made my own from a winebox, and it’s my favorite thing! It gives your hamsters a safe place to hide and gives you a flat space to place a wheel, water dish and food! I also like to put a bit of sheet moss on top to create a cozy place to hang :) These come in many sizes- make sure you get the right size for your hamster (Syrians will need the larger version).
I highly recommend purchasing stilts to put the hide on. This will allow you to put bedding underneath the hide and keep the hide stable in case you want to put a sand bath or wheel on top of it. The stilts come in many heights, I suggest going for the tallest height available, you can always put more bedding underneath: https://amzn.to/3b2u2iw
If you are just starting out and can only afford a few things, I suggest making a multi chamber hide one of the things you get. You can always add extra bridges and hides and toys, but a multi chamber hide will become your hamster’s home base, and we all need a good home base :)
Niteangel Wooden Bridge: https://amzn.to/2JOFXFo
My robos seem to prefer covered walking situations (like hamster tubes) as opposed to a bridge, but these do make great fences around sand baths and look cute! Very versatile- you’ll always find a use for it.
Rainbow Bendy Bridges 🌈:
Comes in a pack of two, infinitely useful! Make sure there aren’t any gaps in your bendy bridge- hams can get their teeny toes caught in those holes and it can be pretty damaging!
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Assorted): https://amzn.to/2VVPj5b
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Twist and Turn): https://amzn.to/3qxT5je
These are great for robos and small dwarves- I don’t recommend for a Syrian hamster! Robos love to hide and feel secure. I like these tunnels because they give you opportunity to create new and interesting routes for them to take round their cage, or serve as an extra hide wherever one is lacking. Toilet paper rolls work too, but for some reason I find my robos prefer the plastic tubes- I’m actually not sure why, but they can be mysterious, little creatures.
Niteangel Cupcake 🧁 Hide:
Strawberry 🍓 Hide: https://amzn.to/36M1eZx
Strawberry Ceramic Hide- seriously the cutest thing ever and the perfect size for a small dwarf or robo. I put this one in the sand bath so my little Sofia has a place to nestle. She spends a lot of time in it and I’ve even noticed a stash of snacks in there.
Cute Hamster Hides Galore from LoveDrizzleStudio on Etsy
I don’t think I fully appreciated the power of a good hamster hide until I bought my first one. My hamsters LOVE a cozy hide. Little Sofia spends a lot of her time in her teeny strawberry, I’ve even found her collecting treats in there. I also find that she sometimes likes to use her hides as a bathroom (especially if there’s sand inside), so I suggest getting a few cute ones so you can wash one and put the other one in. I am starting to believe you can never have too many adorable hamster hides.
Clear Hamster Tubes: https://amzn.to/2Jw6ebW
These particular tubes are a bit larger than the Kaytee kind. They also snap together a little more easily and have less tread inside. They are great for inside a cage, I maybe wouldn’t use for travelling between cages if you have a ham that’s good at escaping- I’m not sure how durable these are. But they look nice and even though the ones I got are clear, my little robo, Steven, still seems to feel safe inside them. I actually might buy some more so I can have one set on a wash cycle while the others are in his cage.
Niteangel Wooden Log(only good for robos): https://amzn.to/36OMhFw
I honestly have been staring at this thing ever since I got my first hamster (Steven). I read reviews, wondered if the wood would be too rough and give them splinters, etc. And then, I decided to buy it! And I honestly can’t believe how much my Robos love it! It’s perfect for Robos- small, lots of holes to look out of, it does somewhere, they can climb on it, through it or be inside of it. It’s not very much money but provides a lot of fun for your little ham. Highly recommend!
Zoo Med Cork Rounds (size Medium): https://amzn.to/3pX4Vmd
I think the size medium is a perfect size for dwarves and Robos. Buy size L or XL for Syrians. These provide a great alternative climbing surface and texture for your ham, plus a place to hide in. However, please make sure you freeze this for at least 48 hours before using to make sure any bugs that might come with it do not survive. I have read a lot of reviews bug contamination from these cork rounds!
Zoo Med Cork Flats (size small, 2 pack): https://amzn.to/37SRe0B
These are a great addition to the cork rounds. They aren’t actually flat, they might have quite a bit of dimension and provide space under it as a hide. I think if you felt unsure about sizing or just wanted more than one cork item, I would get one round and this two pack of flats to create a more dynamic and interesting landscape.
Niteangel Coconut Hide: (I got “natural surface”): https://amzn.to/39UC0tm
I prefer the natural surface variety for climbing and texture. My hams took to these instantly- they are just the cutest little cozy size, great for Robos or Dwarves! I think this might be a little small for a Syrian.
Zoo Med Grapevine Branch (medium, 12”): https://amzn.to/3aF2sGC
Grapevine wood is one of the few reptile woods that is safe for hamsters- it’s not treated to make it sink in water. Again, make sure you freeze it for 48 hours before you put it in your hamster cage. Any size is probably okay, this is more dependent on your enclosure size, but for a Syrian I would recommend going with a larger size so they can climb on it.
Foraging Flowers & Seeds from Oakwood Forest Shop: https://www.oakwoodforestshop.com/all-boxes
The most beautiful selection of flowers and foraging food for your hamsters! I just ordered a big box and I can’t wait to share it with you all!
Feeding:
White Covered ceramic bowls https://amzn.to/3qzYdmC (or green: https://amzn.to/2JQI1N5 ) I find these work great as water dishes, they help protect the water from extraneous things. Not good for food, food dishes need to be larger. I’ve been using glass candy dishes I get a goodwill for food.
Ceramic Water Bottle Stand: from Love Drizzles Studio on Etsy: https://tinyurl.com/y8r9lebu If you prefer to use a water bottle (they do stay cleaner for longer, good if you are not able to clean your hamster’s water dish everyday), this is a nice looking option and very sturdy!
Niteangel Water Bottle & Stand: https://amzn.to/2X6ZAvW This one is a little less visually pleasing as the ceramic stand (in my opinion) but it does a great job of providing water to your hamster.
You & Me Printed Water Bottle, Mini (4 oz): from Petco: https://tinyurl.com/yaysa67q I like this small size for my water bottles since Robos and dwarves don’t drink a ton of water anyway, these ensure that the water they are drinking is fresh :).
Living World Ceramic 🐹 Bowl: https://amzn.to/2JSxNvE I like these as food bowls, if I use a food bowl. I find my hamsters enjoy to have their food scattered somewhere for them to find as a little game. Or, I place their food loose on their sheet moss. But for something wet like vegetables or fruits, I prefer to use a bowl to keep it clean. These bowls are the perfect size for a dwarf or a Robo to climb on in and get cozy :)
Higgins Sunburst: From Petco or From Amazon
There are a lot of options when it comes to feeding your hamster, and lots of opinions! Knowledge is power and I encourage you to read up on Hamster Hideout Forum’s nutrition section. Ask a question and you will get lots of answers! The basic is this- Hamsters need a balanced diet, approx 20% protein when they are 6 months or less, and then more like 18% protein in adult hood. Higgins is one of the better options for seed variety available to us in the US. Alone it doesn’t have enough protein, but if you mix one bag of it with the Mazuri Rat & Mouse Lab Blocks, it is a perfectly balanced diet.
Mazuri Mouse & Rat Blocks From Petco or From Amazon
Purebites Cat Treats Chicken: from Amazon
I recently decided to add this to my hamsters’ diet as a treat & additional source of protein. I originally got the shrimp ones, but my hams were not a fan! So I tried these chicken breast treats and they are perfect. I give them a tiny, 1/4” or so bit as a treat most nights.
Millet Spray From PetCo or from Amazon
I can’t think of something more universally loved by my hamsters as millet spray! They go CRAZY for it. And, it’s very easy to get in the US! I give it in small amounts as a treat since I think if I just put it in their cage they would eat it all in one sitting.
Wheat Spray From Amazon
Sofia is obsessed with wheat sprays! Sprays (aka the grain in the natural form) are fun activities for your hamster. Sofia goes crazy trying to get all the little wheat berries out! It’s fun to watch. Steven still hasn’t figured out this is food yet… but maybe one day!
Flax Seeds or Spray
I find flax spray very difficult to find in the US. You can find them on Etsy, or at Oakwood Forest Shop (European but ships world wide). Foraging items are really pretty and fun activities for your hamster! Plus, flax seeds are healthy for your hamster (of course in moderation, I keep it to 5-7 seeds/day). Since I haven’t tried flax sprays yet, I bought whole flax seeds (link to Amazon) from my local organic store and I keep a small container of them by my hamster enclosures and feed them a few at night as a treat. They love them!
Hamster Herbs: https://amzn.to/397RgTf
Hamster herbs or foraging salad are a little hard to come by in the US, but there is this option from Rosewood. It’s also made for other small animals and is not hamster specific so it’s not my favorite. I’ve personally been picking out the harder hay to ensure it doesn’t poke my hamsters in the eye! (I’ve heard this can be a thing). Hopefully we will have better options soon! This mix does seem to entice my hamsters though, they definitely have fun poking around in their bedding looking for it
For more about hamster nutrition, please see the Hamster Hideout Forum: http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/forum/16-food-nutrition/
Things to Chew
Whimzees! From Amazon Or from Petco: https://bit.ly/3arbUPf
I have heard varying things about how much robos really need to chew. They aren’t naturally big chewers (Syrians seem to chew a lot more), and the Mazuri blocks are very hard- they actually help keep teeth from growing too long (in case you missed it, all rodents have teeth that constantly grow- so they must keep them trim by chewing on hard things!) I’m honestly not sure if Whimzee or other additional chews are necessary for robos, but my hamsters seem to enjoy them and look relaxed when chewing on one, so I figured, they are worth keeping them stocked. Plus, I’d rather not end up with a ham with overgrown teeth!
I have heard that, since the Whimzee chew is ingested, it can make the hamster fill up on Whimzee and not eat their food as much. If you notice this, maybe it’s best to limit your hamster’s time with their Whimzee.
And yes- Whimzees are dog chews, but they are also totally okay for your hamster! I recommend getting the small size, and I personally prefer the alligator shape :)
Cheese Chews From Amazon
These don’t seem quite as hard as the Whimzees, but my hamsters like them! Again, I would keep an eye on it if it seems like your hamster is eating their cheese chew more than they are eating their food!
Hamster Gazing:
Wyze Pet Cam 2:
I honestly can’t believe what a deal this pet cam is! It’s very affordable, and for a small, yearly fee (I currently pay, as of Dec 2020, $14/yr) you can have all your pet cam videos uploaded to the cloud! Since hamsters are nocturnal animals (and can sometimes avoid coming out until you go to sleep), I found this pet cam SO helpful. It allows me to check in on my little friends and make sure they are happy and healthy. It also helps me see what toys and parts of their cages they tend to use the most so I can give them the best care possible. Also, it’s just adorable. I have have two per hamster enclosure, one on each end :).
Hamster Plants:
*more info to come
Cat Grass (wheat)
Spider Plants
Weigh-Ins:
It’s suggested that you weigh your hamster on a regular basis (some people suggest weekly).
I have been using my postal scale. You can also use a kitchen scale as shown. The important thing is to make sure your ham isn’t gaining or loosing weight quickly.
Kitchen Scale from Amazon: https://amzn.to/30YHqOR
Out of Cage Interaction:
I like to use these soft, cloth buckets to interact with my hams. My hams feel safe in them, it’s easy to scoop them up from their cage using these and creates a safe space to bond with your hammy.
Set of cotton woven baskets from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3f5SEtb
Video demonstrating this: https://youtu.be/mRLqSdxCwDc
Clean Up:
OXO Colander Large Scoop: https://amzn.to/3lSi9Od
For weekly sand-bath cleanings.
OXO 3” Mesh Strainer: https://amzn.to/2VLQbJo
If you have a ham that likes to use their sand bath as their potty, this little strainer will soon become your new best friend! For both my hams I run their sand through a strainer about 1x a week to keep it clean of food bits or other unwanted items. But, for a ham who uses their sand for peeing, you’ll want a quick way to scoop it out and get it out of there without removing their whole sand bath. I give you, the 3” mesh strainer! As often as I can (every other day?) I scoop out any soiled sand with this handy thing and keep the sand fresh for my furry friend. I recommend getting both a large size and a small size. 3” for daily, and a larger one for weekly clean up (link to Amazon).
Mini Dust Pan & Hand Held Broom: https://amzn.to/2Lju4b3
This is one of the first things I purchased and it is so essential to keeping your hamster’s cage tidy. I use it to dust off the tops of their multi chamber hides (where many little hamster poos seem to accumulate). Hamster keeping is much easier with one of these on hand!
Don’t Buy:
cotton nesting materials- hamsters can ingest these and die! Don’t buy this, even though they sell them at every pet store!
Hamster balls- I have heard many stories of hamsters getting their tiny toes caught in a hamster ball and sometimes even losing a toe! In one instance the hamster actually passed away from this incident. You can instead create a play pen for your hamster to explore under your supervision, or you can put a blanket in the bathtub and let them run there. There are MANY YouTube videos about how to give your hamster play time- check out Victoria Raechel or Erin’s Animals for tips.
Wheels with bars or mesh- these will injure your hamster’s delicate feet
Cages with multiple, mesh or barred levels- this also is not healthy for your hamster’s feet.