today I'm going to be showing you how to set up a hamster enclosure including everything
that they need
remember that every hamster will be different so enclosure setups will vary
but should still contain all of the needed supplies to keep a hamster happy
I'll be using the Ikea linnmon enclosure which has 858 square inches of floor space
I personally wouldn't recommend using anything smaller than a 40 inch by 20 inch enclosure
because the smaller you go
the more frustrations and difficulties you'll have fitting everything needed in the enclosure
and the less enrichment you're able to provide
the more likely you are to have a board or stressed hamster
if you want to learn more about hamster cages make sure you check out this video
the first thing we're going to be putting in is bedding
this is very important for absorbing not only urine
but also giving enrichment as hamsters are natural burrowers
that means you'll need to place in a deep layer of bedding
I've put in eight inches but 10 plus inches is more preferred if you're able to
be sure that your bedding is a safe material like paper bedding
Aspen, hemp
or Spruce shavings
and that you've made sure to push the bedding down as you add it so it holds Burrows
now I'm going to add in our first Hideout
the one I have here is called a multi-chamber hideout
this is supposed to mimic a hamster's different burrow Chambers they'd have in the wild
not every hamster will use a chamber hide
but I definitely would recommend trying one out
this Hideout is going to be sitting on stilts
stilts are important when placing anything heavy in the enclosure
this prevents the hamster from becoming squished
if they decide to burrow underneath a heavy object
these stilts are made by Niteangel but you can also make your own using dowels
then I'm adding in our wheel
now with the amount of bedding in the enclosure usually putting the wheel on a platform
is going to be the best option so it doesn't tip over or get full of bedding
make sure the wheel you're using has a solid running surface
and is large enough for your hamster's back to be completely straight while running
here I'm using an 11 inch wodent wheel
for things that are heavy and don't come with stilts
you can put down platforms instead to hold them up and these can be bought
or made yourself
next up is the sand bath
every healthy hamster should have access to a sand bath in their enclosure
you can use a variety of dishes or containers for a sand bath
just make sure they're large enough for them to dig or roll in them if they choose to
roborovski dwarfs should tend to have a larger sand bath due to where they naturally come from
the sand you'll want to use in their enclosure should be dye and calcium-free sand
and not dust as dust can cause upper respiratory infections
I personally use the exoterra reptile desert sand
without any added calcium or dyes
you're also going to want to add a couple of other substrates to the enclosure for more enrichment
these substrates are not for burrowing but rather digging in and giving them a different texture
to walk on
safe substrates include cork granules,
Aspen or beech chips,
coconut fiber,
cocoa bark
or corn cob bedding
now I'm going to add in some other hideouts
giving your hamster more than one Hideout allows them to choose where they want to sleep
and also gives them more privacy in their enclosure
there are plenty of different types of hideouts like ceramic,
wooden, grass or even cardboard hides
just make sure that the openings are big enough for your species of hamster
syrians should have an opening of three inches
and dwarfs and Chinese hamsters should have an opening of two inches
then we're going to add in our cork logs,
grapevine branches and other natural accessories like this Birch log here
these items provide another texture,
coverage and something to climb
I'm also going to add in some bridges I have a dowel Bridge as well as a bendable Bridge here
just make sure if you're using this type
you stuff any cracks with sphagnum moss
to prevent Toes or legs from getting caught in between them
next I'm going to add in a water dish you can also use a water bottle if you prefer
but I personally like water dishes for their easy ability to clean
just make sure to put them on a platform and not straight onto the bedding
now it's time to add some forage
these are sprays and they are another enrichment since the hamster has to go and collect the seeds themselves
from the dried plant
there are a variety of different safe sprays out there
they can also be used for hiding coverage if you put enough of them into the enclosure
just be aware of what sprays your hamster's devouring all in one day
as these types should just be replaced less often than untouched sprays
I'm also going to add in some sphagnum and pillow moss
this provides another texture and nesting material for a hamster
and it can also give a nice pop of color in your enclosure
I went ahead and added in some hamster chews because I already had them
but these are not necessarily needed if your hamster already has natural materials in their enclosure
but some hamsters will enjoy chewing on them
lastly I'm going to add herbs which is another forage for hamsters
these dried herbs and flowers are not only healthy if your hamster decides to eat them
but also provides another texture and smell in the enclosure
I have a video here on what herbs are safe for hamsters
I would also sprinkle in their regular seed mix throughout the enclosure
this encourages them to explore more of their enclosure and lets them collect food
unlike a food dish does
if you want to learn more about what enrichment is
why it's important and where hamsters get it from
make sure you check out this video
and that is the basics to properly setting up a hamster enclosure
just a reminder that this is an example enclosure
all hamster enclosures are going to look somewhat different
because all hamsters are different some may not like certain accessories more than others
therefore an owner may have less of something than another
I hope this video helps anyone setting up their hamster's enclosure
and I will see you in my next video bye