Minimum size - 100cm x 50cm for a single hamster. 

All Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters have to be housed alone. Due to this, your hamster cage needs to be large and interesting to stop your hamster getting bored. Hamsters tend to be active at night too, so they must have plenty of things to keep them occupied while you are asleep. 

Many hamster cages are completely unsuitable due to their size. Please make sure you check that your hamster has at least 100cm x 50cm of unbroken floor space. 

The cage also need to be tall enough to fit a 28cm wheel for Syrian hamsters and a 15cm wheel for dwarf hamsters. 

Below are some cages we do recommend for both Syrian and Dwarf hamsters. 

For the main substrate, we recommend using - Megazorb, Carefresh, Fitch bedding, shredded card, Auboise, Kaytee clean and cosy or similar products. We also add in cardboard tubes, boxes and egg boxes for them to chew and make nests in.

For nesting material we use Safebed, a shredded tissue like bedding. Never give hamsters fluffy bedding, the cotton wool like bedding. It can wrap around hamsters limbs, causing nasty injuries and can even lead to their death. 

Hamsters also benefit from a sand bath. This helps keep their fur in good condition. You can use chinchilla sand, available from most pet shops. 

You can buy hamster food very easily from most pet shops. We avoid using bowls and instead scatter the hamster food in their substrate. This is much more natural than a bowl and encourages them to forage providing added stimulation. We also add treats such as dried grass, meal worms and vegetables, though vegetables must be removed before they rot.

For cheap but entertaining toys, we use cardboard tubes, boxes and egg boxes. We also use wood/branches from fruit tress, hamsters love to climb and chew these. Hamsters also need a wheel. Most wheels are too small for hamsters and can cause back issues. We recommend a 28inch wheel for Syrian hamsters and slightly smaller for dwarf hamsters. 

Below are some photos of food enrichment ideas. Stuffing boxes/jars/cardboard tubes/egg boxes with food and hay and letting hamsters chew/dig through or wrapping food in paper are a few things we do here.

Syrian hamsters must always be kept alone, even if they are litter mates. You should never house more than one Syrian hamster together. 

Some dwarf hamsters can live in pairs if they have grown up together, but they can still fight later in life. We do not advise keeping any type of hamster in pairs or groups. You should never introduce adult dwarf hamsters together. If you have a pair of dwarf hamsters, you will need to provide them with enough houses, wheels, bottles etc to have one of everything each. This can minimise arguments.