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As there are no real cages that come fully equipped, with everything needed, and cage prices are so high these days, I thought this thread could be useful for anyone starting out on a budget.
Cage - good second hand ones available
The first thing you need is a good sized cage. Cage prices are quite high these days and other things still need to be bought, so the best option is to get a second hand one - ebay is a good start. Look out for second hand Barney cages. They are great and suitable for any species of hamster - they are 100cm x 54cm. They are a little tall for dwarf hamsters and robos but there are ways to reduce the falls risks. This cage has 7mm narrow bar spacing as well hence suitable for all species. But check gaps around doors which maybe be larger - cable ties help here. If you're lucky it will come with the original shelf as well - it's a good shelf. It can be washed and dried and then plastikoted to remove any smells and seal it.
There are quite a few used Savic Plaza cages second hand these days - 100cm - good for Syrians (and dwarfs if set up carefully due to the height).
For dwarf hamsters - look out for second hand zoozone large cages (100cm) also - the lid might need meshing though, but mesh is inexpensive.
Even second hand cages aren't going that cheap these days but you should be able to get a good cage for £50 or less.
Get the biggest cage you can get!
Wheel:
The most economical, safe wheel you can get easily is the Trixie plastic wheel - Amazon sell it. It's a good basic wheel and they're usually fairly quiet. The 28cm one for a Syrian is about £13. The 20cm one for dwarfs or robos costs a bit less.
Water bottle:
Having wasted money and had a lot of hassle with various water bottles that leak or don't let water out easily, I stick to these - they are inexpensive, they easily attach to barred cages, they don't drip and they let water out easily. They have doubled in price in the last 2 or 3 years! They used to be about £3. Some pet stores may sell them but they're mainly available online. The 75ml size is just right for hamsters - the clip to fit it to the cage makes it very easy to lift the bottle in and out for topping up the water.
Ferplast Drinky 75ml
Amazon - click here
Porton Aquapet - available to order - click here
Food Bowl:
There are a fair few nice little hamster food bowls you can buy but you don't need to buy one - any suitably sized household dish will do as long as it's not too tall at the sides. Another option is a terracotta plant pot base - this is low and wide so the hamster can sit on it while eating or get at the food easily.
Sand bath:
You can use something like an old ice cream tub for this. The cheapest suitable sand is childrens sterilised play sand (from Argos I believe) which is sold in a good sized bag. Other options are available in large bags also which don't cost too much more.
House/nesting box:
This is an important thing for hamsters as they need somewhere dark to retreat to and large enough to build a big cosy nest - especially in winter. There are some very nice multiroom houses available - but they aren't cheap. A shoebox hide does the job very well. Cut the base out of a shoe box, keep the lid for a lift off roof and cut a hole for a door. Ideally cut the door at one end of one of the long sides (so the other end of the house is darker inside).
Shelf or platform
Hamsters need a shelf ideally in the cage - something to sit under so they feel secure - they don't like too much open space above them - hence a house and shelf are important. A shelf is also somewhere to put heavier ceramic items or a food bowl so it doesn't get substrate in it.
If a cage doesn't come with a shelf then you'll need to buy one. Or make one. It isn't easy finding good shelves. A cheap option is this freestanding Trixie platform
Or this trixie shelf
Ramps:
Shelves and platforms need safe, sturdy access up to them. Another good reason to find a used Barney cage - the shelf comes with a very good ramp! Ladders and ramps are also difficult to find - some aren't safe, some aren't long enough, some sink in the substrate. A cheap option is to have the house next to the shelf or platform so it can be used as a step up to it. So a couple of bendy stick bridges are a couple of inexpensive accessories to buy. One over the house door (to make a ramp onto the house roof) - one on top of the house roof (to make a further step up to the platform). You can get colourful ones made of plain wood. If you get natural bark wood ones, check them carefully for large gaps where a foot could get caught. If they have large gaps - exchange them.
As an alternative to a ramp you could tie a long tube to cage bars at an angle, so it's secure, leading up to the shelf. Use plastic cable ties or sisal string for attaching things to bars. Standard string is unsafe if chewed as made of cotton and could cause blockages if swallowed. A ball of sisal string is inexpensive to buy, useful and lasts a long time.
Or buy this trio of balls - if you can only buy one toy these are a good option! I use the seagrass ball for the string. Seagrass is safe for hamster items also. The hyacinth ball is a nice cage item for a hamster and you can stick treats under the folds as an occasional treat to keep them occupied.
Toys, hides and other cage accessories for enrichment:
Cardboard is your friend. Pringles tubes for tunnels, kitchen roll inner tubes (slit them down one side so they expand), toilet roll inner tubes (slit down the side again), small square tissue boxes for extra hides and cardboard egg boxes with a hole cut in for an extra hide or turned upside down to make a foraging tray with treats in.
Substrate:
This is the litter for the base of the cage - buying it in bulk can save a lot of money in the long run. Fitch recycled paper bedding can be bought in 10kg bales for about £23 - should last about 6 months or more with at least 6" in the cage and regular spot cleaning.
Kaytee Clean and cosy comes in large packs as well and expands. Not quite as economical but easier to get hold of.
Hemp bedding can also be bought in bulk.
Nesting material:
Plain white toilet paper torn into strips is cheap and the safest nesting material if digested.
To make cage items look colourful, fun or more attractive, plastikote pet safe waterproofing paint comes in little bottles of various different colours. A bottle cost £4 and goes a long way (must say water based on the bottle). It's also sold by most hardware stores. This can be used for making smooth wood items wipe clean and waterproof.
Plastikote clear water-based enamel paint
Plastikote various colours
Plastikote - Harbour Blue
There are various tutorials and videos for making diy toys and cage items out of papier mache etc if you feel creative!
These are the basics to provide a safe enriched environment for your hamster - plus a good diet. Good mixes are limited. For a new owner, you can't go wrong with Tiny Friends Harry Hamster (original not fruity) which contains everything needed and has reasonable ingredients. It is inexpensive and a bag lasts a long time. Don't get a pet store brand of food. You can supplement with fresh healthy treats and human leftovers (no gravy, sauce or spices etc, just plain cooked things). Pasta or spaghetti is a nice treat as well. And a tiny bit of veg each day (no bigger than the size of the hamster's ear).
Hopefully people will add other money saving tips
Cage - good second hand ones available
The first thing you need is a good sized cage. Cage prices are quite high these days and other things still need to be bought, so the best option is to get a second hand one - ebay is a good start. Look out for second hand Barney cages. They are great and suitable for any species of hamster - they are 100cm x 54cm. They are a little tall for dwarf hamsters and robos but there are ways to reduce the falls risks. This cage has 7mm narrow bar spacing as well hence suitable for all species. But check gaps around doors which maybe be larger - cable ties help here. If you're lucky it will come with the original shelf as well - it's a good shelf. It can be washed and dried and then plastikoted to remove any smells and seal it.
There are quite a few used Savic Plaza cages second hand these days - 100cm - good for Syrians (and dwarfs if set up carefully due to the height).
For dwarf hamsters - look out for second hand zoozone large cages (100cm) also - the lid might need meshing though, but mesh is inexpensive.
Even second hand cages aren't going that cheap these days but you should be able to get a good cage for £50 or less.
Get the biggest cage you can get!
Wheel:
The most economical, safe wheel you can get easily is the Trixie plastic wheel - Amazon sell it. It's a good basic wheel and they're usually fairly quiet. The 28cm one for a Syrian is about £13. The 20cm one for dwarfs or robos costs a bit less.
Water bottle:
Having wasted money and had a lot of hassle with various water bottles that leak or don't let water out easily, I stick to these - they are inexpensive, they easily attach to barred cages, they don't drip and they let water out easily. They have doubled in price in the last 2 or 3 years! They used to be about £3. Some pet stores may sell them but they're mainly available online. The 75ml size is just right for hamsters - the clip to fit it to the cage makes it very easy to lift the bottle in and out for topping up the water.
Ferplast Drinky 75ml
Amazon - click here
Porton Aquapet - available to order - click here
Food Bowl:
There are a fair few nice little hamster food bowls you can buy but you don't need to buy one - any suitably sized household dish will do as long as it's not too tall at the sides. Another option is a terracotta plant pot base - this is low and wide so the hamster can sit on it while eating or get at the food easily.
Sand bath:
You can use something like an old ice cream tub for this. The cheapest suitable sand is childrens sterilised play sand (from Argos I believe) which is sold in a good sized bag. Other options are available in large bags also which don't cost too much more.
House/nesting box:
This is an important thing for hamsters as they need somewhere dark to retreat to and large enough to build a big cosy nest - especially in winter. There are some very nice multiroom houses available - but they aren't cheap. A shoebox hide does the job very well. Cut the base out of a shoe box, keep the lid for a lift off roof and cut a hole for a door. Ideally cut the door at one end of one of the long sides (so the other end of the house is darker inside).
Shelf or platform
Hamsters need a shelf ideally in the cage - something to sit under so they feel secure - they don't like too much open space above them - hence a house and shelf are important. A shelf is also somewhere to put heavier ceramic items or a food bowl so it doesn't get substrate in it.
If a cage doesn't come with a shelf then you'll need to buy one. Or make one. It isn't easy finding good shelves. A cheap option is this freestanding Trixie platform
Or this trixie shelf
Ramps:
Shelves and platforms need safe, sturdy access up to them. Another good reason to find a used Barney cage - the shelf comes with a very good ramp! Ladders and ramps are also difficult to find - some aren't safe, some aren't long enough, some sink in the substrate. A cheap option is to have the house next to the shelf or platform so it can be used as a step up to it. So a couple of bendy stick bridges are a couple of inexpensive accessories to buy. One over the house door (to make a ramp onto the house roof) - one on top of the house roof (to make a further step up to the platform). You can get colourful ones made of plain wood. If you get natural bark wood ones, check them carefully for large gaps where a foot could get caught. If they have large gaps - exchange them.
As an alternative to a ramp you could tie a long tube to cage bars at an angle, so it's secure, leading up to the shelf. Use plastic cable ties or sisal string for attaching things to bars. Standard string is unsafe if chewed as made of cotton and could cause blockages if swallowed. A ball of sisal string is inexpensive to buy, useful and lasts a long time.
Or buy this trio of balls - if you can only buy one toy these are a good option! I use the seagrass ball for the string. Seagrass is safe for hamster items also. The hyacinth ball is a nice cage item for a hamster and you can stick treats under the folds as an occasional treat to keep them occupied.
Toys, hides and other cage accessories for enrichment:
Cardboard is your friend. Pringles tubes for tunnels, kitchen roll inner tubes (slit them down one side so they expand), toilet roll inner tubes (slit down the side again), small square tissue boxes for extra hides and cardboard egg boxes with a hole cut in for an extra hide or turned upside down to make a foraging tray with treats in.
Substrate:
This is the litter for the base of the cage - buying it in bulk can save a lot of money in the long run. Fitch recycled paper bedding can be bought in 10kg bales for about £23 - should last about 6 months or more with at least 6" in the cage and regular spot cleaning.
Kaytee Clean and cosy comes in large packs as well and expands. Not quite as economical but easier to get hold of.
Hemp bedding can also be bought in bulk.
Nesting material:
Plain white toilet paper torn into strips is cheap and the safest nesting material if digested.
To make cage items look colourful, fun or more attractive, plastikote pet safe waterproofing paint comes in little bottles of various different colours. A bottle cost £4 and goes a long way (must say water based on the bottle). It's also sold by most hardware stores. This can be used for making smooth wood items wipe clean and waterproof.
Plastikote clear water-based enamel paint
Plastikote various colours
Plastikote - Harbour Blue
There are various tutorials and videos for making diy toys and cage items out of papier mache etc if you feel creative!
These are the basics to provide a safe enriched environment for your hamster - plus a good diet. Good mixes are limited. For a new owner, you can't go wrong with Tiny Friends Harry Hamster (original not fruity) which contains everything needed and has reasonable ingredients. It is inexpensive and a bag lasts a long time. Don't get a pet store brand of food. You can supplement with fresh healthy treats and human leftovers (no gravy, sauce or spices etc, just plain cooked things). Pasta or spaghetti is a nice treat as well. And a tiny bit of veg each day (no bigger than the size of the hamster's ear).
Hopefully people will add other money saving tips
Last edited:
