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Giving your small animal a proper home is vital to maximizing both their health over the course of their precious, short lives and the enjoyment of having them as pets. Their enclosure forms the center point for your interaction with them as the primary place for feedings and entertainment. These so-called pocket pets spend most of their time in their cages and as a result, they must meet certain criteria. Our list covers options for mice, gerbils, and hamsters. They all have just slightly different needs, but there is some overlap when discussing cages of this size.
For a single mouse, the cage will need to be at least one cubic foot, increasing by half a cubic foot for each additional co-habitating mouse.Bar spacing for their cages needs to be one half inch or smaller for adults. For the most part, a cage that works for mice will also work for dwarf hamsters, though they tend to prefer a little more room. A Syrian hamster, which is the largest and most common variety, needs 360 square inches of floor space. Go here for more ideas on choosing a hamster cage.
Gerbils are voracious diggers and chewers, so something chew-proof with a deep bottom is necessary for them. The best enclosure is a glass aquarium, ten gallons or larger. They’re also expert escape artists, so you’ll have to watch any possible openings carefully.
Mice are also very active chewers and will find their way out of the tube-enhanced habitats that work so well for hamsters. You could use an aquarium with the topper we’ve included on the list for any of the three animals, but you’ll have to be diligent about weekly cleanings to avoid ammonia build up.
The mostly-plastic cages should really be reserved for hamsters, who can make the most of the tunnelling routes and are generally less likely to chew through and escape. Many hamster owners over the years have made happy homes using the plastic-based cages on our list. That said, with all chewing animals, care should be given to monitoring the condition of the pieces to avoid injury. It takes only one poorly sealed opening for a small rodent to escape and be lost forever. Research carefully and choose the cage that makes the most sense to you.
If you have a hamster, mouse, or gerbil, consider our list of the top eleven best small animal cages to give them a proper home.