Djungarian hamster is an interesting and funny animal, which can often be found in apartments as a pet. It is believed that these animals do not live very long, but their lifespan depends on the conditions of detention. The main factor for ensuring a full and comfortable life of a fluffy pet is the purchase of a quality cage.
Requirements
The main criteria when choosing a cage is its comfort and safety for the pet. In addition, the future home of a furry friend should be comfortable for his master. The owner must choose in advance the place where the new dwelling will be located, and also select the product for a certain size, not less than the minimum recommended for the dzungarik.
The materials from which the cage is made must be not just durable and strong, but also safe. Rodents taste everything they see, so the rods of the lattice tested by them should not be harmful to the health of the animal.
Choose a cage in which it will be easier to clean. It is more convenient to buy a product with a pallet. Be sure to check if the door closes well.
Dzhungariki - very curious creatures prone to escapes, and a weak locking device can not withstand his sharp teeth. Try to buy a home in advance with built-in paraphernalia. It will be a more economical option, moreover, in the future you will not have to think about where and how best to install all the additional devices.
Kinds
Materials
Pet stores offer several options for hamster cages.
- From metal rods. A well ventilated dwelling in which the rodent feels quite comfortable. The inconvenience is that the noise that the hamster produces is clearly heard through the bars, and dirt is always around. Filler and trash easily penetrate through the bars. The lattice itself must be of high-quality solid metal.
Do not take products made of copper or aluminum - the animal nibbles everything, therefore it will quickly lead such rods to useless.
- Plastic or glass aquarium. In such a closed house, the noise level is significantly reduced, and there is almost no rubbish. In addition, it is the safest option for a house where there are cats - the predator is unlikely to get to the rodent, which is contained in the aquarium under the breathable mesh. However, the hamster himself in such a dwelling will be uncomfortable, as it does not allow air to pass through.
For the owner, the inconvenience is that it is difficult to clean the aquarium.
- Lattice cage with plastic tray. This is the most preferred option. In such a cell is easy to clean up. If the dwelling is two-level, and the “floor” of the second floor is made in the form of a lattice, then check whether the pet is injured by sticking with paws or the belly between the rods. If the risk of injury is high, cover the second level with cardboard.
It is recommended to buy the cells in which the second floor is made of plastic and qualitatively strengthened. Try to avoid wooden elements in the cage, as wood absorbs unpleasant odors, and also becomes a favorite material for grinding off the rodent's incisors.
Designs and sizes
The length of the cage for one dzhungarika must be at least 50 cm. This is even longer than for the Syrian hamster.And although the Syrian is larger than the dzungarik in size, the miniature pet must cover a greater distance per day, so he needs a more spacious cage. If a cell is purchased without additional equipment, do not forget that the area will be reduced due to the established mandatory attributes.
Another important point when choosing a cell is the gap between the bars. It should be no more than 10 mm.
Prefer cage with horizontal rods - such a form is better for rodents, moreover, it is much easier to fasten additional devices for a comfortable rodent to a horizontal grid.
If the distance between the rods is greater, then the hamster will definitely try to escape. And even if the cage contains a fairly well-fed individual, this factor does not deprive it of plasticity.
If you get a very spacious cage, do not forget that the hamster is cleaned quite often, and the large dimensions of the cage will significantly complicate this process.
However, if the owner contains several hamsters at once and plans to breed them, then it is better to stop the choice on a large cage. Separately, it should be said about the bottom of the house. It can be with a sliding mechanism or high. Retractable bottom is much more convenient in terms of cleaning, but a cage with a high bottom is suitable for breeders, as high boards will not allow curious little hamsters to fall outside the cage.
Recommendations for selection
The stores offer simple and multi-level cells. A simple one-story option is suitable for one pet and for the slightly lazy owner. A small cage is easier to clean. But if the owner is responsible and puts the comfort of his pet above his laziness, he will buy a multi-level cage. It is easier to place all the necessary attributes in it, and the hamster itself will be more spacious to live in such a dwelling.
Usually on the first floor the animals prefer to engage in vigorous activity, and on the second - to rest, although, naturally, each pet has its own preferences.
Where to put?
If the house contains other pets, namely cats and dogs, then it is recommended to place a cage with a hamster so that predators could not get to such a tasty prey.
And also when choosing a place for housing, pay attention to such moments as:
- lack of drafts - hamsters are prone to colds, so keep your pet away from drafts;
- lack of direct sunlight - overheating for a hamster is just as dangerous as hypothermia, so do not leave the animal in the sun and near the window; keep away from electrical and heating appliances;
- no noise - do not place a cell near a loudly operating equipment, for example, at a TV or at a musical speaker; the cage should be in a quiet, cozy place so that nothing worries the pet.
To facilitate cleaning, place the cage in a cardboard stand. It can be made from the usual box, cutting off the height of the walls.
Then you do not have to clean up garbage around the cage every day, you just have to shake out the box and put it back under the cage.
How to equip?
To provide a furry pet a full life, it is not enough for him to offer content in an empty cage. It must be located house, in which the hamster will rest and hide their supplies. Place the house somewhere in the corner. Required attributes - drinking bowl and feeder. Usually they already come with a cage, but they are sold separately.
Daily hamster must run a few kilometers. Provide such activity will help the running wheel. Try to install it is not very low. If the cage contains more than one individual, then one pet can injure its neighbor, who has climbed under the low wheel.
For healthy teeth, place chalk or mineral stone in your home. If it is not available, the hamster will begin to gnaw the rods in order to grind off its fast-growing teeth. By the way, if even in the presence of a stone, the animal does not stop nibbling the cage, then, most likely, it is just boring for him, in this case equip its dwelling with tunnels, pipes, and podiums.
These items attract not only hamsters, but also their owners. It is very interesting to watch how the pet studies its interior items, runs through the pipes, drags various things that are curious to him. To accommodate all these important items, it is recommended to buy a spacious cage.
How to clean?
Regular cleaning of the cage affects not only the health and comfort of the pet, but also the atmosphere in the owner's house. Dzhungariki - although small animals, but their waste products quickly begin to emit unpleasant odors, if they are not removed in time.
Every day, the responsible owner must do a spot cleaning of the hamster's dwelling, that is, clean up food that has spilled, change water, remove waste products. Complete replacement of the filler is made every two weeks.
The following steps should be performed when cleaning the pet's home:
- set the hamster into a temporary home, even a regular bank will do;
- discard the filler from the pan, but leave a handful of old contents;
- remove only rotten food that can be poisoned from the hamster’s stocks; do not touch his “pantry” completely, as he tried very hard to accumulate a large supply, and he will be in stress when he discovers the loss;
- thoroughly rinse the tray with warm water using a sponge, using baby shampoos;
- with a damp cloth, wipe all interior items in the cage and twigs;
- wipe dry the tray and the bars, put in place all the attributes, mix the fresh filler with a handful of old and leave it in a cage.
How often to change cells?
Dzungarian hamsters do not have a long life span. For one hamster, one cage is enough. If the owner breeds jungars, then the cell needs to be replaced when the rust is noticeable on the bars and the pallet is cracked.
The cage must be replaced if one of the fluffy tenants has escaped at least once through the bars - his relatives are guaranteed to repeat the feat. And also the cage should definitely be changed if the previous pet has experienced some kind of infectious disease. Often, even thorough disinfection does not help completely eliminate the remnants of bacteria on the rods, which is very dangerous for a new fluffy tenant.
In the next video, see the cage review for the Jungar hamster.
