Can A Hamster Live In A 10 Gallon Tank? (Is It Big Enough!)
Hamsters are small creatures, and they’re adorable to keep as pets. However, when you own one, you have to worry about things such as the tank size or the food. But since hamsters can be different, this can get confusing.
So, can a hamster live in a 10-gallon tank? No, most of them can’t. Although hamsters are small, they need space to move around. A ten-gallon tank isn’t nearly big enough for most hamsters to live in.
Today, we’ll cover all about the proper tank size for a hamster, what size tank you should get, and more. Let’s get straight into it.
Can A Hamster Live in A 10 Gallon Tank?
Hamsters are very small creatures, and there are many types of them. But most of the time, a regular-sized hamster will have a very tough and uncomfortable time in 10-gallon tanks as they can’t move around much.
This especially gets cramped when you consider putting a bed inside the tank and some toys as the hamster can’t just stay in the tank. With all the toys and items, all moving space is practically gone.
People might argue that some hamsters are introverted and don’t like moving around. but this isn’t the case most of the time. Most hamsters enjoy being active and moving around a lot, so it can get uncomfortable losing their moving space. Even it would still be uncomfortable for an introverted hamster too.
Is Using A Tank Good for Hamsters?
Typically, most hamster owners keep their hamsters in a cage, and using glass tanks is a bit more uncommon. However, a tank has its benefits and disadvantages, so it might be worth giving them a try.
Besides, most glass tanks have a safe wire mesh on top, and overall, a glass tank can keep children or other pets away from the hamster, making it safer.
However, sudden temperature changes could be very bad for glass tanks and they can get your hamsters quite stressed. But you can get around this temperature issue by simply placing the tank in a well-ventilated area and a wire mesh lid on top.
Another thing to take note of is that glass tanks are very fragile, so transporting them can be difficult and they’re more prone to damage.
If you want to know more about using a cage or a tank for your hamster, you can check out this article.
Things to Keep in Mind When Getting A Tank for Hamsters
If you’re asking, “is a 10-gallon tank big enough for a hamster”, it’s not. The bare minimum tank size for a hamster should be at least 20 gallons.
Here are a few other things you should keep in mind when getting a tank for hamsters —
- Make sure the tank has enough space.
- Get a tank with a wire mesh lid
- Make sure that the surface space is big enough
You should also consider the thickness of the glass since glass tanks are generally quite fragile. This is optional, though. If the tank size isn’t big enough or dirty, your hamster might suffer from respiratory diseases too.
You can check this article to know about the symptoms or how to cure them.
What Size Tank You Should Get For Your Hamster?
Generally, you should try to get a tank bigger than 20 gallons. 30 gallons works great, and 40 gallons is perfect, and your hamster will enjoy it the most. A 10-gallon tank isn’t nearly enough for most hamsters.
The best size tank for a hamster would be 40 gallons with a 16-inch height, 18-inch width, and 36-inch length. This way, they’ll have enough space to stretch their legs and move around even with the items inside the tank.
So, the bigger the tank, the better. However, if you, for example, have two hamsters and want to put them in one tank, even a 40-gallon tank might not be enough.
Related Questions
A 10-gallon tank isn’t suitable for most hamsters, so you should get a bigger tank. But if you have similar questions, you can take a look at the most frequently asked questions we get —
Can A Dwarf Hamster Live In 10-gallon tanks?
Although they’re small, even a dwarf hamster isn’t going to be able to comfortably stay in 10-gallon tanks. You should get at least a 20-gallon tank for them.
Can A Robo Hamster Live In A 10 Gallon Tank?
No. Although a Robo hamster is the smallest to keep as a pet, even they can’t manage in a 10-gallon tank.
Can A Syrian Hamster Live In A 10 Gallon Tank?
No, since they are the biggest pet hamster species kept as pets, there’s no way they can live in such tiny tanks. Although they can manage in 20 or 30-gallon tanks, the minimum preferred size is a 40-gallon tank for them.
How Often Should You Clean A Hamster’s Tank?
Naturally, you should clean a glass hamster tank at least once every week. Hamsters can easily get diseases or illnesses, so it’s very important to keep their tanks clean.
There are a variety of illnesses they can get as well. The most common one is having respiratory diseases. To know more about the illnesses a hamster can have, you can check this article out.
Is A Fish Tank Suitable For Hamsters?
If the fish tank is big enough and has a mesh lid to get proper airflow, it can be perfectly fine for hamsters. Just make sure that the fish tank is big enough as it should at least have a 24×12 base.
Parting Wisdom
A ten-gallon tank is too small, even for a dwarf hamster. Although they’re small animals, hamsters still love to move around a lot and like to have a lot of free space.
Due to this, a 30 or 40-gallon tank will work the best. Make sure it has a solid lid and lots of surface space. You should also keep it in a well-ventilated area as glass tanks can’t adapt to sudden temperature changes.
Similarly, even other types of hamsters are way too big like dwarfs or Syrian hamsters, and a 10-gallon tank isn’t enough at all for them. Besides, you could also consider getting a cage, depending on what you want. Cheers!
