Can A Hamster Live In A 40 Gallon Tank? Pros & Cons of Large Glass Tanks
Hamsters are one of the most popular choices for pets all around the world. These furry beings become our best friends within a few days and do not require much in their homes. But ensuring proper living arrangements is important for comfort and a proper lifestyle.
Can a hamster live in a 40-gallon tank? A glass tank of 40 gallons is more than enough for a hamster to live and move freely and they’re better than typically wired cages. Typically, hamsters can easily fit in tanks of 20 or 30 gallons. However, a 40-gallon tank is more spacious and gives the hamsters a lot of freedom.
Is A 40 Gallon Tank Big Enough For A Hamster?
Ensuring a suitable home for your hamster is important to make sure that it feels safe and comfortable. Although a glass tank of 40 gallons is enough for a hamster, there are several factors that you must consider. Each type of hamster has different requirements for space; thus, it is essential to consider the space and number of hamsters.
When choosing a tank to keep your hamster in, make sure that the base of the tank is big enough. A big base will provide the hamster with enough space to discover and move without feeling trapped. Hamsters are usually active animals, so make sure to focus more on the base of the tank than the height.
Can A Hamster Stay In A 40 Gallon Glass Tank?
The majority of cages set up for hamsters are either made up of plastic or wires. However, a 20 to 40-gallon glass tank or aquarium is a suitable space for keeping a hamster. It can cut down on odors to ensure a refreshing home for your hammy. Besides, it’ll allow you to have clear views of its antics.
But you will have to set it up accordingly to ensure enough ventilation and temperature regulation. Also, ensure a secure wire mesh top to prevent your pet from escaping.
How To Keep A Hamster In A 40 Gallon Glass Tank?
To keep a hamster in a glass tank, there are several factors that you need to take care of. Let us take a look at how to keep a hamster in a glass tank.
- Choose a tank that has a large base to ensure enough moving space for the hamster.
- Control the temperature as well to prevent the hamster from overheating or hibernating
- Putting a wire cage attachment on top of the glass tank will ensure ventilation for the hamster to explore and breathe properly
- Cover the base of the tank with wood shaving or paper pellets as bedding to create a comfortable ambiance.
- Provide food and water dishes to make sure that the hamster eats comfortably
- Put toys and a free-standing wheel inside the tank to keep the hamster entertained
- Keep the tank in a secure place so that it does not fall or break easily.
Pros and Cons Of Keeping A Hamster In A Large Glass Cage
Each and everything in this world has its own pros and cons. And this case is no different for keeping a hamster in a glass cage. So, let us take a look at the pros and cons of keeping a hamster in a glass cage.
Pros: Why a 40-Gallon Glass Cage is Better than Normal Wired Cage
Here are some of the pros of choosing a large glass tank over a wire cage for your hamster.
- Adequate Space
A 40-gallon glass tank has more space compared to the basic hamster cages. This additional space allows the hamster to move inside the cage freely. And the tall side of the glass cage also prevents the hamsters from climbing out, ensuring safety.
- Prevents Mess
When it comes to wired cages, the mess created by the hamsters often falls out of the cage. This happens as they dig through the bedding materials and other things. In glass cages, there is no mess as nothing can fall out of the cage due to the closed walls.
- Clear View
The glass cage provides you with a clear view of your hamster. You can keep an eye on their activities without any trouble. This helps to ensure that your hamster is safe and moving properly. It also helps you to keep track of the amount of food or water left.
Cons: Precautions to Take for Hamster’s Glass Tanks
Here are some issues you need to be careful about while choosing a glass tank for your hamster.
- Hydration Issues
Hamsters drink water from sippy water bottles that are suspended in their cages. While this is easy to set up on a wired cage, setting this up on a glass tank can be difficult. You can either hook it or attach it to the tank wall with velcro. However, both of these methods are not permanent and can fall easily.
- Increases Stress Levels
Hamsters prefer moving around and exploring their surrounding. And climbing glass tank walls are impossible. Continuous attempts to climb the tank can increase the stress levels of the hamster. So make sure the tank walls aren’t too high.
- Ventilation Issues
Ventilation is a must to make sure that the hamster gets enough air to breathe properly. Glass tanks typically do not get enough ventilation, which can result in increased ammonia in your hammy’s atmosphere. But you can solve it to some extent by replacing it with a wired cage attachment.
Related Questions
In this section, let us look into some of the most frequent questions hamster owners have regarding the matter.
Can A Syrian Hamster Live In A 40 Gallon Tank?
A tank of 40 gallons is big enough for a Syrian hamster. It gives the hamster a huge amount of space to move freely. The hamsters can also explore, play, and have enough space for entertaining toys.
Is A 40 Gallon Tank Good For A Dwarf Hamster?
Yes, a 40-gallon tank has more than enough space to house a dwarf hamster. This size of a glass tank can easily be home to 2 dwarf hamsters. The hamsters will have a decent amount of space.
In the End
Hamsters are outstanding and active pets to keep in the house. Keeping a hamster is easy and does not require many supplies. However, the most important part of keeping a hamster is choosing the right tank or cage.
Now that you are at the end of the guide, you can easily keep a hamster inside a 40-gallon glass tank. Ventilation is one of the biggest problems in glass tanks. So, make sure that your hamster receives proper ventilation and temperature.