Adoption Requirements 

Note: We follow the guidelines highlighted by the California Hamster Association, and all of the cages sold by big chain pet stores are not in line with these guidelines. Please prepare appropriately before applying to adopt from us, as failure to meet these guidelines result in a rejection from the rescue.

Cage/Enclosure Square Inch Minimum:

• Syrians: 600 sq inches (Ideally 800 - 1000+ sq inches) of unbroken floor space.

• Dwarves: 450 - 600 sq inches of unbroken floor space.

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*Some Female Syrian hamsters require more space than a male since they are known for being more active and most will not be happy unless in a cage with 1000 sq inches of UNBROKEN floor space.*

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Suitable cages for both species:

​• 40 Gallon Breeder Tank

• 55 - 100 Gallon Tanks

• Prevue 528 Wire Cage

• Savic Hamster Cage (UK import) ** Make sure to secure circular openings, since syrian hamsters can push the lids out of the way and escape.

• 200 Qt Sterlite Bin

• * Iris 44 Gal. Tote/Bin from The Container Store

• * Christmas Tree Bin (seasonal option)

• * Niteangel Hamster Cage Bigger World

• * Niteangle Vista Hamster Cage W/ Oblique Opening

• * IKEA Detolf Shelf

• * DIY Ikea Linnmon Cage

• * DIY Cage made with wood (YouTube videos recommended to watch: Victoria Raechel's DIY cage video of ErinsAnimals)

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* = Best for Syrian hamster

Essential Items:

Wheel:

• 10" - 12" SOLID wheel for Syrians

• 6.5" - 8" SOLID wheel for Dwarves

No Wired/Barred wheels- these items can cause bumble foot in your hamster's feet.

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House/Hide/Multi-Chamber House

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Water Bottle or Water Bowl (both are good)

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Seed Mix

• The ideal seed mix in the USA is 50/50 of Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Food and Mazuri Rat and Mouse Lab Blocks

• Pure White Mill hamster food and supplementing more mealworms.

^^ this is the food we feed at the rescue.

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6"+ Inches of Soft Bedding

* NO scented beddings or non-kiln dried pine or cedar beddings since these can kill small rodents. Please use unscented paper bedding or aspen. 6" of bedding is essential for hamster burrowing, as hamsters are natural burrowers, and failure to do this will not stimulate their natural behaviors.  

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Chews 

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Sand

Reptisand Natural or White sand with NO calcium

Children's Play Sand (Quikrete)

NO CHINCHILLA SAND.

 Chinchilla sand is too fine and dusty, which will cause a respiratory infection in your hamster. Please use either  Reptisand with NO calcium, or children's play sand from a department store.

With play sand, you have to sift out the big rocks/particles.