Is a 112-quart bin a good size for my hamster to live comfortably?

If the cage is cleaned frequently the ventilation may be adequate however I would be very nervous that the hamster would escape from these open areas. They can be very agile climbers and are escape artists. I would recommend a commercially available cage instead to ensure that your hamster does not escape! Also, even if you place a mesh over the area, if the hamster can get to the corner/edge of the plastic they can easily chew the plastic and escape that way!

I recommend choosing the larger cage for sweet pea. Hamsters like to have separate bathroom / toilet areas well away from their bedding, so the one with the biggest base area is the best. Height of cage is less important. Also provide safe chewing sticks for her to gnaw her teeth on.

Do not use an aquarium tank. A suitably sized (and secure) wire cage with a solid bottom is recommended. HabiTrail and Kaytee have excellent choices for cages. Buy the largest cage you can afford and fit in the chosen space. You can use recycled paper bedding such as CareFresh or Yesterday's News. Aspen shavings or pellets are also acceptable. Do not use pine or cedar shavings as these can be irritating. A commercial diet from Kaytee or VitaKraft can be fed from a ceramic bowl. A ceramic bowl prevents gnawing and tipping. A non chewable water bottle can be hung to provide fresh water daily. Other necessary items include chew toys and an exercise wheel. Find a veterinarian experienced in treating pocket pets and have your new addition examined to confirm good health. Feed, water and exercise daily. Clean the cage weekly. These little guys require very little care and can provide lots of entertainment. Congrats and enjoy!

The size is not so important. It is important not to move the toys, housing, etc around too much, ie put them back exactly where they were after cleaning out the cage, so your hamster can find his way around, knows where to hide quickly and does not get stressed. Make sure you do not startle him when trying to pick him up. You may want to make the same noise before picking him up. He will learn quickly then, that this is you and not be scared.

That cage set up is so cute! At a minimum, the cage should be 24 inches by 12 inches, and 12 inches high. As long as the CritterTrails cage meets that requirement, you don't need to change it. Plus, Princess has two cages to run between. I hope this helps!

The only thing that I would be concerned with would be if the wood is coated with any type of toxic substance. I believe you can find houses meant for rodents (since these guys chew so much). I would stick with these. Thank you for using Pet Coach!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is definitely a good idea to separate your hamsters to avoid fighting. While a running wheel or ball are great activities it doesn’t necessarily meet a hamster’s normal behavior to burrow. I recommend providing plenty of nesting material in both cages. You can also provide various tubes that encourage further burrowing or huts that allow for hiding and establishing a territory. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!