The choice of a good cage for a rodent, first of all, depends on who exactly will live in it: a guinea pig, a hamster, a rat, a mouse, or, for example, a gerbil. All these animals are completely different, respectively, each of them requires special care, as well as optimal keeping conditions.
The guinea pig
For a guinea pig, you need to select a cage large enough so that it can easily move around, play or just relax in it. The most optimal dimensions in this case are 60X40 cm, with a height of at least 25 cm. If two guinea pigs are kept in one cage, then, accordingly, its dimensions should be doubled. It should be borne in mind that an unsuitable cage can cause excess weight in the guinea pig due to lack of movement, as well as stress.
As for the material of manufacture, it is best to give preference to metal or plastic cages, but wooden ones are not the most suitable option. Guinea pigs are very fond of gnawing wood, that is, it will not be difficult for them to gnaw a loophole for themselves and escape. In addition, you should not purchase multi-storey cages for your guinea pig. These rodents have very weak spines, so they should avoid various surfaces to climb. The floor of the cage should be as strong as possible and easy to clean. But the so-called mesh floor for guinea pigs is categorically not suitable, since the rodent can seriously injure its paws.
Mice and rats
Cages for mice and rats should have the following dimensions: 30x50 cm for rats and half the size for mice. It is best to give preference to a combined cage (metal grate and plastic pallet). Such a cage is easy enough to clean, and most importantly, it will allow the rodent to show their mountaineering abilities and exercise extra. For rats or mice, unlike guinea pigs, two- or three-story cages are perfect. These animals require regular physical activity to keep themselves in good shape. That is why it is highly desirable to equip their cage with various ladders, houses, wheels, etc.
Some lovers of rats and mice keep them in glass aquariums, but experts do not recommend this option - there is no high-quality ventilation inside a glass aquarium.
Hamsters
For hamsters, cages made of plastic or metal bars are good. The latter, by the way, are the most optimal choice, since they allow the animal to freely climb over the trellis. But whatever the hamster cage is, it should have the following size: 45x45 cm and a height of 15 cm. Like mice or rats, hamsters love to spin in a wheel, run on stairs, etc., that's why all these devices are required place in a cage, otherwise the animal will begin to suffer from lack of physical activity, which ultimately can lead to various diseases or even death of the pet.
Gerbils
In order for gerbils to feel comfortable, they need a lot of free space, that is, the size of the cage should be approximately 50x70 cm (but not less). It is not recommended to keep these animals in wooden or glass cages, as they will chew them up instantly. But a cage made of a metal lattice with a high pallet, again, made of metal, is the most reliable and suitable option. Gerbils will also feel great in glass or combined multi-storey cages, where, for example, one floor is made of glass, and the second is made of a metal lattice or mesh.
