Hamsters are small furry animals that require little care, are easy to train, and are popular as pets. Hamster owners either keep their pets in wire cages or tanks. The species and age of the hamster determine the size of the cage or tank.

Is a 20 gallon tank big enough for a hamster? It is, indeed. A 20 gallon tank is typically 24”  long, 12” wide, and 16” tall. That is the minimum size for a Syrian hamster. The length is the most critical factor to consider. A longer tank provides more space for the hamster to move around.

However, a tank for a Syrian hamster may be pretty large for a dwarf hamster. As a result, depending on which hamster you own, it is critical to select the appropriate size. Let’s take a closer look at why a 20 gallon tank is sufficient.

Is A 20 Gallon Tank Big Enough For A Hamster?

So, is a 20 gallon tank big enough for a hamster? Yes, A hamster can live in a 20-gallon tank. The minimum holding size for a Syrian hamster is 24” by 12” inches. Therefore, a 20 gallon tank will accommodate only one Syrian hamster.

For Syrian hamsters, bigger is always better. Syrian hamsters need enough room to sleep, run around, play, and exercise. Running is in their nature, so if you put a Syrian hamster in a tank smaller than 24” by 12”, it will get stressed and try to escape.

20-gallon tanks are sturdy, easy to clean, long-lasting, and can fit a treadmill wheel and leave space for your hamster to move around. It is critical that when selecting a cage for them, you choose a large cage rather than a higher one. This way, the hamsters will have more room to move around freely.

For people who live in small apartments, the 20 gallon hamster tank is suitable for you. It is not too big to take up much space, but it is big enough for your pet hamster. If you have a lot of space, you can buy a larger tank, like a 40-gallon tank.

What Tank Size Is Suitable For Dwarf Hamsters

Dwarf hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters. Therefore, they do not have the exact size requirements of Syrian hamsters. That said, is a 20 gallon tank good for a dwarf hamster? Yes, of course, it is.

A 20 gallon tank can house up to two dwarf hamsters. Dwarf hamsters are more social than Syrian hamsters and are not very territorial. So you can be sure if you put two dwarf hamsters in one tank, there will be no conflict.

However, the length of the tank is still an essential factor to consider, all hamsters love to run, so space has to be sufficient.

What To Put In A 20 Gallon Tank

You must put a few essentials in hamsters’ tanks,e.g., bedding, food dish, water bottle, a wheel or treadmill, a hideout, and toys. Hamsters love moving things around, so they must have items to play and exercise with.

Although, before putting things in the tank, consider their size. A 20 gallon tank will hold a wheel, beddings, and a water bottle. This way, there will be enough space left for the hamster to move around.

For bedding, use odorless, absorbent material and material that can hold burrows. A good example is aspen wood shavings; they do not have an odor and resemble natural wood that hamsters use as bedding out in the wild.

Ensure you lay the bedding about 2-3 inches to allow for burrowing. Clean out the bedding every week.

Also, ensure the exercise wheel has a solid surface and not a crisscrossed surface to avoid cases of injuring the hamster’s feet. It could be tunnels or a small hideout house for the hiding out. Include chewing toys that help the hamster exercise its dental hygiene. Clean the toys regularly.

Can You Use A 20 Gallon Fish Tank As A Hamster Cage?

Hamster tanks can be expensive, so if you have an old fish tank, you can turn it into a hamster cage. However, you should know that hamsters are known to escape. Ensure the fish tank has a wire mesh on top of it.

If there are any objects the hamster can use to climb to the top of the tank, remove them.

So, is a 20 gallon fish tank big enough for a hamster? Yes, it is. A 20 gallon tank measures 24” by 16”, the minimum floor space required for a Syrian hamster.

Here are the steps to using a 20 gallon fish tank as a hamster cage.

• Clean the fish tank to get rid of leftover food. You can use warm water and soap or vinegar. Ensure the tank is fully dry to eliminate the smell of vinegar or soap.
• To keep the hamster from escaping, cover the top of the tank with wire mesh. Use a wire mesh rather than a plastic cover to ensure proper ventilation inside the tank.

Check that the wire mesh fits your tank because hamsters can squeeze through tiny spaces if the top is larger than the tank.

• Cover the tank’s bottom with a thick layer of bedding, e.g., shredded tissue.
• Add a sturdy exercise wheel because you won’t be able to fasten it to the tank’s side in a fish tank. Ensure it’s not too high so the hamster can’t climb to the top and nibble its way out.
• Include playhouses, toys, and tubes that your hamster can play in. look for play structures with more than one level because horizontal systems may take up all the space in the tank leaving your hamster with no room to move around in.
• Finally, include a water bottle and a food bowl. You can attach the water bottle to the side of the tank or buy one that you can put on the bottom of the tank. However, if you choose the latter, ensure you keep checking that the hamster does not tip it over.

A Video Of Different Types Of Gallon Tanks

Here is a video showing different types of gallon tanks, i.e., 10,20,40 gallon tanks.

How Do You Know The Tank Is Too Small?

As we have already established, hamsters love to play and move around in the tank. So, it is very easy to know if your tank is too small. Signs such as;

• The hamster seems aggressive and restless.
• The hamster keeps nibbling the wires on the top mesh.
• The hamster keeps trying to climb out of the tank.

If you observe this, ensure you get a larger tank to accommodate your hamster. If you have more than one Syrian hamster, ensure they are in separate cages. Dwarf hamsters can coexist, but Syrian hamsters can not.

Ensure you cover the bottom of your tank in a thick layer of bedding, i.e., 2 or 3 inches. This makes the hamster feel warm and safe.

Related Questions

Here are other frequently asked questions.

Conclusion

So, is a 20 gallon tank big enough for a hamster? Yes, this tank is enough for a Syrian hamster or a dwarf hamster. However, it is the minimum required size for a Syrian hamster. Always choose a larger tank if you can afford it and have the space for it.

A larger tank ensures more space for your hamster to move around and play in. cover the bottom of your tank with beddings such as shredded tissue. The beddings should be 2-3 inches thick to allow burrowing.

You can use a fish tank if you do not have enough money to buy the standard hamster tank. We hope you now know whether a 20 gallon tank is enough for a hamster.