Are hamster cages the best type of housing for pet hamsters?

By cages I'm referring to the barred variety - usually made of stainless steel and usually with a plastic tray underneath. The general rule of thumb is to get as big a cage as you can possibly afford. The hamster cage may look big when you first buy it in comparison to the hamster but after you've put in a food bowl, the toys, the exercise wheel, it will start to look pretty cramped and hamsters who don't get enough exercise can develop cage paralysis and cause him or her to die. So our recommendation isfor you to purchase the largest hamster cage you can afford, to give them plenty of room to exercise after he is fully grown.