What good is a hamster cage without tubes and tunnels? They are so iconic and associated with hamsters, that you can’t even imagine a cage or hamster without seeing some tubes in the background.
But there’s more to know than just the iconic image of tunnels on your hamster cage. These tubes actually provide a lot of stimulation and exercise for your furry friend, which is why they’re so important.
In the following article, we’re going to cover why these tunnels are so important, how to add tubes to your hamster’s cage, a number of different ideas to get creative with tubing, and finally where to create the perfect tube system for your furry friend.
So without further ado, let’s jump right into our table of contents and then into the first section.
Why Hamster Tubes and Tunnels are Important
Hamster tubes and tunnels are important for a number of reasons, but most importantly, they provide your hamster an outlet to stay active and scratch their curiosity itch by giving them more areas to explore.
There’s a reason that when you think of a hamster cage, you think of tubes and tunnels galore. That’s because they’ve become almost a part of the cage and in many instances, the tubes are built-in. The main reason for this is because the tubes give your hamster more room to explore and scratch that curiosity itch that hamsters inherently have.
Without tunnels, your hamster may be limited to just the core of their cage, which is often times not enough to keep them satisfied. Imagine if you had to live your entire life in just your living room. Wouldn’t you want the ability to explore and roam around in other areas, even if it’s just a set of hallways? That’s what it’s like for your hamster in their cage.
Not to mention that tunnels can give your hamster views into other areas of your home, provide places to hide and explore, as well as nap and burrow into more cozy areas.
Tubes and tunnels shouldn’t be an option when you are thinking of building the best home for your hamster. Consider them a necessity and you’ll give your hamster the home of their dreams. And the best part is that these tubes are readily available at any pet store or Amazon, affordable, and easily added to any standard cage.
With that being said, let’s talk about how to add tubes to your hamster’s cage.
How to Add Tubes to Your Hamster’s Cage
Tubes can be added to your hamster cage by using pre-built clips and connectors that are meant to easily connect multiple tubes together and hang them on your hamster’s cage. A wire cage with bars is generally easier to add tubes to since the clips can easily clip onto the bars.
Most tubes come with clips and connectors that make them as easy to connect as a Lego set. There are often clips on the side of the connecting tubes that you can hang onto the cage. And because the tubes are made of a hard plastic, they’re sturdy and won’t bend or break as long as you don’t have 1 tube going in a straight line over nothing for 10 feet.
Time needed: 15 minutes
When adding tubes to your hamster’s cage, you should follow these steps:
- Move your hamster to a safe place while adding tubes
Before you start adding tubes, you’ll want to keep your hamster in a safe place outside of their cage. Never make any significant changes while your hamster is in their cage because it can lead to injury or them potentially escaping.
- Connect the initial piece to a cage opening
Start by connecting the initial tube piece to your hamster’s cage. Most cages have an opening that is designed to accommodate a tube or tunnel piece. Ensure the connection is strong and not wobbly.
- Connect additional pieces to the opening
Next start connecting additional pieces to the original opening. Make sure that the connecting pieces are sturdy and don’t wobble or bend. You don’t want your hamster in a tunnel that is susceptible to falling or breaking apart. That can lead to a furry jailbreak or at worst a serious injury.
- Eventually make your way back to the cage in a circle
If your hamster’s cage has multiple openings, consider a separate entrance and exit for your tunnel extravaganza. That can add some additional pizzaz to your hamster’s new exploration.
- Ensure everything is sturdy and reliable
Once everything is connected, make sure that the tunnels feel sturdy and aren’t wobbly or prone to falling down. After all you want to make sure your hamster is safe in their new tubes and won’t get injured.
And there you have it! Cages and tubes these days are designed to work together seamlessly with interlocking connections. Always make sure you are prioritizing the safety and comfort of your hamster when adding tubes to their cage.
Best Hamster Tube Ideas
Sometimes it’s important to look for creative ideas when adding tubes to your hamster’s cage. After all, a circle is only so exciting and if you’ve seen some more extravagant cage and tube setups, you may be looking for some inspiration on how to best design your hamster’s new playground. So let’s take a look at some ideas for your new setup.
Hamster Lookouts
One of the first ideas is to create lookouts for your hamster. Areas that can give your hamster a bird’s eye view of the room they’re in can provide excitement and a new area for your hamster to hang out. If you can get tunnels up to a higher area, such as the top of a bookshelf or desk, you can give them something more exciting to look at then just the inside of their cage.
Tubes Along Shelves
Continuing along the lookout theme, if your hamster’s cage is near some shelving units, you can consider running the tubes to the top and along the shelves. This will give your hamster more space to explore, areas to see, and since the tubes will lay on top of the shelves, you don’t have to worry about the sturdiness or reliability of the tunnel structure.
Two Story Connectors
Sometimes it’s just nice to have multiple stories to hang out in, like bunk beds for children. So if you can create a second story for your hamster to have or even connecting to a second cage (that we’ll talk more about in a minute) you can provide almost double the space without breaking the bank.
When considering new tube ideas, always consider going up instead of down. Your hamster’s cage shouldn’t be on the ground, but it shouldn’t be too high either. By having the tunnels go up, you can give your hamster a better view of their surroundings, which they’ll appreciate.
Tunnel to Wheel
There are hamster wheels out there that act as their own separate piece to the cage. So instead of the wheel being inside of the cage, it can live outside on a bookshelf or table that connects to your hamster’s cage via a tunnel. Something like this is great to give your hamster more room to explore and creating different compartments or rooms for your hamster to explore.
Cage to Cage Connector
As briefly mentioned earlier, one of the more creative ideas is to connect one cage to another cage. This is particularly great if you have an extra cage that you aren’t using. By connecting two cages together, you can immediately double the total livable space for your furry friend and create multiple “rooms” such as a bedroom and workout room. Or a bedroom and kitchen.
If you really want to go all out for your hamster, creating a cage-to-cage enclosure is a great way to give your hamster the best home they could ask for.
Where to Create a Hamster Tube System
When creating a hamster tube system, the most important thing to remember is to build it in a place that is sturdy, solid, and out of the way of other animals and areas where it could inadvertently be knocked over.
Tubes and tunnels are great for your hamster as we’ve discussed in this article, however it’s always important to keep their safety top of mind. The number one issue with elaborate tube systems is that they’re not sturdy or built in any reliable way. Having tunnels that are too long without any support or placed in busy areas that can be knocked over is a bad idea.
When building this new tube system, think like an engineer and that your hamster’s life depends on the reliability of your their new tube setup. Only place the tubes on sturdy surfaces that won’t be knocked over or bumped by someone walking by.
Regarding other pets, you should always keep the tubes off the ground so they’ll never be stepped on or potentially chewed on by a dog. And if you have a cat make sure that the tubes are secured and can’t be knocked over off of shelves, bookcases, or tables. That’s a favorite past time of cats, so it’s important to consider when designing your new system.
It’s vitally important to think about the design of your hamster’s new tubes before setting it all up. If you have a design in mind that is creative, but safe and sturdy you’ll be on your way to creating the best new playground for your furry friend.
Additional Reading
If you’re interested in reading more about hamster tubes and tunnels, or checking out some related products, click on any of the links below to continue reading:
- Hamster Tubes on Amazon – Amazon.com
- Here is the Best Place to Put a Hamster Cage – The Pet Property
- Small Animal Tunnel and Tubes – PetCo
- Hamster Cage Tubes – Walmart.com
Conclusion
And there you have it! By reaching the end of this article you should have learned everything you need to know about a hamster’s tubes and tunnels. From giving them new places to explore to knowing how to setup their tunnels so everything is safe and reliable, you’ll be giving your hamster the best new home renovation they could ask for.
Just remember to think logically and safe. Design a structure that won’t be knocked over, never lays on the ground, and provides your hamster with the extra space and views that will keep them occupied and happy for a long, long time.