How to Set up a Hamster Cage on a BUDGET 💸 

I just got a hamster today!! Her name is magnolia and she’s a Syrian. She is super duper cute! I built her the diy 1152 square inch enclosure with 10 inches of bedding, a sand bath, cork granule, aspen shavings, cork log, grapevine wood, 11.6 inch niteangel wheel, multi chamber hide, sprays, herbs and flowers, etc. thank you so so much for teaching me how to care for a hamster ❤❤

Thank you Victoria, I have two hamsters now and they are living in big enclosures with a lot of enrichment thanks to you. ☺️ I have a robo dwarf called popcorn and a Campbell’s dwarf called buttons 🐹💞 Dipper is so cute 🥺

Amazing video as usual!! It was definitely worth the wait for this video, and I'm sorry you had problems when saving the video! It's super important to realise that you don't have to spend £50 on a multi chamber hide when you can make one for free! This video will definitely help so many people save some money!❤🐹

The enrichment items you designed are wonderful, that's not easy to come up with new enrichment items, and you had several I've never seen before! Also I loved the low cost and functionality, they checked all the right boxes, that's freaking amazing!

ALWAYS LOVE YOUR EDUCATIONAL, LOGICAL HAMSTER KNOWLEDGE!!! 🥰😍❤

You're the most polite person I've ever seen!!! Tysm for the trypophobia warning

Tysm! My hamster is so happy she's having the best life she can get because of you.She has a lot of enrichment and hides.Thank u again.❤😊

I had a hamster that sadly passed away in may, i always watched your videos and thanks to you she had the best life possible. I started off with a little plastic cage from the pet store and they also gave us cotton fluff and said it was safe, after watching your video i ran to her cage and got rid off all the fluff she loved a long and happy life and i made so many toys from your videos. Thank you so much victoria

hi Victoria! you have helped me with my hamster care so much! my hamster used to live in a small wire cage from the pet store and now she is in over 600 sq :) i’m so appreciative of you and i love your videos❤

This video was so helpful! I think a lot of people will appreciate these DIYs.

I like using mug cups and putting them in their sandbaths/dig boxes. They help cool your hamster down during the summer and are very cheap! You can also use them to pick your hamster up to tame them.

OMG!!! Never thought of DIY'ing these with cardboard! wow.. thanks Victoria!!!!!

4:57 also as long as your hamster isn’t a plastic chewer, you can use cheap Tupperware as well

I love this! Hamsters aren't that hard to please you just have to think about what they actually like and not what the pet store tells you they like. ❤ my bunny always appreciated any kind of cardboard to chew on too.

Wow! This is great! I’ve been waiting for this video for sooo long! This is so helpful as well thanks Victoria 👍🏻

We recently adopted a cream long haired Syrian female we named Muffin. She is nearly 4 months old & we just love her. I really appreciate how helpful your videos are. I have owned a few hamsters & feel bad for how bored they were, with my first female even peeing through the bars of her tiny, round cage! Muffin doesn't care for boredom breakers, but she loves to burrow & tunnels in her bedding ever since we added almost 8 inches. My kids say I spoil her, but I think I'm making up for years of not knowing any better. Blondie, Rio & Ruby deserved better, so I'm showing that love to Muffin 💕

I got a hamster in june and a second hamster last week. I found your channel when I was thinking about getting a hamster, and you've been so helpful. I've learnt so much from you, and I've been improving my hamsters' lives. ❤Thank you so much!

Thank you for macking my hamsters life better

im getting a hamster very soon and my dad said i have to look on amazon to see how much money it would cost so i can save up that much, and a little extra for vet visits. but this may narrow it down to just 115 dollars or so! thanks victoria! i have been watching your channrl for years!

I just bought a little hammy today and spent a total of 300€/400$ and my cage is 100x50x50 and got a proper sized wheel 11 inch I’m first time HAMPTER owner :) and your videos got me prepared little floof ball loves his new enclosure

You are absolutely right! With a bit of creativity and almost zero money people can make a rich and engaging setups for their hamsters. We all have easy access to cardboard and safe glue is super cheap. However, a common answer I get is ''why bother when the hamster is going to destroy it''. Who cares if they destroy it! They are having fun while doing it, they have something to do in stead of being bored. When it comes to cereal boxes and other boxes that have dye on them, I personally prefer not to use them because I don't want my ham to ingest the dye.

Hi I have a hamster called Bella and she is going to be 1 in October and I got her from a pet store sadly she used to be in a pet store cage but thanks to you she is now living in a big cage the pet store didn’t give me any information about her age so she looked like she was 2 months old and I got a big wheel I’m 10 years old but I take good care of her thank you for your help and I love your channel I hope you can read this she has a decent amount of bedding I used to use just carefresh and now use kaytee with carefresh

Thank you ,this is an amazing video for people who want to own a hamster on a budget!❤

Thank you so so much for these videos!!! We discovered a Syrian hamster had burrowed under our front porch last week. I had rats in my teens, but I had never had a hamster. I started watching your videos to figure out how to keep him safe and happy while I figured out what to do with him. I posted my number in the neighborhood that I had found him.. but nobody has claimed him. Initially I had planned to take him to the local animal rescue, however I started to worry that he wouldn't get the best care if he were adopted because your videos showed me just how much care hamsters need. So I now have a black Syrian hamster with a very large habitat full of safe and enriching toys and plenty of places to hide and burrow!

I love these videos so much! You saved my hamsters life!😅 Ty Victoria for teaching me !❤

I've watched this video at least ten times, and it gets cuter every time

I'm preparing for a hamster, I've been researching it for about many years (like a little child i was) until my therapist convinced my parents to agree to get me one, so this helps a lot

You taught me how to take care of my dwarf hamster properly! Thank you :)

Hey, first time viewer here. I went down a rabbit hole (or maybe a hamster hole?) watching videos related to hamsters and their care. I saw your channel recommended _by name,_ and I was curious, so I watched this. It really gave me confidence in you to see such a rich enclosure that you built for a lil fella, all while you own a bunny and two cats! I'm glad your hamsters are in environments where they're safe from cats' wily instincts. When my mom and I were between houses, we stayed with friends who had a pat rabbit and a new Robo dwarf hamster. My cats, who they graciously let us keep with us the whole stay, regarded the bunny with mere intrigue and a bit of confusion, but I think because she was close in size to them meant to them she was just a weird cat. I saw my SAINT of a cat, Nemo (who was the most polite, well-behaved cat I've EVER met), got this mad twinkle in his eye when he spotted that little hamster in his cage. I brought it up to our friends (their son kept the hammy and rabbit in his room), and they were fine with keeping the hamster and his small enclosure outside of that room (the cats were shut in there). So glad you're a DILIGENT pet owner! Thanks for making videos like these educating people!

Hi Victoria hope u see this where I live we don't get a big enough hamster wheel so can I make a DIY one is that safe?

Tysm, I just bought Topokki and before having her I had a hamster named spots but he died so I gave all my supplies to a friend with a hamster as well. When I got Topokki I was worried I would have to but all the supplies again which was really expensive for me considering I’m still in junior year. Watching this video helped me create supplies for my new hamster for cheap.❤❤❤❤❤

omg i just bought a large aquarium tank from the second hand store i work at for my ham, this is such perfect timing. i've had him in an enormous storage bin that was modified to mock a wooden-acrylic enclosure and got so excited to find the tank (: so happi!

I just got my first 40 gallon!! I'm so excited to get my hamster

This is one of the best videos you've uploaded. Thanks. I'm always trying to encourage people to try making their own . Thanks for all the effort you put into these youtubes.

thank you so much victoria! i've recently bought a bin cage with 966 sq in of floorspace!! ive been wondering what to use in the cage whether its bedding, enriching toys, or wheels!! your videos are so so helpful, i appreciate you so much (especially as a minor with little influence!) ❤❤

You are a life saver you know I love your vids they in spider me so much to be like you

I love how you notice people that don’t have enough funds for a hamster and give us tips I recently got a hamster in totally using these tips!!!🎉

My hamster uses so many boxes and LOVES them. I call her trailer park hammie

Thank you for making these videos. Without you I wouldn’t have gotten my hamsters, Percy, Bean, Chip. They have passed away and I’m thinking of them and what Ed to thank you because without you I would have never got to love them without you helping ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm moving overseas and can't take my hamster with me so I have to give her to some friends. I'm scared they wont take good care of her but I'll make sure they watch your videos amd I'll tell them about hamsyer care as much as I can! Ty for esucating people on hamster care! You make it clear how easy it really is so people have no excuse for bad care!

Thank you so much for this awesome video! I’m currently saving up for a bigger cage and I’m planning on making lots of cardboard diy’s. Hope you have a great day! :)

also pick n fly sprays on UK amazon are just under £4, you get 3 types of sprays!! so cheap, also trixie wheels are under £20

6:50 oh my god thank you so much Victoria for the warning!!!!!

I just got a hamster a week ago and I’m a bit worried bc it feels like he isn’t settling in whatsoever he still seems rlly anxious any tips from anyone would really help I feel like I can’t bond with him because he’s even scared to take any food from my hand or anything. I love ur content so much it’s very helpful and I have been watching for 3 years and have done research for 3 years before getting this hamster but now I’m not sure if I’m doing everything right as he still seems rlly scared thank u for all ur rlly helpful content🩷🩷

i absolutely love your videos! you have taught me so much about my hamster! without you, my hamster would probably be malnourished, and would probably be in a tiny tales cage. again, thank you so so much!💕

This couldn't have been posted at a more perfect time. I just put together my Vista cage and my hamster already has a large Niteangel wheel. I adopted him off a young woman for $60. They had him in a terrible bin cage with a tiny wheel. I threw almost everything away but the bin because I had ordered the Vista.

I got a MASSIVE storage container for £15 and a large piece of mesh for £7 and it was perfect xx

I have a hamster and I used a room for him, got rid of carpet, made a door he cannot get through, metal gate. And I filled it with safe for hamster soil and tubes!

This video was pretty perfect bc I’m preparing for a Syrian (which means everything has to be new. My last hamster was a dwarf, so everything I have is about half the size it should be😂) and I’m looking at a rough total of $600😭😭😭 but it’ll be so worth it to see them happy. It’s a 1,011 sq bin and I think ima go with the name pawmi (one of the newest Pokémon)

I made the substrate box and added toilet paper and she under for her bed! I even added the forage box to the other Sid of her substrate box bc tehre was still space. I also upgraded her 7in wheel to an 11in and I’m seeing her run again! Me so happy :D I also got her some sprays and she demolished the ones with the balls on top (not sus lol) not sure what they are called. I also made the toilet paper tube seed treat thing. She hasn’t don’t anything with that yet but I hope she will! Imma also add the lil piece of cardboard with the holes in it. Hope she will also love that! Thx Victoria!

I also loved looking in the thrift store for decorations or something to DIY!

i just rescued a hamster from Facebook marketplace a week ago, this video is very useful! i bought everything they absolutely need from ~40$ and made extra hides from cardboard.

EARLY I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!!

Hi my hamster died a couple of weeks ago and I just want to say how much you have helped me Victoria! Thank you so much

Great video❤! Thank you

My setup actually looks similar to this 😂 all cardboard! Nice video as always❤

i love all these ideas im gonna have to try some out. those tealight candle holders are great water dishes. i wanted to use them but i had a slightly larger glass dish i would use for my syrian hamster but she always found ways to tip it and flood her bedding so i decided to use the plastic food dish i had from my Pets At Home cage and i stuck velcro to the bottom of the dish and to the platform it sits on so now she cant throw her water around she realized pretty fast so now she dumps her treats into it and the next day i go to check her water theres just a bunch of swollen soggy biscuits and seeds in there 😂

I'm a new hamster owner his name is Jerry Theodore, he's a Djungarian hamster only two months old. Watching your videos has been so helpful thank you🐹❤

Those Niteangel enclosures look great now you’ve joined 2 side by side to create larger tanks. Definitely need 2 and that’s expensive but looks great.

What a beautiful house for hamster 😍😍😍

Most grocery stores in the US (not sure about other parts of the world) will give you cardboard boxes for free if you ask them. They usually have them just lying around from items being shipped to the store :).

I love the video. This will help tons of hamster owners! This was worth the wait!:)

Love this video! So many good tips and you're always so charming.

First I think! Great video! Thanks! Also yes I'm commenting before I finish the whole thing because I've never been first!

You won't believe how many times i HAVE watched this video 😂😂

4:58 When you said “Hamster-Made” I imagined little hamsters blowing glass and spinning pottery wheels 🤣

i recommend all ur videos to my friends

Yay I’m so excited for this vid I was waiting for this

You saved my life ty

Beautiful house and cute baby hamster 😍😍

Hii thank you for all of your help now I am a successful hamster owner all because of you even thought you aren’t perfect you still are kind and helpful!!!

I got my 2nd hamster 3 weeks ago and her name is Oreo❤ I have been watching your videos since i even got my 1st hamster and they really work

Amazing video as always I have that frog candle holder ❤️ my girl loves it x

A very helpful video!

I seriously love your videos!

I have the niteangel cage I want to get a second one! I just can’t afford it at the moment! Can you show or do a video on decorating the two niteangel cages you have?

I have some white shelves in my house and was wondering if I could turn them into a diy hamster cage? I can purchase things to make it into a good one but I need to know if it would be a good idea the dimensions are roughly 34.5' wide by 11' tall by 11.5' deep. If so, any material suggestions are welcome or if not, I'm very open to other ideas!

Such a great video. Fun, educational, & cute!!

I still can't believe Mabel and waddles are gone 😭😭😭

Omg this is sooo helpful becaus I have two hamster named cookies and cream who were supposed to be both boys! But just today I noticed cream was very fat! And “he” was fighting with cookie and like that has never happened They are two peas in a pod! So I looked it up and yep cream is preggers so this is sooo helpful!

Honestly the cages at pet Co and pet smart cost at least 3x what it cost for a nice large bin cage set up with lots of toys. In fact you mostly spend a lot more on pet Co and pet smart cages then DIY cages. I am posting a vid of my hamster cages and the set ups soon

The hamster queen has posted!

Just purchased 2 niteangel stacker cages to combine for my syrian named lulu. Can't wait for her to see her new home

Hey Victoria,I Love your videos ,I know this is off topic but I just want to know if you have any advice for our hamster that has this big tumor on his breast,my parents won't allow us to take him to the vet and I don't know what to do,keep up the great work!!

Hi Victoria! I love your videos so much and you've helped me so much with my hamster care! You are such a inspiration ❤❤

Solely using niteangel bedding, hides, enclosures, wheels. I absolutely do not want to know how much I’ve spent on my sweet little creatures. Can’t stop using their bedding , it’s kinda amazing for burrowing

Wow so many ideas. Great video.

Thank you so much Victoria! This video is very helpful. 😊🐹❤👍🏻

I’m not the Bens animal owner but I’ve swore to myself that will do better with my hamster, my mom yesterday said that I wasn’t allowed to get a 75 gal tank cause it was “too big” it would fit perfectly at the back of my desk so I told her if I can’t take care of it I’m not getting a hamster I’m still getting a hamster I cried and my mother looked up measurements and said it was okkk

Thanks 🤗

Thank you for the warning I really appreciate that

She loves her hamsters more than my parents ever loved me.

I recently got a new hamster after not having one for a few years - and the amount of things I'm just starting to learn is embarrassing.. I'm so happy I can give this little one a comfortable life though :) Also - where did you find that cage? I want to upgrade their cage at some point to something larger, but I KNOW pet stores don't have cages like that unless they're for lizards, and a lot of amazons cages are either too small or have bad reviews.. My guys currently in a nice sized tank, but its still not my preferred size for them. Thought it would be fine for a little since they are just a baby right now, but I definitely want to upgrade it in the future. Give them more room then they need rather then less room that I think is fine - y'know?

Thank you! This was very helpful!!!

I have a question so I don’t have room for a bigger cage and my cage right now is sad it’s 400 square inches 😭 but my hamster spark loves it but if there are any recommendations or tips please help

You can even paint the cardboard with non toxic paint and coat it with mod podge so the pee dosn’t soak In

great video!

Where's your tank from?

Thank you for this I am 9 mom said she won't buy she bought the cage but nothing else but I have 20 inch of bedding chamber sand dirt and so much more

I'd like to add that If you want to upgrade your cardboard items non-toxic water-based paint is a great option. I use paint from the brand Apple Barrel. I was able to make some adorable hideouts just from cardboard, glue, and paint. Imo, they look better than any store-bought hide. A cute paint job works wonders. You can even make a cage theme this way. Love the video! This is a super important topic. It was also very inspiring, as now I want to make more DIY'S lol.