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Wooden hamster enclosure: suitable?
We tested a softwood enclosure with a female Syrian hamster. After 1.5 weeks, she had chewed a hole. Why softwood often fails—and why a glass terrarium (Black Scape) is usually safer.
Is a wooden enclosure suitable for a hamster? (Our practical test)
Are you torn between a wooden enclosure and a terrarium for your hamster? We put a softwood enclosure to the test (not sold by us) and reached a clear conclusion: especially with Syrian hamsters, chew-proofness can quickly become a problem. In this blog you’ll read what we observed, why hygiene with softwood often disappoints, and which safe alternatives work well in real life.
- ✔ Glass = hard to “chew through”
- ✔ Sliding doors: easy daily care
- ✔ Double mesh: good ventilation
- ✔ Guidance: Syrian hamster vs dwarf hamster
- ✔ Space for zones + digging depth
- ✔ Practical setup tips
- ✔ Diggable & tunnel-friendly
- ✔ Mix for stable zones
- ✔ Handy for spot cleaning
- ✔ Natural hiding spots
- ✔ Balance of rest + activity
- ✔ Encourages foraging behavior
1) Why softwood often fails
A wooden enclosure looks cozy, often ventilates well and feels “natural”. However, for hamsters (especially Syrian hamsters) softwood commonly clashes with two things in practice: chew-proofness and hygiene.
- Chew-proofness: softwood has seams, corners and gaps. Those are exactly the spots where a hamster can “get started”.
- Hygiene: softwood has an open structure. Urine can soak in more easily, making cleaning and keeping it fresh more difficult.
- Ventilation is often good… but: the small gaps that let air through are also spots where determined chewers can keep working.
Good to know: how intensely a hamster chews varies per animal. But when choosing a home, you don’t want it to depend on “hopefully they won’t do it”.
2) Our practical test: a female Syrian hamster (1.5 weeks)
We housed a female Syrian hamster in a softwood enclosure made of light wood (a type of enclosure sold by various brands, but one we deliberately do not sell). We set it up neatly with hides, bedding and enrichment.
After about 1.5 weeks, we saw she had “locked onto” one spot: a corner/seam in the wood. It happened faster than many people expect: a hole formed that made escaping realistically close. We moved her immediately to a more chew-proof home.
- Conclusion 1: for Syrian hamsters (especially females) softwood can offer too little resistance.
- Conclusion 2: this often also applies to strong chewers like gerbils, chinchillas and degus.
- Conclusion 3: mice and many dwarf hamsters chew less intensely on average, but you never have a 100% guarantee. If they do decide to chew, you want a plan B.
Tip: check corners, seams, closures and ventilation points daily. As soon as you notice “work spots” (splinters, fraying edges, fresh chew marks), it’s time to step in.
3) What does work: chew-proof terrarium + practical tips
Do you want to sleep with peace of mind and have a home that’s easy to maintain? Then a glass terrarium is often the most reliable choice in practice: glass is chew-proof, you can add deep bedding, and cleaning stays straightforward.
Our recommendation is the Black Scape terrarium: designed for small pets, with sliding doors and double mesh for ventilation. You can pick up the terrarium from us, but we can also ship it to you.
How we set up a terrarium in a practical way
- Deep digging zone: start with suitable hamster bedding (ideally in zones/mixes).
- Fixed sand spot: use hamster sand & sand bath as a consistent “bathroom”.
- Hides: combine 1–2 good hamster houses with extra tunnels.
- Movement: choose a safe wheel (solid running surface, correct size).
- Calm enrichment: add play & foraging and provide safe chew materials.
- Nest: choose safe nesting material and create a quiet nesting corner.
Frequently asked questions
1) Is a wooden enclosure never suitable for a hamster?
It depends on the wood type and construction. With softwood enclosures that have seams/gaps, we see chew issues more often in practice, especially with Syrian hamsters. If you want maximum certainty, choose a glass terrarium.
2) Why do some hamsters chew so intensely?
Chewing is normal, but intensity varies per animal. Some hamsters have stronger “building drive” or find a weak spot in the enclosure. That’s why chew-proof design matters so much.
3) Can I have a terrarium delivered?
Yes. You can pick up the terrarium from us, but we can also ship it. If you have questions about delivery or setup, you can always get in touch.
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