Is A 55 Gallon Tank Big Enough For A Hamster? Let's Discover -

If you want to keep a hamster in a tank you must be wondering what size tank needs to be sufficient for the hamsters.

Many people ask if a tank of 55 gallon is big enough for hamsters?

The 55 gallon tank is big enough for hamsters and the hamster can live in it. In a tank of 55 gallon you can also put objects and toys that the hamster needs to be able to play and run.

In today’s article you will learn more about how a 55 gallon tank meets the needs of a hamster to live in it.

Table of Contents show

Is a 55 gallon tank big enough for a hamster?

The 55 gallon tank is a great size for keeping a hamster, as the surface area is 624 square inches, which is more than enough for your pet.

A 55 gallon tank has the following dimensions:

height 21 inches
length 48 inches
width 13 inches

In a tank of 55 gallon there is enough space to put the props that the hamster needs, such as an exercise wheel, tunnels, hiding places, climbing ladders and other objects.

Hamster bedding can be 6-8 inches deep in a 55-gallon tank, which will be plenty for your pet to burrow into.

Is a 55 gallon tank big enough for both syrian and dwarf hamsters?

If you are using a 55-gallon tank that is a perfect size for all hamsters regardless of their breed.

For dwarf hamsters, of course, this tank size is more than enough, but it will also be enough for Syrian hamsters. Indeed, Syrian hamsters are the largest, but a 55-gallon tank can still meet their needs for a large space.

If by chance the Syrian hamster still has trouble getting used to a 55 gallon tank, then you will need to buy him an even bigger tank.

What to look for when choosing a 55 gallon tank for your hamster?

Although a 55-gallon tank is perfectly adequate for all breeds of hamsters, there are some things to keep in mind.

This is important because all tanks are not the same shape and yet they are 55 gallon tanks.

Here’s what to look out for:

55-gallon tank size and hamster size

This is one of the most important things that you must pay attention to when choosing a 55-gallon tank, because not all tanks are the same shape, that is, some are wider, others are taller, etc.

To make it clearer for you what to choose, we will explain for which breed of hamsters which 55 gallon tank will be suitable.

For Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamsters need a tank that is wider than it is tall so that the Syrian hamster has more room to move around.

For dwarf hamsters

With dwarf hamsters, since they are a smaller breed, the 55-gallon tank should be taller and smaller in width.

With this dimension, it will be enough for them to be able to move inside it and be satisfied.

The 55-gallon tank should have enough items for the hamsters

Now that you’ve already purchased a 55-gallon tank for your hamster no matter what breed it is, you’re probably wondering what should go inside the tank.

The 55 gallon tank should have all the items the hamster needs.

It must contain:

exercise wheel
climbing stairs
tunnels

hiding places
bedding
a water bottle

food container

In order for a hamster to have a comfortable life in a 55 gallon tank it must have its needs met.

Especially the exercise wheel is one of the most important toys, because every night the hamster spends several miles running on it, which is good for its health, fitness and anti-stress.

Bedding in a 55 gallon tank should always be at least 4 inches thick, preferably more so that the hamster can feel comfortable and safe.

Can you use a 15 gallon tank for your hamster?

A 15 gallon tank is not enough to keep hamsters, even small hamsters that are not yet grown. However, dwarf hamsters will need a larger tank, at least 40 gallons, while your pets are still small.

A 15 gallon tank will not have enough room to accommodate the needs of playing and running around inside the tank itself.

A 15 gallon tank will not have enough room to place the toys hamsters need for exercise.

So never get a tank smaller than 40 gallons, because if you get a smaller tank when the hamster grows up you will have to buy a new and bigger tank again.

How big should the floor area of the hamster tank be?

For hamsters, one of the most important things will be the space on the floor area in the tank, it is much more important than the height of the tank itself.

Whenever choosing a 55 gallon tank, make sure the floor area is as large as possible. The larger the floor area the more space they will have to run and explore in the tank itself.

In addition to running, the large floor area of the 55-gallon tank will allow you to nicely arrange toys and all the items that your hamster needs.

The large floor area will make the hamster happy and there will be no stress, which as we know is dangerous for your pet’s health.

With a large floor area, you will also be able to place labyrinths, which will further enrich the space and will be even more fun for the hamsters.

Is a tank smaller than 55 gallons not good for hamsters?

A tank smaller than 55 gallons is not recommended for hamsters as it can cause stress and make the hamster sick.

Dwarf hamsters may be able to live in a 40 gallon tank, but Syrian hamsters should never live in a tank smaller than 55 gallons.

If you decide to put a dwarf hamster in a 40 gallon tank, then you will need to watch his reaction to see if he gets nervous and if he doesn’t mind this size.

If the hamster starts biting or wants to escape all the time then a 40 gallon tank is not suitable for it.

For Syrian hamsters, sometimes even a 55-gallon tank may not be enough, so you will have to buy an even larger 75-gallon tank.

FAQs

Can a hamster live in a 75 gallon tank?

If you get your hamsters a 75 gallon tank it will be great for them and they will be very happy and content because they will have plenty of room to run and play.

Do hamsters prefer cages or tanks?

Although tanks are good for hamsters, hamsters prefer to live in cages. In the cages there should be bedding, an exercise wheel and other items and of course a bowl for water and food and the hamster will want to live in it more than in a tank.

Can you keep a hamster in a 5 gallon fish tank?

Hamsters will not be able to live comfortably in a 5 gallon tank, they need at least 20 gallons to live in it. A 20 gallon tank still won’t have enough room for the things a hamster needs to be content and happy.

Conclusion

A 55 gallon tank is perfectly fine if you want to keep hamsters in it.

You should pay attention to the shape of the tank, because for example, Syrian hamsters require a larger width, while for dwarf hamsters the tank can be of greater height and less width.

In order to keep hamsters in a 55-gallon tank, it is necessary to have enough objects, climbing ladders, mazes and of course a bowl for water and food.

Every hamster tank should have an exercise wheel so that the hamster can run a few miles every night which is his daily routine.

Dwarf hamsters may be able to live in a smaller 40 gallon tank, but Syrian hamsters cannot, they sometimes require an even larger 55 gallon tank, such as a 75 gallon.