Small Mammal Welfare: Gerbils, Hamsters, and Mice

Small rodents are frequently kept in inadequate conditions that prevent natural behaviour expression and cause chronic welfare deprivation.

Key Facts

Hamsters are solitary and require much more space than commonly sold cages provide
Gerbils are highly social and suffer from solitary housing
Mice in the wild have territories of several hundred square metres
Commercial small animal cages are typically too small for the species they house
Hamsters are nocturnal animals that suffer from daytime handling and activity disruption

Welfare Considerations

Hamsters in commercially sold cages that are significantly smaller than recommended have inadequate space for the intensive burrowing, foraging, and wheel-running behaviours they are strongly motivated to express. Gerbils kept singly without conspecific companions experience chronic social deprivation. Mice in barren cages without nesting material or hiding opportunities cannot express nest-building behaviour that is strongly motivated. Hamsters disrupted from sleep for daytime interactions experience stress that disrupts their natural circadian rhythm. These are largely avoidable welfare problems requiring only informed husbandry changes.

What You Can Do

Provide hamsters with a minimum 80x50cm floor area and deep substrate for burrowing
Always keep gerbils in pairs or groups with appropriate conspecifics
Provide mice with nesting material, hiding opportunities, and enrichment items
Interact with nocturnal small mammals in the evening rather than daytime
Research the specific needs of any small mammal before purchase