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Best Hamster Tubes: 6 Tunnels and Tube Kits, Compared by Diameter
The best hamster tube is one whose diameter, material, and connectors match your hamster and your cage, and the six below cover three different jobs: stretch-out tunnels, snap-together tube kits, and a woven seagrass tunnel. Each listing gives its own diameter, and one of the six is made for dwarf hamsters only while another fits only Ferplast and MidWest cages, so read each listing's intended-animal line before you add one to your cart.
A tube is one piece of a hamster's setup. It sits alongside the cage, the bedding, the nest box, and the wheel. If you are still choosing a home, start with our list of best hamster cages. If you are not sure whether your hamster is a Syrian or a dwarf type, our guide to rare hamster breeds explains the names sellers use.
Are Tubes Good for Hamsters?
Hamsters are burrowers. The Merck Veterinary Manual says that in the wild, hamsters live underground, where they sleep, store food, and build nests. The RSPCA, the UK animal welfare charity, says wild hamsters live in deep burrows and quickly dig their own, and that a pet hamster needs bedding deep enough to dig in.
The RSPCA also says hamsters need "plenty of space to play and exercise at night," and that wild hamsters are usually only active at dusk and night-time and can run up to five miles a day. It says a running wheel helps them exercise but "shouldn't be the only form of enrichment you give them." A tube system is one way to add something to explore.
Top Hamster Tubes
This table puts the numbers from each listing side by side. Diameter is the measurement the listing gives, and the last column repeats what each listing says the product is for. Material and package contents are under each pick.
| Tube | Diameter | Listing says it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Hamiledyi Play Tunnels | 3.93 in | Ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, rats, gerbils, pygmy rabbits |
| ZENFUN Colorful Pet Tunnels | 3.9 in | Ferrets, rats, chinchillas, dwarf rabbits, small guinea pigs |
| Kaytee CritterTrail Fun-nel Assorted Tubes | 2.25 in | Hamsters, gerbils, or mice |
| Niteangel Seagrass Tunnel | 3.5 in | Dwarf hamsters, Syrian hamsters, gerbils, mice, other small rodents |
| Ferplast Curve Play Tube | 2.4 in | Ferplast and MidWest Homes for Pets hamster cages |
| GNB PET Hamster Playground | About 2 in | Dwarf hamsters, mice, gerbils |
Hamiledyi Play Tunnels
These are two stretch-out tunnels, and the listing names hamsters among the animals they suit.
What the listing highlights
- The listing gives a folded length of 8.26 inches, a diameter of 3.93 inches, and a stretched length of up to 35 inches.
- Made of plastic the listing calls durable and stain resistant, and the listing says it washes with soap and water, then dries.
- The package holds 2 tunnels, 2 grass ball toys, and 1 corn cob chew; the listing says the grass balls and the corn cob can be used as chews.
Check before you buy
- At 3.93 inches across, the diameter is the widest of the six, and the listing also names ferrets, guinea pigs, and pygmy rabbits.
The listing sells it as a tunnel for pets to run through and hide in. The photo shows the stretched tunnels with a ferret and a guinea pig, a woven grass ball, and a corn cob chew.
ZENFUN Colorful Pet Tunnels
This set holds three tunnels in green, pink, and blue, and the listing sells them as hideouts and training tunnels for small pets.
What the listing highlights
- Each tunnel measures 3.9 inches across and 7.3 inches long when folded, and 40.1 inches after stretching, according to the listing.
- The listing says the PP plastic resists staining and rinses with water, and that the tunnel should air dry in a cool, shaded place.
- Three tunnels in the package.
Check before you buy
- The listing title says hamster tunnels, but its list of suitable animals names ferrets, rats, chinchillas, dwarf rabbits, and small guinea pigs, not hamsters.
- The listing says the tunnel may not resist fierce biting, so it may not suit a hamster that chews plastic.
The listing photo shows the three tunnels stretched out in blue, pink, and green, with a hamster at the mouth of the blue one.
Kaytee CritterTrail Fun-nel Assorted Hamster Tubes
This is a snap-together kit of tube pieces in several shapes, made to join up with Kaytee CritterTrail habitats and tubes.
What the listing highlights
- The listing says the tubes are 2.25 inches in diameter and come in a variety of shapes and lengths, for hamsters, gerbils, or mice.
- The contents named on the listing are a 1.75-inch tube, a 3.5-inch tube, a tee tube, 3 elbow tubes, a 10-inch tube, and 8 connector rings.
- The listing says they connect to any Kaytee CritterTrail tubes.
Check before you buy
- The listing says the kit allows expansion of CritterTrail habitats, so check that your cage or tube system is a CritterTrail before you count on the connection.
- The listing says it is for hamsters, gerbils, or mice, and does not say which hamster size it fits.
Niteangel Seagrass Hamster Tunnel
This is a woven tunnel, not a plastic tube, and the listing says it is built from edible seagrass.
What the listing highlights
- The listing gives a tunnel diameter of 3.5 inches and four entrances, one side entrance 1.9 inches wide, and a size of 7.8 inches long by 3.5 inches wide.
- Hand-woven edible seagrass that the listing says can be chewed safely.
- The listing says it suits a dwarf hamster, a Syrian hamster, gerbils, mice, and other small rodents, and says it can be combined with other pieces shown on its page.
Check before you buy
- The RSPCA says to clean or replace objects soiled by faeces, and a woven tunnel is an object you may need to replace.
The listing photo shows a hamster standing on top of the tunnel, with the side entrance visible.
Ferplast Curve Hamster Play Tube
This is a single clear elbow piece that adds a left or right turn to a tube system.
What the listing highlights
- The listing says the curve tube measures 3.2 inches long by 3.2 inches wide with a diameter of 2.4 inches.
- The listing gives the color as clear.
- The listing says Ferplast hamster tubes carry a 1-year manufacturer warranty on all parts.
Check before you buy
- The listing says the tubes are compatible with all Ferplast and MidWest Homes for Pets hamster cages, and that they will not work with other brands of hamster cages or play tubes.
- It is a single curve piece.
If your cage is not a Ferplast or MidWest cage, skip this one and look at a kit whose listing names your cage brand.
GNB PET Hamster Playground
This is the largest kit of the six: a modular set of clear tubes made for dwarf hamsters.
What the listing highlights
- The listing says it holds 94 pieces, including clear tubes, curved tubes, T-shaped parts, connector rings, clips, and cage wall accessories.
- Made of PP and PE plastic with air vents on selected pieces and a raised climbing texture inside the angled and climbing sections, according to the listing.
- The listing gives an inner diameter of about 2 inches and says the set suits dwarf hamsters, mice, gerbils, and similar small pets.
Check before you buy
- The listing says the set is not recommended for guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, or larger pets, and asks you to check your pet's size and the cage connector opening first.
This is the pick for dwarf hamsters, according to its listing.
Buying Guide
Diameter and Your Hamster
The listings above give diameters from about 2 inches to 3.93 inches. Merck says an adult Syrian hamster is about 6 to 8 inches long and weighs 4 to 5 ounces, and that most other pet hamsters are much smaller and are called dwarf hamsters. Read the diameter and the intended-animal line on each listing, and compare them with your own hamster. Two listings state limits to read first: the GNB listing names dwarf hamsters, mice, and gerbils, and the Ferplast listing names Ferplast and MidWest cages.
Material
The ZENFUN listing says PP plastic, the GNB listing says PP and PE plastic, and the Hamiledyi listing says durable, stain resistant plastic. The Niteangel tunnel is woven seagrass that the listing calls edible. Two listings mention chewing: ZENFUN says the tunnel may not resist fierce biting, and Niteangel says its seagrass can be chewed. If your hamster chews plastic, that difference matters.
Ventilation
The GNB listing says selected pieces have air vents. For the others, look at the listing photos for holes or slots before you buy.
Cleaning
The RSPCA says a deep clean of the cage once or twice a month should be enough in most cases, with spot cleaning every few days to remove soiled bedding, uneaten food, and faeces. It also says to clean out the cage when your hamsters are awake rather than in the middle of the day, when they are sleeping, and to clean or replace objects soiled by faeces.
Connectors
Tube brands do not always join. The Kaytee listing says its pieces connect to Kaytee CritterTrail tubes, and the Ferplast listing says its tubes will not work with other brands' cages or play tubes. Match the brand to your cage before you order a second piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are tubes good for hamsters?
The RSPCA says hamsters need plenty of space to play and exercise at night and that a wheel should not be the only enrichment. It also says bedding should be deep enough for hamsters to dig in, and that a hamster needs a nest box and a place to hide.
Are hamster tubes safe?
Each listing gives its own diameter and the animals it is made for. Read those lines, and use the ones that match your hamster. If your hamster is hurt or seems unwell, call a vet.
Do hamsters like tubes?
Merck and the RSPCA both say hamsters live in burrows in the wild. Each hamster is different, so watch how yours uses a new tube.
How do I clean hamster tubes?
The ZENFUN listing says to wash with water and air dry in a cool, shaded place, and the Hamiledyi listing says to wash with soap and water. For the cage as a whole, the RSPCA says to clean or replace objects soiled by faeces.
Can I connect tubes from different brands?
Not always. The Ferplast listing says its tubes will not work with other brands' cages or play tubes, and the Kaytee listing says its pieces connect to Kaytee CritterTrail tubes.
Sources
- RSPCA, Creating the right home for your hamster
- RSPCA, Understanding hamster behaviour
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Description and Physical Characteristics of Hamsters
- The Amazon listings for the six tubes above (diameters, materials, package contents, and intended animals)
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