Hamster housing ideas

Question
Hello, I am taking up breeding syrian hamsters in all colors/coat types and dwarf hamsters, I plan to have quite a few animals so need to have some cages that don't cost 20$ each, I was hoping you had some ideas of what I could use? I was thinking plastic storage tubs with 1/4 inch wire for covers.... would this work? how big should a cage for a pair of dwarfs be? also I was wondering will any male/female pair of dwarfs breed or do they normaly pick there own mates?

Answer
I advise you NOT TO BREED.  It sounds like you couldn't afford it anyways. Never put any animal in a plastic storoage tub. Ever. That is extremely unhealthy and unsafe. Professional breeders have enclousers for their pairs that usually end up costing at least fifty dollars each. Plus the males need cages after they've been removed from the females. Please just get one hamster and keep it as a pet. Breeding is not advised. Again, do nto breed. The chances of you continously finding homes for them is very slight and the costs are worth more than the profits. You can easily spend 100s of dollars on more than one breeding more and wouldn't get more than 5 dollars a hamster. You can do the math on that. It sounds like you do not understand enough about hamsters to try this or have the means to provide care for breeding pairs and babies and i'm worried for the hamsters safty if you try to breed. Please again, do not breed your hamsters and NEVER put them in plastic tubs. Leave breeding to professionals. I can not stress this enough. I'm sorry to be harsh, but this concerns me. My hamsters and gerbils were bred with the knowledge that they would be going to a local petstore. I in no way did it for money, and at that point had a very good knowledge about breeding and the funds to provide for them. Twenty dollars for a cage will most likely leave you with a sick hamsters and your females could easily die from stress. Mine were bred every other month. Plus providing food is also expensive. Again, please do not breed. If you have any furthur questions, feel free to ask them. I'd like to hear from you to make sure you've decided against breeding.

Blake