Tank Cages

The bare minimum fish tank recommended is the  40 gallon breeders. This is only 650 square inches so consider going bigger. (Cheeks prefers 740 as the minimum)  

Petco frequently hold $1 per gallon sales, during which the 40 gallon is 50% off. It comes to about $55 (confusing, yes). Recently, Petsmart has started hosting their own $1 per gallon sales so keep an eye on both locations. Alternatively, you can purchase used aquariums on resale sites such as Craigslist--just be sure to clean them very well before use.

You will need a screen top to cover the tank, and you may want to invest in inexpensive cage locks to keep the lid secure. The cost of the screen top will be between $15-25, and cage locks are only $3-5. 

You will also need something to place the tank on. It needs to support the entire bottom of the tank, or you risk dangerous cracking. There happens to be a nice rack available at Lowes that fits 40 gallon breeders exactly--and actually includes space to fit 4 of them if you want more hamsters later. It is available here. 

Of course, you may simply choose to purchase a tank stand from the pet store or use a table or other piece of furniture you already own.

You have several options!

• Velcro--grab some velcro and stick one side to the tank, one side to the bottle. Viola!
• Magnets--If your holder is a little too short (we recommend this set) you can attach it to the tank with strong magnets. Two on the back of the holder, two on the outside of the glass. The benefit of this is you have super easy access to the bottle itself. 
• Water bottle holder--If you already have a bottle, you can grab a long bottle holder (like this one). It has a clip on the back that can be used for hanging.