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Last updated: 3 Jul 2022
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Best Hamster Tunnel

Best Overall
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Trixie Extendable Playing Tunnel for Rats
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Runner Up
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Kaytee Critter Trail Funnel
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Best Extension
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Ancol Small Animal Tuff Tube
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Best Natural Product
Happypet Nature First Large Willow Tube
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Most Versatile
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Rosewood Small Animal Activity Tunnel
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author-image
By Editor
Published 3 Jul 2022
Show contents
  • 1 Trixie Extendable Playing Tunnel for Rats
  • 2 Kaytee Critter Trail Funnel
  • 3 Ancol Small Animal Tuff Tube
  • 4 Happypet Nature First Large Willow Tube
  • 5 Rosewood Small Animal Activity Tunnel

Before taking in any animal as a pet, it’s good to get a background of their habitat, diet habits, pet peeves, and other life aspects. Hamsters, for instance, like to stay active within small confines, so if you own a hamster, you may look for small pieces of furniture to make the hamster feel at ease. While hamster cages, wheels, and bridges are some great options, they can be limiting because they have a fairly limited vision of privacy and mobility. If you already have these at home, great. However, any hamster home will be incomplete without hamster tunnels. These are crucial in providing the hamster with a natural habitat because hamsters create similar burrows underground when they’re in the wild. If you’re not sure what to look for when getting a hamster tunnel, we’re here to help you out. Here are our top ingredients for a successful purchase and our top picks!

1

Trixie Extendable Playing Tunnel for Rats

– Best Overall
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Key Features

The hamster tunnel remains stable and completely weatherproof, thanks to the high-quality plastic used to manufacture it. As a result, you won’t have to worry about the hamsters damaging the tunnel while playing. Additionally, since the tunnel is weatherproof, small amounts of water will not cause significant damage. 

THE SCOOP

A plastic 10 cm playing tunnel that’s ideal for hamsters and small animals. It’s made from a high-quality plastic material. The material offers a fair amount of stretch and extends forward easily. 

Pros
  • Extendable size offers versatile space options
  • High-quality plastic helps ensure that everything is stable
Cons
  • Makes a considerable noise while it’s extending
2

Kaytee Critter Trail Funnel

– Runner Up
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Key Features

The connector rings are available in different colours and help make the hamster home seem exceptionally attractive. Additionally, this tunnel is relatively easy to clean as its tubes can be pulled apart for cleaning and recoil naturally. All you need is some mild soap to wash the funnel thoroughly.  

THE SCOOP

A pack that features 16 connectable plastic twist and turn tubes. All the products are compatible with CritterTrail homes. Each tube boasts anti-microbial protection, and they connect and snap back together quickly. 

Pros
  • Connectable and customisable 
  • Very colourful outlook and creates a pleasant aesthetic
Cons
  • It does not always connect properly 
3

Ancol Small Animal Tuff Tube

– Best Extension
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Key Features

You can freely extend the hamster tunnel to the maximum length and shrink it back just as quickly. The tunnel is also flexible, so you can contort it according to your desired shape. Additionally, the tunnel is washable, so you can easily keep it clean and hygienic for your pet.

THE SCOOP

A tuff tunnel made from high-quality plastic can effectively support a full-sized hamster. The tunnel is made from material that’s completely safe for the hamster. 

Pros
  • Features high-quality plastic that works with the hamster
  • Capable of reaching a 75 centimetre 
Cons
  • Sometimes twisting everything around can lead to a problem
4

Happypet Nature First Large Willow Tube

– Best Natural Product
Key Features

One of the main benefits of going for a natural willow hamster tube is that it allows the hamsters to trim their teeth effectively. Additionally, the tube holds enough room to fit two hamsters, and you won’t have to worry about them getting stuck. Finally, since the tunnel is made from natural materials, it is completely safe for hamsters to nibble on. 

THE SCOOP

The willow tube tunnel is ideal if you want your hamsters to enjoy a more natural playing environment. It’s suitable for them to explore freely and play to their heart’s content. Your hamster will definitely appreciate the tunnel. 

Pros
  • Completely natural and made from 100% willow
  • Allows the hamster to grind their teeth and trim everything accordingly  
Cons
  • Due to the grinding, it can end up splintering 
5

Rosewood Small Animal Activity Tunnel

– Most Versatile
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Key Features

The hamster tunnel features an extra deep base that makes it much easier for the hamster to tunnel and burrow freely. As a result, it’s ideal for pets to play, sleep in, and chew on easily. Even though it’s also relatively lightweight, the tunnel remains perfectly stable. 

THE SCOOP

While the Rosewood small activity tunnel may look completely natural, it is made from plastic. The high-quality nature of the product means that it can effectively stay in a stable position.  

Pros
  • High-quality material that works effectively for large-sized hamsters
  • The deep base allows pet owners to create a pleasant environment
Cons
  • Natural texture can end up confusing the hamster

Buying Guide

When you want to imitate an animal’s natural habitat, you may want to cut back on your preferences and follow the pet’s instincts instead. For example, hamsters create their own burrows to find comfort, store food, and bond with other hamsters. So when getting a hamster tunnel, your purpose should be to recreate those burrows to give the hamsters a homely feeling. This should be your guiding path, and to narrow it down to more specific ideas, here are the three components you should bear in mind:

 

  • Diameter: Hamsters living in the wild create burrows large enough for themselves to pass and store their food, but nothing significant enough to allow their predators to creep in. It may suffocate them sometimes, but the soft soil makes it a sustainable environment. You can freely opt for larger diameters with artificial tunnels inside your home. As a general preference, it’s best to keep the diameter of the tunnels roughly twice that of the hamster. You may find options for 6 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, or perhaps more, depending on the breed of the hamsters. If you have a family of hamsters, you should consider the size of the largest one when getting a tunnel. The tunnel should also have enough space to store food, toys, pillows, and other small accessories for the family. 

 

  • Length: Hamster tunnel sets come unassembled because, with their fully built size, it would be pretty difficult to carry them to and inside your home. So when purchasing a set, calculate the total length of all the pieces, joints, exits, entrances, and other parts. This combined length will give you an idea of how much space the tunnels will need at home if you lay them straight or in various conjectures. Hamster tunnels can range several feet or meters, varying from model to model, so it’s easy to end up with a product that occupies your whole living room even when you assemble only half of the product. Before you pick something, take a measuring tape and a chalk stick and create a rough sketch of how you want the tunnels to look wherever you place them. You may also leave a margin of a few feet, give or take, and draw a boundary around the area to figure out the final space you’ll be left with. If you place the tunnels on different levels, you may also consider the space taken up against a wall or a cupboard. In any scenario, chalking out the structure with a realistic length scale will ensure a promising purchase.

Components: Hamster tunnel manufacturers have found many ways to make the concept more fun and creative for their occupants. Unlike products from back in the day, hamster tunnels today have a vast array of components for physical and mental exertion. You may find transparent tunnels, coloured tunnels, spiralling connectors, curved tunnels, and others deviating from the standard design. You may also find balls, sandpits, small rooms, curtains, and different integrations that give the hamsters tremendous excitement about their new burrows. You may look for models with ample space for hamsters to nestle, store their food, play alone, or spend time with their families.

FAQ

Q: What if my hamster gets stuck in the tunnel?

A: For a protective hamster owner, the thought of their little buddy going through a tunnel can be a little scary. However, there’s no need to worry as the hamster tunnels are made from material with a significant amount of stretch. So even if your hamster gets stuck, you can easily cut open the tunnel and help them get out. 

Q: Is it normal for my hamster to sleep in the tunnel?

A: Hamsters tend to enjoy sleeping in a warm and comfortable environment. So it isn’t particularly surprising if the hamster starts sleeping inside the tunnel. There’s no significant danger to it as well. If you’re worried about the hamster sleeping inside the tunnel, then you can take the tunnel away. 

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By Editor
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