This creates quite a bit more cage space in most setups. As to fish tanks, they are also inexpensive. I feel they make the best home for a hamster, as they provide quite a bit of space and are easily cleaned. A 10 gallon size is fine for a golden hamster. Dwarf pairs may be kept in 5.5 gallon tanks.
Fish tanks require a lid to keep the hamster in, and a special water bottle adapter.
Be sure to secure the lid with duct tape or a heavy object. If you wish to make a completely custom hamster home, try one of the plastic ventilated tops now available which fasten to the glass with suction cups. Unfortunately, SAM cages have wire grate floors which make them extremely difficult to clean. Plastic cages, marketed under names like Habitrail, SAM, and Hartz, are with a few exceptions the most expensive and difficult to clean of any hamster cage available. The hamsters, however, do tend to like them, although they are easily chewed.