Long Answer:
10-gallon tanks are too small to permanently house a Syrian hamster. The minimum recommended cage size for a Syrian hamster is 450 square inches of unbroken floor space, while a 10-gallon tank only has about 200 square inches. This lack of space can lead to a variety of health problems, including obesity, boredom, and stress. In addition, 10-gallon tanks are not tall enough to allow hamsters to climb and explore, which is an important part of their natural behavior.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to provide a Syrian hamster with a cage that is at least 450 square inches in size and at least 12 inches tall. Some good examples of cages that meet these requirements include the IKEA Detolf cabinet, the Prevue Hendryx 528 cage, and the Niteangel Super-Size Cage.