I have several Imac Fantasy cages (six plus an extension - though only four are currently in use) and, as the Imac is considered one of the better cages on the forums (and nobody else has done one yet!), I decided to do a cage review!
The Imac measures approximately 60cm x 36cm and, as it comes with two complete levels, it obviously gives double that floor-space - making it a decent sized cage for a Syrian hamster. There is also the option of extending the cage upwards with an extension kit (available separately).
The cage costs £25.00 - £30.00 to buy new and the extension kit costs £17.00 - £20.00, though they both often turn up used and considerably cheaper on ebay.
Tesco Direct sell both (though they are out of stock at the moment):
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-2932.aspx
http://direct.tesco.com/search/default. ... onfirm.y=8
The Imac is a mixed wire and plastic cage with a tube leading to the second level. The tube is a decent size and our 190g plus Mars has no difficulty getting up and down it (maybe because there are no sharp right-angled corners?)
The downstairs floor looks like this:
Mars in his newly cleaned cage:
Kitty's newly cleaned cage:
The tube then leads to the second floor:
This has an in built nest area - used by all my hamster's in Imac's - except Mars!!!
In built nest area:
Mars's preferred bedroom:
Pros:
*Good Size
*Good design (kid appeal)
*Extendable upwards
*Takes up less floor-space than Gabber Rex but still a big cage
*Integral nest area
*Good ventillation
Cons:
*Bar chewing!
Kitty is likely to soon be moving out of her Imac and into a Rex because of her constant bar chewing (I've already had to move Milly, who cut her face, and Smartie, who looked to be following her). Luckily my boys in Imacs (Mars, Button and Toby) don't seem to chew the bars at all.
Here's Kitty, the demon bar-chewer, looking like butter wouldn't melt:
I can't really think of any other cons - the wheel that comes with it is too small for a Syrian but that's common to all cages on the market. You do have to tape the discs at the top to keep them secure and prevent escapes but that's not really a problem:
I'd also be cautious using this cage for dwarf hamsters as I have read of escapes through the bars. However I've also heard of many dwarf hamsters living happily in Imacs so it may not be a problem.
All in all a great cage - shame about the bar chewing!!!!!!
NB Hopefully somone will be able to post a picture of the Imac with an extension attached - I don't have one at the moment, though we are considering adding an extension and removing the attic from Mars's cage as he doesn't really do much up there.