Habitrail Ovo cage review

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 01:17 PM

Wanted to do a cage review of the Habitrail Ovo range as know this cage gets quite a lot of bad press for being really tiny and having a lot of faults.

I own a Savic Micky 2xl cage which is a big cage and it houses three female dwarfs (mother and two daughters) but when I was looking for a second cage to house a male Campbell dwarf and his son I needed to find something slimmer as didn't have the space for another cage like the Savic Micky. I struggled to find a cage that would fit on my units. They were either really tiny or far too big so I started looking at the Ovo. Watched lots and lots of videos on youtube and went back and forth on the idea for at least a week. I finally ordered the Ovo suite which came with a Maze, transport pod, a den, hideout/food bowl and water bottle.

This alone I agree is far too small for two dwarfs and feel that Habitrail should not be advertising this as a suitable cage, I added two other mazes, a mini maze, another den and another transport unit. Even after ordering all the extras I think it only still cost me around £60/£70 with buying most items off ebay (new from a shop)

I've had this cage now for 5 weeks and I must say I've grown to love it, it looks fab and everyone that sees it comments on how nice a cage it is. It is really well made and the locks that hold it all together are very easy to use.

My two dwarfs seem very happy in this, they love the little dens and the mini maze which had a cardboard thing in it to chew is a big hit. The whole front of all pods open up which make accessing your hamster very easy. Even though we are now in summer and have had a few very hot days there doesn't seem to be a problem with ventilation and I've not experienced any condensation on the inside of the cage.

Cleaning it was easy, most of the time I just need to empty each pod which takes me about 10 minutes to get all bedding out all the pods, and give it a quick Hoover and then put clean bedding in, really only have to clean one tunnel that they tend to pee in every few days. Cleaning takes me about 25 minutes in total which don't think is bad at all. I've gave it one really good clean where I popped everything in the shower, that took me 50 minutes to empty dirty bedding, take it all apart, shower it all out, dry it, put it back together and fill it. I think I will only need to go this every couple of months though.

The water bottle - again everyone says this is really bad and leaks. Mine has not leaked once, as long as you fill it all the way to the top it won't leak, actually leaks far less than a normal water bottle. Another thing people have said is their hamster can't use it. My dwarfs have had no problem at all using it, I even put in a normal water bottle as was worried they wouldn't be able to use the ovo one but they chose to use the ovo one over the normal one so took that one out.

Overall I think it's a fab cage as long as you buy enough units. Mine are all on one level since dwarfs aren't the best climbers.

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 01:18 PM

Few pics of the inside

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 01:19 PM

Some more pics

NiceCrocs · 08-15-2014, 01:21 PM

:/ I'd really advise hooking that setup up to a big cage with at least 360sq inches of open space. Even connected all up like that, your hamster has no room to run around. And there's almost no ventilation in those pods.

It's really unsuitable as a cage, and should only be used as an add-on to a bigger space.

Hekomi · 08-15-2014, 01:26 PM

I really do not think a modular cage is good for pairs. It encourages one to be territorial over one section of the cage, leading to fights. Also what NiceCrocs said above.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-15-2014, 02:20 PM

I agree with NileCrocs and Hekomi I'm afraid

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 02:46 PM

Just wanted to put my review across I know lots of people don't like the ovo but I've found it great and my dwarfs that live in there are much less jumpy, skittish and more laid back,than the ones in the large savic Micky cage.

My hamsters are all given time in a pen every day too. Personally was not really asking for options on the cage as I happy with the way it is for the moment and don't intend on adding anything to it, just wanted to give a review in my personal experience for anyone thinking of buying one. What works for one hamster may not work for another!!

Regarding ventilation as I have said I've noticed no issues, no condensation etc, I live in Scotland so it doesn't get overly hot here even in summer so maybe in a hotter country you may have more issues but every pod has holes all across the front and back which seems more than the bin cage I used to have with only mesh on top.

Territorial wise again 6 weeks on I've had no issues and think this is more down to the temperament of the hamsters rather than the cage. Both my males are very laid back and have been together since Kirby was born so far so good and really that's all I can say at the moment. As I said I've got three girls in a savic mickey xl and can't say I ever really see them using the open space of the cage very often for running around, most of the time they are either sleeping under their logs, eating or running on their wheel. They don't seem to use the open area of their cage very often at all. If never condone a hamster being kept in a tiny area but I think as long as they have plenty to keep them mentally stimulated then this is the most important thing, in the ovo they have plenty of toys, wheels, sand bathing pod, sleeping areas, lots of chews, tunnels etc and seem perfectly happy, they never chew their cage or act as if they are bored.

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 03:07 PM

And I know it says I'm just a hamster pup in the title but have been keeping hamsters of all shapes and sizes for over 27 years now and tried all different cages and must say this is the first one I can say my dwarfs seem really comfortable in.

Flamestriker · 08-15-2014, 03:13 PM

I have not had the Ovo but I have had all previous editions of Habitrail...only got rid of it all due to the cleaing out time of 4 hours as I had so much of it. It used to come with a pretty big wheel once...I had on tied in a cage for year as it was the biggest I had ever seen (at the time)

Debi1987 · 08-15-2014, 03:19 PM

The type of cage your choose depends on so many factors, I just wanted people to know how I've found it that's all. I so own this so do have a larger more open cage to compare it too and as I've said none of my Campbell's are overly happy being out running around in open areas.