Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Cage Reviews

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-20-2015, 11:51 AM   #1
Chonkers2
Hamster Pup
 
Chonkers2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Warwickshire/Newcastle
Posts: 80
Default Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

Mulan got her new mansion 3 days ago and, it's all thumbs up from me!

The Riviera Varazze is 70x40x40
I got it for £42.39 - free delivery:
(Riviera Varazze Mouse/ Hamster Cage, Extra Large, 70 x 40 x 40 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies)
I got it from Amazon on the Friday and it arrived by the monday in good condition.
Comes with 2 levels, a house, two food bowls, a ramp and some tubing.

IMG_5352.jpg
IMG_5354.jpg
The cage itself feels very sturdy - including the levels - and assembly was not really that much of a faff (though i did put the levels on the wrong way up to begin with - whoops!

Mulan (a Chinese hamster) is absolutely loving it so far and the front opening door is brilliant for her so she doesn't get skittish (There is a top door as well)

Cons:
- Doesn't come with a water bottle
- Tubing a tiny bit too steep for Mulan: had to put a bridge in instead
- Doors could be bigger
- Have to put food bowls over the holes in the platform as there's only 1 hole 'stopper'
IMG_5357.jpg
IMG_5356.jpg
Pros:
- Lovely Brown and Cream colour scheme
- Front opening door
- Deep base
- Small bar spacing (6mm)
- Wire part of cage not flat-packed: comes as one piece - no worrying about falling apart or hammy's escaping


Overall it gets great praise from me: definitely feels worth the money and it has my Hammy's seal of approval
IMG_5392.jpg
Chonkers2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 01:57 AM   #2
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

It's a nice looking cage! Never seen an actual photo of one before, just the one on the advert. You've also got it set up nicely too. Glad she is loving it - she will be able to develop so many more new habits in a bigger space, and it gives her 'options' as to where to go and what to do etc, and room to dig a bit. My cage has narrow bar spacing too (7mm though) and I had a lot of hassle with bottles as they were difficult to squeeze between the bars and made quite a bit of noise which freaked my hamster out (but then he's a bit nervy). In the end I got a free-standing bottle holder which comes with a small mouse bottle, to stand inside the cage and it's great. You would probably have room for it in yours. I got one from Amazon and another one from the German Rodipet site (their postage is very reasonable and things arrive quite quickly, but you need to use Google translate to read the info, ordering details etc!) Cypher recommended that to me. I have both - and they are both fine, but the Getzoo one from Amazon was really strong smelling wood and took about a week for the smell to wear off (glue I guess), but they both are very easy to use, the bottle is just the right size it's easy for the hamster and a lot less hassle than trying to attach a bottle to the cage bars. I had also tried the Ferplast Sippy one but hamster wouldn't use it as spout is a bit weird, plus couldn't get the thing unattached afterwards so the fixings are still there! Anyway, here are the water bottles and stands - I would get a spare or two of these bottles as my first one wasn't working for some reason - they're only about £1 to buy plus postage. Actually the Getzoo one is also posted from Germany I think and works out more expensive, with the postage. It didn't arrive that quickly. I would get the Rodipet one. On the other hand, it's easier to order from Amazon. I also ordered the granite slab and stand the bottle on that - stops their nails getting too long if they walk on the stone when going to get a drink, although not sure if that is the same for a Chinese, or just for Syrians.

I'm paranoid about making sure water can be got out of the bottle after having a couple of dodgy ones! The trick with this one is only fill it half full and don't screw it up too tight - works a treat - water comes out easily and doesn't drip. If you press your finger over the end a few times you can check if water is coming out ok.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage

Classic Deluxe Mouse Water Bottle 75ml: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Rodipet® TRÄNKE mit Standfuß 18.5 cm (M) (Häuser) - Rodipet® Heimtierzubehör Shop

Actually the price works out about the same. The Rodipet one with Uk postage is 22.89 euros which works out at £17.47. So neither are cheap, but found them very good.

This is the small square of rough granite, but any stone will do - I also find it helps keep the bottle stable on the substrate.

Rodipet® +GRANiT Klima- & Pflegestein (Häuser) - Rodipet® Heimtierzubehör Shop

But if you're happy with the bottle you are using, forget that! No need to make unnecessary changes if she's fine with the current set up.

Some people make bottle holders themselves - but I can recommend those small mouse bottles - quite a few people on here use them - I half fill mine and change the water every two days.

She's a gorgeous ham!

Last edited by Pebbles82; 01-21-2015 at 02:02 AM.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 01:57 AM   #3
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

The cage looks fabulous chonkers and Mulan, well look at that cheeky face! I think she fully approves! This is one of the better barred cages at the price for Chinese hamsters I feel as it`s within most people`s budgets, it`s narrow bars are a real bonus and it provides everything a Chinese hamsters loves. Digging deep in the base (where they usually like their bed area to be) and the opportunity to climb, although this does need to be safe so adding a hammock and other ledged helps, just as you have done.

Good revue of the cage too.
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 02:21 AM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

Where did you get the hanging toy chew with the bell please? I like that!
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 03:08 AM   #5
Chonkers2
Hamster Pup
 
Chonkers2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Warwickshire/Newcastle
Posts: 80
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I'll have a look at the water bottles Serendipity - she doesn't drink a whole lot and I wonder whether it's because she doesn't like the bottle.

The hanging toy with the bell is actually just a Pets@Home one - she loves it!

Bless, I woke up this morning and she had climbed the whole side of the cage and was stuck at the top with her little tail curled round the wires. I think she bit off a bit more than she could chew - froze there for about 15 mins and eventually worked up the courage to climb down.
Chonkers2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 03:54 AM   #6
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

When I had my Chinese female she always managed to reach the grill covering her tank style cage and I knew she loved to climb even though her cage wasn`t barred! Mulan sounds very happy in her new home and she has plenty to occupy her mind. would perhaps move her hammock across a little so that she can step onto it from a shelf though as it seems a bit too far out in the middle of the cage? Or maybe it already is and I`m just imagining that! Looks fabby though! x
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 04:47 AM   #7
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

You could probably fit another hammock in there then she'd be able to climb more easily from one spot to another without getting stuck anywhere, I don't know if you've seen the Fuzzbutt hammocks but even the small ones are a fair size & really nice for hams to snuggle up in too!
"Homer" mini cage furniture for your hamster,mouse,gerbil,glider
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 08:43 AM   #8
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

Good idea cypher. Or a tunnel style hanging thingy! Fuzzbutt are very good, quality items. They used to do `corner crunch` style hammocks for mice, but do check out their smaller items as many are made for rats/chinchillas etc...
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 04:44 AM   #9
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

I should watch that the door on top is very firmly closed! She might have had thoughts of trying to open it! I have sputniks and a cardboard tube to give climbing levels. The tube is a 7cm rat sized chew tube and cost about £1.50 - just made two holes either end and tied it up with sisal string. The hamster sized one would probably be better for a dwarf - they're much stronger than the toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes. The tube leads between Charlie's sputnik and the top of his house to prevent jumping from a height! You can see the water bottle in its stand on the second pic.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-26-2022 at 05:44 PM.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 04:49 AM   #10
Rempanda
Adult Hamster
 
Rempanda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 342
Default Re: Review - Riviera Varazze (Extra Large) - pictures included

Cage looks great! Lucky Mulan! So much for her to explore and do in there
Rempanda is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:46 AM.