Ferplast Mini Duna?

[Pebbles82]

Sounds like a good plan! Especially if you have a perfectly good Zoozone 1.

[racinghamster]

It makes sense to use the ZZ1 cage if you already have one and buy a sheet of small grid mesh from a DIY store and lay it over the grill, measure it and just use simple hand-held wire cutters to snip off the excess. However, I use a Gabber Rex tank (same size as the ZZ1) and although I made a wooden framed meshed lid for it, I`ve never had the lid on it even when I had my last two Roborovski hamsters and not my single Russian dwarf. I`ve never had the need to use the lid as the cage isn`t easy to get out of unless you have accessories inside that allow the hamster to get near the top lip of the Perspex. Also, if you have larger pets (cats/dogs ferrets etc) then yes, you DO need a secure lid!

Are you planning to get a single hamster or you said you were using a Ferplast mini Duna for your dwarf hamsters? Wasn`t sure if you already had them or you were getting the cage ready for some?!! I would go with a single dwarf personally as it saves any fall outs/separations and having to buy another cage! x

[taylorisqueen]

Hi racinghamster! I think I'm going to make a cage lid just to be safe (I'm a bit of a worrier) and so I have the option of adding in higher toys. I do have a dog but the cage is kept in my bedroom (where she's not allowed without supervision) and she really isn't the type of dog to go for hamsters anyway... She's more interested in trying to eat their food haha.

My last hamster died a few days ago and I'm planning to get a single dwarf (still undecided between roborovski and russian... usually I just choose whichever catches my eye). I've had one pair of roborovskis in the past and it ended fatally with no previous signs of fighting so I am very very reluctant to get a pair again.

[cypher]

Just a word about those colourful cute ebay water bottle holders, they should be fine for a robo I would imagine but the spout is too low to the ground for any of the other dwarf species to really drink comfortably.

[taylorisqueen]

Ok thank you that's really good to know!

[racinghamster]

That`s very sensible I think given there are so many dwarf hamsters sold in pairs (or bought in pairs) that end up eventually separated. Being a long standing hamster owner, I wouldn`t keep a pair knowing this. Especially Robos as they are so good at hiding their behaviours.

The ZZ1 cage will have a bottle hole anyway, but if you wanted to use a water bottle inside the cage, I can give you a tip. First off, it`s easy to cover the existing hole by covering it on the inside with a metal washer, place a screw through it and on the outside, secure it with a nut. I have one fixed to my Gabber Rex and it works a treat.

On the inside, do you know those plastic inserts that come with cages like the Savic Rody that the hamster sleeps behind? The tank that looks like a Ferplast mini Duna? Well I took one of those plastic inserts, used a Stanley knife to mark the area I wanted to `snap` off (the end that the bottle holder is) and it works by sliding it between the upper clear part and the base of the ZZ1. It may tilt forward a bit as the base on the ZZ1 is taller than the Savic Rody, but you can slide a piece of pine under the foot and cover this with shavings or substrate. It holds the bottle in place and at a decent height without being up too high, which is why I adopted this rather than using the existing hole in my gabber Rex which is sited far too high up for my wee Russian hybrid!

Alternatively, you can make something like this:

[taylorisqueen]

Wow that is really clever! I would never have thought to do something like that haha. This cage seems to be turning into my october half term project!!

[taylorisqueen]

Also, I was wondering if any of you had any ideas about how to make the most of the floor space?

[Pebbles82]

This is for a dwarf hamster right? Maybe have a look at some zoozone set ups? Most of these have the small silent spinner which is supposed to be a bit rubbish these days and doesn't spin well apparently. But you can imagine it with an 8" wheel - wouldn't take up much more space.

Zoo zone 1 please share set ups

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=zo...Ch2pNAlQ&dpr=1

Mabel + Hattie's Natural Setup's

Basically - lots of substrate. A 20cm wheel. A house, and some ideas for toys and things to climb over, under and in.

These are good - they can chew the carrot off the top, rip the hay off and chew the cardboard! And hide in it. I also use it as a level/step. It's quite firm on top.

Rosewood Naturals Carrot Cottage Hamster House, Small: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

These are fun hidey places

Fruity Hamster House Asst.: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Classic Jungle Hamster House Assorted 10Cm - 1 Toy Design wil vary: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Flamingo Hamster House Broken Pot 17 x 18 x 15 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Level/steps/hidey place

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Natur...=Hamster+house

House with two entrances and flat top/level (someone on here has one of these I seem to remember).

Classic Rustic Fun Wooden Oval House 170mm: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

I think this is fun

Karlie Wonderland Playground with Slide: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Tubes

Boredom Breaker Chew Tube Small Animal Toy Small: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

If you want a more natural themed cage - the wood houses above and things like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bor...redom+breakers

Rosewood Boredom Breaker Hide 'n' Treat Chain, Small: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Rosewood Boredom Breaker Edible Play Shack/House, Small: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Boredom Breaker Natural Treats Crunch 'n' Munch Millet 3 per pack: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Cork (I freeze cork things for a couple of days to make sure nothing is living in them)

cork mix, 300 g/bag: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Wooden Bridge/Tunnel (P)(T62162): Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001TNMH2...keywords=kerbl

I love this natural set up! An area is sectioned off with sand instead of a sand bath - deep substrate at the other end for digging, cork tunnels and a part submerged house. It's in the bigger duna maxi and for a syrian but you get the idea.

Obi's natural set up is complete!

I have a mixture of natural stuff and colourful stuff. I really like the vine branch in our cage. It's propped up in one corner and can be sat under or climbed up like a ladder for access.

Most of them are too big so I got ours from Rodipet who sell smaller ones (you can translate with google translate). Postage is £7 from Germany though but not so bad if you are ordering more than one thing.

Rodenti® Rebenholz - Länge ca. 20cm (Zubehör)

They also make good houses with lift off roofs (so you can spot clean inside without their nest falling apart).

Rodipet® +GRANiT Nagerhaus BURQiN (Häuser)

Sorry - that's a lot of stuff. I think I would go for a bendy stick bridge, a tunnel or tube of some kind, a house, a climbing thing, a dangly kebab thing and the carrot cottage plus another hidey place like the fruit ones or a half coconut shell.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...=coconut+house

[Pebbles82]

Double posted.