Savic Plaza or Barney possibly....

[Coco61]

Thank you cypher! I haven't mastered even some basics!

[RedTiger]

I have read the review, there aren’t many about for the plaza because it’s newer so just wondered if anyone else had used this cage. I’m really bad at making decisions! It’s been many, many years since I had a hamster and the cages I had before were definitely not big enough so trying to read as much as I can and I’ve probably watched most hamster related YouTube videos too

[Pebbles82]

I agree with Cypher about not needing a top door. Before I had the Barney I had the Savic Mickey 2XL which also had a big front opening door and no door on top and I found it much easier. The door on the front is so big you don't need one on top.

They are hard decisions. I went through this a couple of years ago and went round the houses and couldn't find my ideal cage. So I wrote to Savic and asked them to make a 100cm Hamster Heaven type cage, with a big front opening door. They wrote back and said they were thinking of making one. The Savic Plaza is it! The only thing I would have changed about it, in an ideal world, would be 7mm bar spacing instead of 1cm and very slightly lower - but it's ok. It's a good cage I think.

Yes the cost is an issue especially if you need things for it. But I think you said you have another two savic shelves. Three of those and a wheel and I don't think there would be any fall risks.

You could make a house out of a shoebox - they make a good sized house for a syrian and if you cut the base out you can use the lid as a lift off roof for checking inside so you don't have to take the house out. It makes a nice big house for building a nest and another kind of level with the flat roof. And cut a hole in for a door obviously.

Ok - so it's a hard one because of the cost difference. The Barney is a very reasonable price and comes with a house and a shelf and you just need the wheel and toys. The Plaza costs more and may need some extras.

If you take the price out of the equation I'd get the Plaza. But if it is a worry then the Barney is a perfectly good cage for a Syrian hamster. It has excellent floorspace and the extra 4cm makes quite a bit of difference as to how much you can fit in and have larger items. I have to say though it makes it a very bulky cage as it does seem to stick out a long way.

Just to throw another option in - what about the Alexander? I know it costs about the same as the Plaza but it comes with everything you need except wheel and toys and adds a bit more enrichment with the extra level. It also has a nice big long built in house you can fit a litter tray in, and that frees up floor space. Can be fiddly to fit a large wheel in without removing the centre shelf though.

[Pebbles82]

Basically you're paying extra for a large front opening door and slightly better cage construction quality. The large front door is something I miss - I only use the top door on the Barney because there isn't a large front door.

When I eventually made a decision it was between the Barney and Alexander. I finally decided on the Alexander. And it was out of stock for ages so decision made and I got the Barney.

[RedTiger]

Thanks serendipity - to be honest cost isn’t a huge issue, I can afford to buy the plaza but I’m just a bit of a Scrooge and always go for best value so the plaza being more expensive and not liking the shelf that comes with it (I don’t have any shelves already, I think that was the OP who mentioned she does) well it just sort of goes against the grain for me I really would prefer if they had a cheaper option without accessories. However I know in the long run it can end up costing more if I decide I would prefer the plaza after all!

The Plaza being 4cm narrower works better for me and is another reason I liked it - the unit I’ll be sitting the cage on is narrow, only around 41cm deep so there will be overhang no matter what cage I go for.

Actually, the fact that it can be dismantled for storage / travel is another advantage over the barney - I may have to transport my hamster to a friend’s house when I go on holiday and it would fit in the car easier

[RedTiger]

Meant to say - the Alexander I had discounted because it comes with too many accessories it seems quite full with all the shelves in it, I intend to buy accessories and maybe try different layouts etc to see what works best & give a bit of variety.

[Pebbles82]

Ok.The shelves April had in that review are from Ranchhouse cages. I've had some of their shelves and they come with good screw fittings and washers and fit any cage. They also come in all different shapes and sizes. I would get the Plaza and a couple of their wood shelves of the size you want. I agree, I'm not keen on the corner plastic ones either. I do like their coloured bendy bridge shelf that screws to the side of the cage - I have one as a ramp up to a shelf.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_o...shelf&_sacat=0

For example this one comes in any width you want from the drop down menu. Options are 19" or 20". 20" is 50cm but I don't know if it would fit exactly and might be a tight fit, but you could get 19" and just cover the gap with something or another small shelf over the gap. Or they do make them custom sizes if you want but don't know how much that would cost.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25cm-Deep...n_g_kxy4jpELSg

In my 100cm cage I have the Barney shelf at one end, a wood rounded corner shelf at the other end and a large flat roofed house that makes a kind of shelf.

[RedTiger]

Lots of good options from that eBay seller, thanks. Will see what fits once I have the cage.

[Quicksilver]

Hello I totally agree about being indecisive on choosing the right hamster cage! It's hard due to different factors ... after more pondering we're going to get the Savic Plaza. The Savic Ruffy we have is very well made but slightly too small, by going for the bigger cage this will make life better for our future hamster plus we love designing the set ups and it will be good to be able to use both the Savic shelves at the same time (wasn't possible with the Ruffy as slightly too small).
Would be nice if cage was a bit cheaper - but otherwise ticks all the boxes. The big front door for easy access and being able to flat pack is a bonus. I've seen Pets at Home stock the Plaza, possibly might be able to get a discount as we've a loyalty card and get vouchers every so often.


I had a thought about the spacing of the wires - I know it's suitable for syrian hamsters, would it also be suitable for other species of hamsters like dwarf? We're planning to adopt a hamster in May /June, I just wondered if another species would be fine in the Plaza? Wouldn't want them to get their heads stuck between the wires?

Serendipity - your enquiry about the Savic Ruffy could be possible as we don't really have the space where we live realistically for two hamster cages once we upgrade with the Plaza. Our loft is full of stuff already! Would depend on how much it would cost to ship to you. Made me smile as I've just come back from the northwest. Unfortunately I live a long way from the northeast where your based! Shipping costs would have been a lot cheaper

An early Happy Easter - saw baby chicks one day old when away (so cute) and it was sunny all weekend! Am feeling Easter festive!

[Pebbles82]

Thanks! It probably isn't feasible then. I've sometimes seen second hand hamster heavens for sale and it ends up working out cheaper buying a new one from Zooplus than a second hand one with postage. They're not easy things to post! It's annoying you can't buy replacement bases. You'd probably get a reasonable second hand price selling the Ruffy locally anyway - it's a good cage and could go towards the cost of the Plaza.

Bar spacing on the plaza is just under 1cm. I don't know much about bar spacing for dwarf hamsters. I think most people feel 1cm is fine for a russian dwarf hamster but not for a roborovski. If you were planning on getting a dwarf hammy though, there are other options. For a Syrian it's a great cage.