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Old 04-29-2018, 09:46 AM   #1
Pebbles82
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Default Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

Having recently moved Nugget (Robo) from the Kerry Terrarium to an 80 x 50 Savic cage I thought I'd take the opporunity to compare the sizes and useability of each of them side by side (or rather one on top of the other). This is the Savic Mickey 2XL but it's identical to the Hamster Heaven apart from the bar spacing (and without the tubes).

So if anyone is trying to imagine how much space there is in each it might help.

It helps get your head round "space" seeing them together. As you can see, the Kerry Terrarium at 75 x 45 cm actually has a larger floor area at the base, due to the Savic's cage base sloping in at the bottom. The Savic cage however is almost 2" longer and 2" deeper at the top.

So basically the floorspace is about the same once you've got about 3 to 4" of substrate in it. But If you filled the base of the Savic cage almost to the top (eg 5" ish) it would have greater floor area.

The main thing I found is that the Savic cage feels bigger in that it's easier to fit more in because the top of the cage is 2" deeper and 2" longer. So when fixing wheels and platforms etc they sit further out and allow more use of the floor space underneath - if that makes sense. It has a greater feeling of space once substrate is in. And there is actually a bit more floor area to fit in houses and toys etc once substrate is in.

They are both about the same height. Overall I prefer cages - the ventilation, the front access and the use of bars for attaching things like wheels and shelves. Tanks look lovely but there is a glass wall between you and your pet and only top access. This is fine for a tame hamster really though, who is happy to come out.

That little bit of extra space makes me think an 80 x 50 cage is better unless you really need a tank. But I still think 100cm x 50cm cage is the sweet spot for enrichment capabilites and enough space after items are added.

It really doesn't look that much bigger but when fitting things in a cage and setting it up it can make a bit of difference. On the other hand the straight sides of a tank make it easy to fit platforms on legs and other items right up to the side of the tank without any gaps. But it still seems a bit smaller inside (although still a good size).

I didn't get on with the Kerry Terrarium very well - maybe because I'm used to cages but also it was the combination of the size and the top entrance. A longer tank with a top entrance (eg 100cm) would be easier to get your arm in at an angle and to do things inside the cage.

But then I love the Savic Mickey 2XL 80 x 50 cage anyway - I just always wanted a 100cm version of that exact cage! Same height - same front door.

As a further comparison I've add pictures of both of them set up with the same or similar items

Attachment 45210

Attachment 45211

Attachment 45212

Attachment 45213

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:39 PM.
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Old 04-29-2018, 10:42 AM   #2
hellobg
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Default Re: Kerry and 80 x 50 cage comparison

You have a lot of insights on the Kerry Terrarium and some of which I agree. While the Kerry is the smallest out of the viable Terrariums, I still think it's good for people who likes glass tanks.
Agreed on making the Kerry 80x50 wouldn't have hurt after all it's 75x45.

Off topic: I noticed the base of your Savic Mickey is grey? I was quite sure it was blue, is it the same Savic Mickey Base?
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Old 04-29-2018, 11:09 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default

Yes that cage does have a blue base Mine got broken and the grey one is a replacement Ferplast base. I'm not meaning to knock the Kerry - just doing a comparison on size as they both have their pros and cons. Personally I prefer cages - some people prefer tanks.

It actually surprised me how much smaller the sloping base of the 80 x 50 cage was than the base of the Kerry - but the width of the bars made it easier to set up somehow (for me anyway).

Last edited by souffle; 04-30-2018 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 01-21-2019, 01:05 AM   #4
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Default Re: Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

Althugh not much bigger in size the cage does seems a fair bit bigger in size when seeing them both like that. I was thinking back when I was inquiring about the Kerry tank and thinking would 5cm make much difference, but after seeing this - yes it does.
That’s a great help with people like me wanting that tank. I’m waiting for the Savic Plaza cage to go back down in price, then to twist my partner’s arm into owning a little cute hamster. His still saying they’re pointless pets to own �� - sad face.

Edit : Oops, old post. I keep thinking they’re new ones.
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Old 01-21-2019, 01:56 AM   #5
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Default Re: Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

Don't worry, it's not that old Ha ha - your partner saying it's a pointless pet - he will probably fall in love with the hamster. My OH didn't want us to get one - but within a few weeks he was worrying about the hamster and within a few months the hamster was sitting between us on the sofa.

Yes I did find the combination of slightly smaller width overall, top entrance and solid sides, made it difficult to fit things in satisfactorily and that was for a dwarf hamster - also he is a very nervy robo and didn't like things coming from the top.

He is still a nervy robo, but actually accepts my hand in the cage now that it comes from the front, gradually, without running and hiding.

But mainly the extra 5cm either side did help set things up as most things go above substrate level.

People used to complain that 80 x 50 cages weren't actually 80 x 50 because the base sloped so much but I think they are quite well designed to be stable at the bottom and give enough space to fit everything in at the top. Unless it's for a tunnelling hamster and then they may need a bigger base. But if they have a good house that's dark inside they don't seem to tunnel as much (in my experience but hamsters do vary).
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Old 01-21-2019, 11:10 AM   #6
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Default Re: Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

Would you say a Syrian hamster is a tunnelling hamster. I had 3 many years ago back in the -cough- late 80s early 90s and I used a couple of inches of sawdust in the bottom of the cage, (poor little things). They all seemed happy though - never bite me anyway, and one of them was a female.
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Old 01-21-2019, 11:22 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

It depends on the Hamster partly Our current Syrian is an avid digger and tunneller - our last one didn’t bother stall as long as he had a nice big house that mimicked a burrow. At one point when he only had a little house and a lot of substrate he did dig a tunnel and a burrow but always looked a bit ears down coming out of it and it was a stinky mess! I came to the conclusion he only did it to feel safe and under something - didn’t like the open space - the exit of his tunnel cane out in the little house, so that was his “porch” lol. With a big house that was dark inside he never dug again! Whereas our current Syrian has the same big house and loves it but still likes to dig underneath it - although not tunnels exactly - more to bury things. So my theory is most Syrians will dog tunnels and burrows in deep substrate if there isn’t an adequate shelter or house to nest in - but if you provide them with a good house it’s a burrow substitute - so I think the amount of substrate you can fit in a cage base is fine for a Syrian as long as there’s enough floor space.

Our Robo is a natural tunneler but again uses his labyrinth house now - although does have aliitke tunnel elsewhere.
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Old 01-21-2019, 01:23 PM   #8
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Default Re: Kerry Terrarium and 80 x 50 (Savic Mickey 2XL) cage comparison

It depends on the hamster, one of my Syrians is always creating little burrows but my other Syrian’s only ever burrowed once! My Russian dwarfs however, are constantly burrowing and making a huge tunnel network allover their cages
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cage, top, space, savic, floor, kerry, bit, tank, longer, base, substrate, area, fit, 100cm, things, terrarium, side, deeper, greater, entrance, make, inside, size, items, height

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