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Old 08-07-2020, 07:55 AM   #21
MyHamsterAdventures
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

ooohhhh that Savic Hamster Plaza cage looks nice and roomy too. I have never seen that one in our local Pets at Home store.

Thanks for the links, I never thought to try Amazon from a different country, I will have to remember that little trick.
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Old 08-07-2020, 08:23 AM   #22
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

He he - yes Amazon.de do sometimes have things not available here. I use google translate to read things. Yes the Savic Plaza is a nice cage - there's a review of it on the forum somewhere. No cage is perfect but this is one of the better ones.

Annoyingly though it comes with very little in the way of contents so you still need a Syrian sized wheel, a good sized house (shoe box will do though) and a shelf. It might be possible to fit a good sized house and the wheel in while keeping the green shelf if you replace the ladder with something else. What I've used instead of a ladder in the past is a large cork log - it sits partly under the shelf so makes a ramp up to the shelf (as long as the shelf isn;t too high) and also a nice big tunnel leading under the shelf.

I get the cork logs from Rodipet (also in Germany but they do have a Uk website) as they're the right length to fit in a cage. But be warned if you look on that website - it is fairly addictive! We also have the large labyrinth house from the rodipet site, but the granit topped ones are very good too.

Cork log - it makes an interesting texture for them - it's quite tall hence it works well as a ramp without taking up loads of space.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...-diameter.html

Various rodipet houses But a shoebox house is fine too!

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/

I have this one with the legs they sell for it (supports it underneath so it then sits high enough to double up as a shelf/platform).

It's a bit expensive and needs painting with plastikote so it doesn't get stinky. But all our syrians have loved this house - they nest in the left front compartment and use the toilet in the middle back compartment next to it. They sell toilets to fit as well! It's quite big and heavy so does need supporting underneath in case it's tunnelled under or it can fall on them. Either that or have it sat directly on the base of the cage - but then it's too low to make another shelf.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...26-cm-7cm.html

Legs

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...of-houses.html

Here are the reviews of the Savic Plaza with photos of setting up etc


Savic Plaza dimensions and review

Savic Hamster Plaza review

This is how Moo's Savic Plaza is set up. He actually does have a ladder - our previous syrian had the cork log. But the ladder fits in a more convenient place and goes with the wood shelf.

Attachment 51110

Attachment 51111

And the reviews of the Savic Plaza

Savic Plaza dimensions and review

Savic Hamster Plaza review

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:53 PM.
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Old 08-07-2020, 08:37 AM   #23
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

This is our previous syrian's cage (different cage - it's the Barney) - you can just see the cork log sticking out from under the green shelf on the right - saves a lot of space.

Attachment 51112

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:53 PM.
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Old 08-07-2020, 02:05 PM   #24
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
He he - yes Amazon.de do sometimes have things not available here. I use google translate to read things. Yes the Savic Plaza is a nice cage - there's a review of it on the forum somewhere. No cage is perfect but this is one of the better ones.

Annoyingly though it comes with very little in the way of contents so you still need a Syrian sized wheel, a good sized house (shoe box will do though) and a shelf. It might be possible to fit a good sized house and the wheel in while keeping the green shelf if you replace the ladder with something else. What I've used instead of a ladder in the past is a large cork log - it sits partly under the shelf so makes a ramp up to the shelf (as long as the shelf isn;t too high) and also a nice big tunnel leading under the shelf.

I get the cork logs from Rodipet (also in Germany but they do have a Uk website) as they're the right length to fit in a cage. But be warned if you look on that website - it is fairly addictive! We also have the large labyrinth house from the rodipet site, but the granit topped ones are very good too.

Cork log - it makes an interesting texture for them - it's quite tall hence it works well as a ramp without taking up loads of space.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...-diameter.html

Various rodipet houses But a shoebox house is fine too!

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/

I have this one with the legs they sell for it (supports it underneath so it then sits high enough to double up as a shelf/platform).

It's a bit expensive and needs painting with plastikote so it doesn't get stinky. But all our syrians have loved this house - they nest in the left front compartment and use the toilet in the middle back compartment next to it. They sell toilets to fit as well! It's quite big and heavy so does need supporting underneath in case it's tunnelled under or it can fall on them. Either that or have it sat directly on the base of the cage - but then it's too low to make another shelf.

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...26-cm-7cm.html

Legs

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...of-houses.html

Here are the reviews of the Savic Plaza with photos of setting up etc


Savic Plaza dimensions and review

Savic Hamster Plaza review

This is how Moo's Savic Plaza is set up. He actually does have a ladder - our previous syrian had the cork log. But the ladder fits in a more convenient place and goes with the wood shelf.

Attachment 51110

Attachment 51111

And the reviews of the Savic Plaza

Savic Plaza dimensions and review

Savic Hamster Plaza review
Wow if I set a cage up like this for my Buster he probably thought he had died and went to heaven. That looks like paradise, he would never want to come out.

We have a circular run which is probably 5ft around which Buster goes in for a few hours in the morning when he is awake and in the evening he has another hour or two put in the run which has lots of toys/playthings. I am wondering if I get a bigger cage we could fit a lot more items in for him to interact with.
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Old 08-07-2020, 02:14 PM   #25
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

It sounds like he has lots of out of cage time which is good and they can sometimes be fine with a smaller cage if they have lots of out of cage time. But yes you can fit more enrichment in (variety, textures, etc) with more space in a cage and it becomes a real habitat for them. Having said that it isn't just the size of the cage. Some people get huge cages but the hamster is scared because there's a lot of open space and not much to do. As prey animals they tend to like overhead cover - eg a shelf or dark house or somehting hanging from above to sit in or under.

Changing cages can also be stressful but not if done properly I've always let them have a play in the new cage the day before moving with it partly set up with bedding and any new items. Then moved them over the following day. The key is not to clean anything from the old cage when you move things over so it all still smells familiar (whereas our instinct is to want everything clean and new in a new cage) and to have the layout similar. They adjust in a few days if they've had time to familiarise and explore the new cage and it also has some of their scent in it.

If you are thinking of upgrading it can be good to have a bigger cage before they get old. When they get old and balance is an issue then everything needs to be at floor level so the bigger the floor area the more they can still enjoy their toys - all at floor level.

It depends how big your current cage is. If it's smaller than 75cm by 45cm I would say it's worth upgrading. If it's around 75 by 45 and he's happy then maybe not - especially as he has so much out of cage time.

I have one hamster in an 80 x 50 cage and he's happy in that - but if I wanted to give him that big labyrinth house it would need a bigger cage to fit in! The labyrinth house is in the Savic Plaza.

I actually do want to give him a labyrinth house as his current house doesn't quite work for him (he ends up sleeping in his toilet!) but at the moment he is happy in the 80 x 50 cage.

I do like doing the roof run though - it is more places to go - the hanging plastic things are rat sputniks. If hung next to a shelf they are easy to get into and all of ours like sitting in theirs and looking out at the world - I joined two together by tying a rat tube to the roof inside and they both enjoy their roof runs.

It's not the same as the smaller external tubes which are long runs - it's just one length of tube inside the cage - mainly to stop them jumping out of the other side of the sputnik.

Have a look on the "lets see your cages" thread - there are some amazing and fun set ups for ideas
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Old 08-07-2020, 07:52 PM   #26
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post

To be honest it is a very very tall cage for a Syrian hamster and there is now a better 100cm cage with a big front door available in the Uk. The Savic Hamster Plaza. It's £75 and sold by Pets at Home. It's the same size - 100 x 50 but not nearly as tall so much easier to set up safely.

The Savic Plaza is approx 48cm tall so with the base full of bedding the fall risks aren't really an issue. The Borneo is 60cm tall - it really needs a full level to make it safe.

Hi, I've been away from the forum for so long. I completely agree that Borneo XL is a very tall cage (57 cm) and, if not set up well, could be dangerous for a hamster (Syrian or any other species). But I just wanted to clarify, that Borneo XL has an excellent floor space and much more space than the Savic Plaza (which is also an amazing cage!). The floorspace of Borneo XL is 119 cm x 59 cm.
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Old 08-08-2020, 02:41 AM   #27
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It sounds like he has lots of out of cage time which is good and they can sometimes be fine with a smaller cage if they have lots of out of cage time. But yes you can fit more enrichment in (variety, textures, etc) with more space in a cage and it becomes a real habitat for them. Having said that it isn't just the size of the cage. Some people get huge cages but the hamster is scared because there's a lot of open space and not much to do. As prey animals they tend to like overhead cover - eg a shelf or dark house or somehting hanging from above to sit in or under.

Changing cages can also be stressful but not if done properly I've always let them have a play in the new cage the day before moving with it partly set up with bedding and any new items. Then moved them over the following day. The key is not to clean anything from the old cage when you move things over so it all still smells familiar (whereas our instinct is to want everything clean and new in a new cage) and to have the layout similar. They adjust in a few days if they've had time to familiarise and explore the new cage and it also has some of their scent in it.

If you are thinking of upgrading it can be good to have a bigger cage before they get old. When they get old and balance is an issue then everything needs to be at floor level so the bigger the floor area the more they can still enjoy their toys - all at floor level.

It depends how big your current cage is. If it's smaller than 75cm by 45cm I would say it's worth upgrading. If it's around 75 by 45 and he's happy then maybe not - especially as he has so much out of cage time.

I have one hamster in an 80 x 50 cage and he's happy in that - but if I wanted to give him that big labyrinth house it would need a bigger cage to fit in! The labyrinth house is in the Savic Plaza.

I actually do want to give him a labyrinth house as his current house doesn't quite work for him (he ends up sleeping in his toilet!) but at the moment he is happy in the 80 x 50 cage.

I do like doing the roof run though - it is more places to go - the hanging plastic things are rat sputniks. If hung next to a shelf they are easy to get into and all of ours like sitting in theirs and looking out at the world - I joined two together by tying a rat tube to the roof inside and they both enjoy their roof runs.

It's not the same as the smaller external tubes which are long runs - it's just one length of tube inside the cage - mainly to stop them jumping out of the other side of the sputnik.

Have a look on the "lets see your cages" thread - there are some amazing and fun set ups for ideas
He has loads of time out of the cage, its almost like he wants to be out all the time rather than my previous hamsters that I would never see during normal day times and only hear them in the middle of the night .

Our cage is roughly 75cm by 45cm give or take a couple of cm. I think I might leave it saying as he is settled, I would hate to change it and cause him undue stress. I have bookmarked this page so I can come back and use all the good information for any future hamsters. Will also be a good page to point people to who have some cage related question.

Some of the setups I have see of hamsters cages on here are super, well thought out and very stimulating for their furry friends.
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Old 08-08-2020, 03:30 AM   #28
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Default Re: Borneo XL: my thoughts and review

Yes if he's happy with it, it sounds fine The cage move stress is only really if they are suddenly moved cold turkey - they can settle really quickly if it's done properly and within a few days be loving the new cage - and they still have some familiar old toys etc as well. So if you do decide to upgrade at some point, don't worry about that too much. There are ways of making it ok
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