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02-23-2017, 01:13 AM
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#11
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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Re: Chinese hamster!
I do prefer to keep mine in barred cages, my one & only bin cage ham hasn't worked so well!
You can make lovely set ups for them in barred cages & for me it makes taming easier but that may just be me.
Cages are expensive in the US I know including this one but it is my favourite of all the cages I have/had (lots!) & Zen loves it.
__________________
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 ❤️
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02-23-2017, 01:47 AM
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#12
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Chinese hamster!
Ooh that's not a bad price for the Kevin! Not cheap but a lot cheaper than on Amazon. Good point about bin cages. I get the impression that easy interaction is the key with them, from your threads Cypher and the Kevin has a lovely big front opening door.
It costs a lot more than $40 for a breeder tank though. But - it's a good size - not too big, not too small - it might save on having to start smaller and upgrade later. You can also hang things from the top bars and on the side bars to make it feel less exposed.
Come to think of it, the Tamburino tank might be a bit low for a Chinese. They like to climb a bit. If you had a tank you might need climbing things in it like branches.
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02-23-2017, 02:00 AM
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#13
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Chinese hamster!
The Tamburino isn't too low for a Chinese.For climbing a barred cage will have the most options,and with a height that is easy to work with like in the Kevin there is definitely a lot of potential for climbing toys and levels to make it even more enriching for a Chinese!
It is possible to purchase stainless steel washers and hanger bolts from a hardware store and use your own grape vines to make climbing branches as desired for small pets.The idea was first for birds,but eventually got mentioned in a rat thread.Premade perches might be available,but as far as I remember grape is not very common and other wood(for example mopani)would be unsafe with some types(manzanita I believe)being quite slippery unless sandblasted.Any climbing item would need to be set up very carefully though,with the same amount of caution that Syrians would require except on a Chinese-sized scale!
Tanks and the Tamburino would have one more drawback.There wouldn't be the same potential for roof cover like in a barred cage,which could increase nervousness.It is all very give and take though,for example a tank being extremely heavy and difficult to move where a lighter plastic of some sort or a barred cage would be easier to move.The Tamburino is either acrylic or polycarbonate(acrylic being less durable but still more than durable enough to keep a hamster in,polycarbonate being extremely durable and also a more expensive plastic which I believe is used in the Duna or Zoozone,would have to double check on that!)but either would be excellent and much easier to move.
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02-23-2017, 02:04 AM
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#14
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Chinese hamster!
Good points - I guess the Tamburino is very similar to a bin cage really, except clearer to see through. Fluffagrams seems to find bin cages ok. It probably would depend on the hamster but a cage would be great! Except for the cost Maybe check out ebay for a second hand Kevin - the contents aren't that important if they're missing.
Although you wouldn't need to buy a tank lid and it would be more manageable than a tank
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02-23-2017, 02:15 AM
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#15
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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Re: Chinese hamster!
Roof cover is a good point, I've found mine can be quite nervous with open space above them even more than around them & barred cages are great for putting up hammocks (Chinese very rarely chew hammocks & generally love them!), the Kevin seems to be the perfect height, not too low so you can get plenty in & not too high, even with hammocks Zen's confidence really improved going from an alaska to the Kevin, shame it's so expensive but mine has already lasted four hams living in it & showing no signs of wear.
__________________
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 ❤️
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02-23-2017, 02:40 AM
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#16
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Chinese hamster!
That's another good selling point for the Kevin! It's suitable for any species of hamster (narrow 7mm bar spacing) and big enough for Syrians as well as dwarf hammies. Good to hear it lasts well. I've found cages are long-lasting generally. The weak spot can be the plastic base - some are thicker plastic than others. The only time I've had one crack though was during a house move when something unsuitable was put on top of it. But they can be repaired.
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02-23-2017, 02:49 AM
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#17
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Chinese hamster!
I wouldn't say that it's quite Syrian sized Maybe a senior Syrian who would rather sleep all day than anything else,but a reasonably active Syrian could definitely get bored even in that size.It may seem huge but it's not so much bigger than even a 20 long(which is definitely not enough space for a Syrian).It would also be very difficult to fit enough enrichment into such a cage,and even then with that size it isn't necessarily right for the majority of Syrians who clearly show signs of boredom in that size range.Some people might say it's only because there isn't enough enrichment,but the reality is that it takes a combination of enrichment and a large enough cage.Not one or the other,but both
Of course,that whole deep dark tangent aside it would still be a lovely cage for the majority of dwarf hamsters or potentially some mice!It has further potential as well,since it could be a good travel cage for rats or Syrian hamsters if not otherwise being used.
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02-23-2017, 02:58 AM
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#18
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Chinese hamster!
It's a good sized cage Amity It's a bit bigger than an 80cm by 50cm cage. There are different sized versions - the 82cm one is a good size for a Syrian and has the height for a 12" wheel.
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02-23-2017, 03:06 AM
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#19
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Chinese hamster!
81.915 cm x 50.8 cm,and the base does seem to slope at least a tiny bit so not quite!It really isn't substantially bigger,only about 25 square inches.Enough for an extra toy maybe,but not enough to make much of a difference.
I know that the size is popular for Syrians,but that doesn't mean it is the most appropriate or necessarily a good fit.
I've known of many Syrians who have done terribly in that size range,so it isn't necessarily just an opinion.Regardless of enrichment and other things,a lot of hamsters would persist in exhibiting the same exact stereotypic behavior(an indicator of boredom and poor habitat,in other words)and sadly a lot of the time most people don't want to blame it on the cage size.
Regardless,I don't necessarily think it should discourage purchasing of the cage where appropriate For example,transitioning to a larger cage for Syrians or as a dwarf hamster cage or senior hamster cage as mentioned.
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02-23-2017, 03:53 AM
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#20
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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Re: Chinese hamster!
I think this is going a bit OT now but another point in favour of the Kevin is that the base doesn't slope so much as other cages & it's surprising how more you can get in compared to something like the Hamster Heaven, I call it my hamster tardis
__________________
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 ❤️
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hamster, chinesey, syrians, gallon, chinese, inch, wheel, preference, personality, species, individuals, ago, male, female, curious, breeders, older, month, searched, united, states, stuck, expressing, heard, dwarf |
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