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Old 04-02-2019, 08:34 PM   #1
mapfef
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Default Good Cage?

I am getting a new syrian hamster in a few weeks so I got a bin cage for her. I haven’t made the bin cage yet I just have the bin, but the bin is almost 600 square inches do you think this is okay for a syrian hamster? I will of course have lots of toys in it and at least 6 inches of bedding. I plan to have her out lots to play but is this cage too small?
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Old 04-03-2019, 05:35 AM   #2
alpacassei
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Default Re: Good Cage?

It’s a little below the recommended minimum of 620 square inches and even that isn’t adequate for a lot of adult Syrians, especially females unfortunately. If you can, try to get a bin or tank that’s around 775 square inches as they do much better in a setup this size. Your bin will be fine as a starter cage but you may she shows signs of needing more space after a little while.
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Old 04-03-2019, 10:16 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Good Cage?

What are the dimensions of the bin mapfef? Sometimes depth and height is as important as square inches. ie being tall enough for a syrian sized wheel and deep/wide enough to allow normal behaviours and enough enrichment.

Ideally a cage for a Syrian would be no smaller than approx 80cm wide by 50cm deep floor space (ie floor space at the base if the cage slopes in at the sides). Although 40cm deep may be fine if the bin is particularly long. Heightwise it would need to be about 35cm or more tall to fit an 11 or 12" wheel - taller is better as it allows for substrate under the wheel.

80cm by 50cm is approximately 630 square inches. A 75cm by 45cm cage would be about 522 square inches. A cage that is 75cm by 45cm floor space is doable for a Syrian hamster if set up carefully and depending on the size of contents and providing the hamster has plenty of out of cage time. However, more space does allow for a greater level of enrichment.

Syrian hamsters' "stuff" can sometimes take up a fair bit of the floor space also - they need large wheels and sometimes rat sized toys/tunnels, or certainly larger ones than dwarf hamsters, and a house big enough to build a good sized nest in - or enough space to build a large open nest. I also think a level or platform is fairly essential for them to have something to sit under and climb onto for somewhere to go, and variety.

So I'd suggest that the bin may be "big enough", depending on the dimensions, but that many people getting something 80cm by 50cm or less, feel the need to upgrade the cage fairly quickly (been there!). And it can be good to start out with a cage big enough that you don't feel the need to upgrade again.

Bins can be difficult as many of them aren't that deep - but something about 100cm by 45cm would be a good space.

If you're in the US, the Iris Christmas tree bin is a popular choice for a bin cage. I would suggest trying to aim for at least 90cm by 45 to 50cm or you may find it isn't big enough for the hamster to be happy in.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 04-03-2019 at 10:27 AM.
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Old 04-04-2019, 01:37 PM   #4
mapfef
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Default Re: Good Cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
What are the dimensions of the bin mapfef? Sometimes depth and height is as important as square inches. ie being tall enough for a syrian sized wheel and deep/wide enough to allow normal behaviours and enough enrichment.

Ideally a cage for a Syrian would be no smaller than approx 80cm wide by 50cm deep floor space (ie floor space at the base if the cage slopes in at the sides). Although 40cm deep may be fine if the bin is particularly long. Heightwise it would need to be about 35cm or more tall to fit an 11 or 12" wheel - taller is better as it allows for substrate under the wheel.

80cm by 50cm is approximately 630 square inches. A 75cm by 45cm cage would be about 522 square inches. A cage that is 75cm by 45cm floor space is doable for a Syrian hamster if set up carefully and depending on the size of contents and providing the hamster has plenty of out of cage time. However, more space does allow for a greater level of enrichment.

Syrian hamsters' "stuff" can sometimes take up a fair bit of the floor space also - they need large wheels and sometimes rat sized toys/tunnels, or certainly larger ones than dwarf hamsters, and a house big enough to build a good sized nest in - or enough space to build a large open nest. I also think a level or platform is fairly essential for them to have something to sit under and climb onto for somewhere to go, and variety.

So I'd suggest that the bin may be "big enough", depending on the dimensions, but that many people getting something 80cm by 50cm or less, feel the need to upgrade the cage fairly quickly (been there!). And it can be good to start out with a cage big enough that you don't feel the need to upgrade again.

Bins can be difficult as many of them aren't that deep - but something about 100cm by 45cm would be a good space.

If you're in the US, the Iris Christmas tree bin is a popular choice for a bin cage. I would suggest trying to aim for at least 90cm by 45 to 50cm or you may find it isn't big enough for the hamster to be happy in.
I believe the dimensions of the bin are 35” by 19” by 14” (LxWxH) I live in canada but in a very small town and this is the biggest bin I could find I would love to go bigger but i’m not sure I can find anything bigger.
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Old 04-04-2019, 02:11 PM   #5
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Default Re: Good Cage?

The width/length is fine but it will be difficult to fit deep enough substrate and a 12 inch wheel in there tbh
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Old 04-04-2019, 03:06 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Good Cage?

It is difficult finding good cages and bins in Canada. The size sounds fine. You will probably just need to have a lower substrate area at the wheel end - so having the wheel at one end may be best, then you can section that end off with a "fence" - ie two bendy bridges on their ends - and have the substrate deeper in the rest of the cage It would be good if you could fit a platform or level in as well, as that adds to the enrichment. And a good sized house.

Do you know what wheel you're getting? I believe exotic nutrition in the US ship Wodent wheels to canada.
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Old 04-04-2019, 05:46 PM   #7
mapfef
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Default Re: Good Cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It is difficult finding good cages and bins in Canada. The size sounds fine. You will probably just need to have a lower substrate area at the wheel end - so having the wheel at one end may be best, then you can section that end off with a "fence" - ie two bendy bridges on their ends - and have the substrate deeper in the rest of the cage It would be good if you could fit a platform or level in as well, as that adds to the enrichment. And a good sized house.

Do you know what wheel you're getting? I believe exotic nutrition in the US ship Wodent wheels to canada.
That was my plan to put lots of bedding on one side and not so much on the other. The wheel i’m getting is a 10 inch silent spinner. I couldn’t find an 11 inch in any brand and the 12 inch looked way too big but I am getting a girl so she should be a smaller syrian but if her back does start to arch at all I would make sure to immediately get a bigger wheel.
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Old 04-05-2019, 02:40 AM   #8
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Default Re: Good Cage?

I didn't think they made a 10" silent spinner! Actually girls often tend to be much larger. A 10" diameter wheel may be fine though. Main thing is it has a solid surface and isn't a mesh wheel.

Ah yes they do! Must be a new size - however - I wouldn't buy one without testing it first. Silent Spinners have had an issue in recent years - whereby they just don't spin very well! They are stiff and hamsters can't push them sometimes - it's since a manufacturing change. If you've ordered it online then check it out when it arrives and if it seems stiff and not free-spinning I would send it back for a refund.

It isn't silent either - they can be quite rattly!

Had a look on Amazon.ca. They do sell the 8.5" (21.6cm) comfort wheel which might be big enough, depending on how big your hamster grows. That definitely isn't silent but it's an ok wheel.

https://www.amazon.ca/Kaytee-Hamster...gateway&sr=8-6

Last edited by Pebbles82; 04-05-2019 at 02:50 AM.
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Old 04-05-2019, 06:51 PM   #9
mapfef
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Default Re: Good Cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I didn't think they made a 10" silent spinner! Actually girls often tend to be much larger. A 10" diameter wheel may be fine though. Main thing is it has a solid surface and isn't a mesh wheel.

Ah yes they do! Must be a new size - however - I wouldn't buy one without testing it first. Silent Spinners have had an issue in recent years - whereby they just don't spin very well! They are stiff and hamsters can't push them sometimes - it's since a manufacturing change. If you've ordered it online then check it out when it arrives and if it seems stiff and not free-spinning I would send it back for a refund.

It isn't silent either - they can be quite rattly!

Had a look on Amazon.ca. They do sell the 8.5" (21.6cm) comfort wheel which might be big enough, depending on how big your hamster grows. That definitely isn't silent but it's an ok wheel.

https://www.amazon.ca/Kaytee-Hamster...gateway&sr=8-6
I had a winter white dwarf hamster in the past and I used the 6 inch silent spinner and it worked perfect for her it was a little noisy but she loved to run on that thing i had no problems with it spinning and her back was not arched at all ( she was a very small dwarf hamster) I did see the comfort wheel but I was just worried if I did happen to get a larger syrian it would be very much to small and I wouldn’t want to have to get a bigger one later.
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Old 04-06-2019, 01:34 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Good Cage?

The old 6" ones were fine. When the changed the manufacture process (I believe to make them less spinny so dwarfs didn't fly out of them) it went too much the other way. From what I've heard, these days a 6" one may or may not be ok - they vary. But the 12" ones invariably are far too stiff. As the 10" one is new it's a bit unknown but I suspect it will have the same issues.

I actually think it's worth paying a bit more for a wheel that will last a long time and not break, like the wodent wheel, although I know it isn't a cheap option when you have to have it sent to Canada from the US. Also the 12" Silent Runner is worth paying for. I've had mine about 2.5 years now with no issues at all - it's the only wheel I've had that hasn't broken - except for a wodent wheel.
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