Ferplast mini duna thoughts - before I get started!

Pouchy · 08-11-2007, 12:21 PM

Just wondered what everyone thinks of this tank/cage. i know what I think but would like to here your views. It was bought for the diabetic dwarves but now not sure of its usefulness.

souffle · 08-11-2007, 01:04 PM

It is not big enough for a syrian but for one or two dwarfs I would say, with some adaptations, it is acceptable though it would not be my cage of choice. You could get the Gabber lux which is of similar size, or the larger rex and I think these have a better layout though we would always drill out a lower water bottle hole in the base tray especially for dwarfs. The millhouse ryden would do too, another tank type with water bottle on an inside attachment. With diabetics I guess ease of cleaning in important and these have easy clean base tray. Interested to hear your opinion

littlemissdwarfhamster · 08-11-2007, 02:29 PM

I love this cage, 60% of my dwarfs are in them. However I do take out all the insides (or buy without - which is possible from the right supplier) and set them up how I want them.

They do have downsides - they are brittle and do crack easy, and the floor isnt easy clean with those silly ridges.

But since I am to lazy (and crap at DIY) these are my premade bin type cages.

I wouldnt keep a syrian in one, I have zoozones for those (same design but bigger).

If you dont want it, sell it on eBay - they sell really well normally.

Holly · 08-12-2007, 12:26 AM

I've never used one but have looked at them - as the others have said they are too small for a Syrian but look fine to me for a couple of dwarf hams.

Having said that, I'm with souffle on the Gabber cages - our two WW's are in a Rex which gives them a bit more space and I have 3 Lux cages put as aside as temporary homes plus a spare for our first litter for when we separate the sexes.

I do like the tank style of the mini-duna though.

Bailey-Benji · 08-12-2007, 07:58 AM

I think you'd be better with the Ferplast Duna (not mini) as it's larger (never owned one though), or the gabbe rex ( for my dwarfs, i took out the ramp and i put my water bottle wire under the bit where the plastic meets the clear "stuff" and put a piece of doubled up tape behind it) -

(their cage has changed around a bit now, there are 2 critter baths and a silent spinner)

I'd recommend the ZooZones too, and as they are dwarfs you won't need to put mesh over the top (unless you had very high toys)

Pouchy · 08-12-2007, 10:47 AM

Positives +++++
The good visibility all round.
The deep litter tray so nothing gets kicked out all over the floor, shelves, table, unlikely to crack or break if dropped
The way the grill fits into the perspex top is a great piece of design.
Distance between the grill bars is 6mm so can keep smaller critters like mice species without Houdini style behaviour.
Has all the basic requirements to get started (see below)

Negatives------
Brittleness of the plastic top (should be thicker -one drop and it will smash into pieces) and the plastic shelf.
Difficulty of attaching things to the cage inside or outside.
Poor design of the wheel fitting - how could anyone think it was a good idea to have that long slot made of easy snap plastic. It would be better to fix the wheel to the wall of the cage. Wheel can easily rub on the floor or litter and not work. Only good for tiny wheels, anything above 5 ins is a problem. therefore no good for Syrians but OK for dwarf and robbos - just.
Water bottle aperture only good for a Sippy - no use for the regular bottle type unless modified.
Plastic shelf could have been wider without any loss of functionality - it could have gone half the length with no problems.
Cost but that is the same for all pet cages these days. Anywhere from £15 - 30 depending where you look.

That's about it. It will be used for my dwarves as they tend to urinate all over the platforms of the Astro 3 due to their diabetes.

Pouchy · 08-14-2007, 12:22 PM

Here is the new tank set up for the diabetic dwarfies.

They seem to be settling in OK. Think I am already a convert to the tank type cage so maybe BIG Hamster will get a bigger one soon. No mess all over the place - what a joy!

**babyboos** · 08-14-2007, 03:20 PM

the cage setup is great
well done

Pouchy · 08-15-2007, 04:23 AM

Had a look at the Lux and Rex cages and the cage fittings don't please. There's a cage on ebay sold by fredlegs which seems a better bet although it's only 24 x 15 x 12 ins but does have tube attachments.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-FUN-HAMSTER ... dZViewItem

It can't be anymore fragile than ferplast or fop tanks and seems to be better specced than the gabber rex although the lux is available for £19.98 + p+p

Holly · 08-15-2007, 11:23 PM

Looks a bit small to me, Pouchy - and I'm not sure how well dwarf hams would manage to climb those tubes - our ww's definitely wouldn't manage them (we occasionally put them in a tube play area - the don't seem able to climb even the shortest vertical tube).

I know I'm biased but I find the fittings in the Rex/Lux cages perfect. The hamsters love sleeping under the shelves, they can all climb the steps up onto the shelf (even the ww's) and there's plenty of space for toys/ wheel etc.

As I said, though, I'm biased!