Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Housing

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-07-2011, 02:32 PM   #1
Mona's Humans
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Mona's Humans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 1,799
Default Syrian cage help?

Hi, firstly a little background...

We have one 21 week syrian girl (Mona) who we rescued after we found her in a pet adoption section with no food, in a tiny cage with no burrow opportunities. I'll be honest - i've never had hamsters before and so we are learning.

We got a rotatak for her, realised after about a day it was no good, and returned it (after some trouble) and brought her a home n play XL deluxe, ripped the shelves out and added a full layer shelf in, doubling the cage size, because the full height is way to high anyway, also changed the wheel and took the lid off the house (its now her toilet ). So that gives her 100cm by 40cm floor space.

Now i've checked all guidelines, and this apparently this size is fine, she has lots of toys and ramps, can climb the bars, and going to get her a hammock this weekend too . She has at least 30 mins - an hour out time a day, and has a 60cm by 40cm run that she spends time in daily too for variation.

But... I still feel like its too small and not enough.... is it? I may be going crazy. But we'll prob end up buying her a new cage (i looked into bin cages, but i don't have the tools to make this cost effective). If we were to get a new cage does anyone have recommendations? I would rather a tall cage with lots of layers (full layers so she cant fall) as space is an issue and hubby would like to avoid any tubing (small amounts would be okay). Budget of 100 - 150 pounds. Preferably with enough left from that to buy her and the guinea pigs a few new toys for Yule

Also what is the minimum bar spacing advised for a syrian?

Sorry for all the questions, but we are learning, and want to give her the best possible

Thank you

Mona's Humans x
Mona's Humans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2011, 02:36 PM   #2
Jandrhamster
Zoo Owner
 
Jandrhamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 1,456
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

Maximum bar spacing would be about 1.5cm Im not too sure and yes that size is FANTASTIC! great size im glad you got rid of rotastak they are way too small!
Jandrhamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2011, 02:42 PM   #3
Nikorusama
Senior Hamster
 
Nikorusama's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Leeds
Posts: 438
Send a message via MSN to Nikorusama
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

iMac fantasy with 2 extensions perhaps.
Nikorusama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2011, 04:25 PM   #4
StarlightSerenity
Wicked Witch of Manchester
 
StarlightSerenity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bourne, Lincs
Posts: 5,379
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

What size cage can you have? Size of the space/table top/shelf you have for the cage?

(You said Yule, are you Pagan?)
StarlightSerenity is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2011, 04:41 PM   #5
kyrilliondaemon
Retired Moderator
 
kyrilliondaemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aberystwyth
Posts: 16,105
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

That sounds like a brilliantly improved cage, and yeah rotastak only works when you want to practice diy too lol
There is no minimum bar spacing, but if shes a bar chewer then I'd avoid the really tiny spacing.

I just went through a few ebay searches and can't find anything with full levels, unless you want a chinchilla cage with wire mesh shelves and those'll be really bad news with a hamster unless you keep them covered unfortunately. So right now my advice is to skip ebay lol

Oh and just for the record - bin cages can be surprisingly cheap... If you're willing to take hours of work on them anyway.
Ours was made in the space of about two days with the only equipment being two penknives, a poundland screwdriver and a permanent marker. That said, I wouldn't neccessarily reccomend that building process to anyone lol. It was very er... exhausting to be honest, so if you can find and afford a big cage then going for that instead'll be brilliant for Mona.

Oh and I love your forum name
We're fully aware that we're Scamp's humans lol, but we've convinced her to share us as long as they're only getting attention when she's asleep or out of her cage lol. Unfortunately she does routinely wake up to tell us off if someone else is getting attention and she notices, so she's not quite got the rules sorted yet...
__________________
kyrilliondaemon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2011, 04:44 PM   #6
StarlightSerenity
Wicked Witch of Manchester
 
StarlightSerenity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bourne, Lincs
Posts: 5,379
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

Quote:
Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon View Post
That sounds like a brilliantly improved cage, and yeah rotastak only works when you want to practice diy too lol
There is no minimum bar spacing, but if shes a bar chewer then I'd avoid the really tiny spacing.

I just went through a few ebay searches and can't find anything with full levels, unless you want a chinchilla cage with wire mesh shelves and those'll be really bad news with a hamster unless you keep them covered unfortunately. So right now my advice is to skip ebay lol

Oh and just for the record - bin cages can be surprisingly cheap... If you're willing to take hours of work on them anyway.
Ours was made in the space of about two days with the only equipment being two penknives, a poundland screwdriver and a permanent marker. That said, I wouldn't neccessarily reccomend that building process to anyone lol. It was very er... exhausting to be honest, so if you can find and afford a big cage then going for that instead'll be brilliant for Mona.

Oh and I love your forum name
We're fully aware that we're Scamp's humans lol, but we've convinced her to share us as long as they're only getting attention when she's asleep or out of her cage lol. Unfortunately she does routinely wake up to tell us off if someone else is getting attention and she notices, so she's not quite got the rules sorted yet...
Smaller bar spacing has prevented a lot of hamsters here (as in owned by forum members lol) from bar chewing. I would worry about the dangers of it but I just wanted to point that out

Also, there is minimum bar spacing with Syrians - around 1cm. Hence the need to mesh cages like the ZooZones and rabbit cages
StarlightSerenity is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2011, 01:57 AM   #7
Mona's Humans
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Mona's Humans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 1,799
Smile Re: Syrian cage help?

Thanks,

We made the plastic shelf for her cage (made out of a storage container lid), so it is much improved that was with a kitchen knife, a screwdriver and a candle, but it took about 2 hours :s i don't think i could do a whole bin cage that way so i applaud your perseverance KrillionDaemon!! Also i looked at the storage containers yesterday i wanted about 4 added together soo i was looking at about £60 just for the boxes and thought i may as well buy a cage lol! Thanks for the comment about the user name, were very aware that we belong to all of our furries, but i wouldn't have it any other way

SS as we were not planning on a hammy, she has found a home next to our bed, the gap is only about a metre wide and hubby still needs to be able to walk past to get in and things (don't think he'd appreciate sleeping downstairs with the noisy guinea pigs) So width would need to be 40cm ish max Length we could feesably hit 70cm, but i'd like to give her as much space as possible. At the moment she's on a storage boxed turned upside down as her table which we use as her run the other way up - so this will need to change, if it can be a cage that has a stand that would be fantastic! - To be honest i'll rearrange my whole house if its the best for her, but i'd rather not choose that as the first option lol - Also yes i am pagan SS, - Eclectic Wiccan if i was going to label myself further

I don't mind at all adding shelves into other cages, as i don't think I'd be happy with more than a 30cm drop possibility. I was considering the Jenny rat cage with 2 or 3 shelves added in, with the gaps all on alternating corners, so there was no possibility of falling down all of them, but it doesn't feel right (and would mean we would have to move our bedroom around).

The Imac looks great except the amount of tubing worries me Nikorusama? is it large enough for a syrian to turn around in if needed? (although she can fit through toilet tubes at the moment) I like that you can keep adding to it (we could have a mona tower!!!), but worry that a wodent wheel (my choice of wheel for her new cage) wouldn't fit.

I know i'm probably being difficult do i apologise. Hubby just wants me to stop cage switching, so this one has to be the final cage ever, with no chance of me saying " lets make it bigger" "lets build her a penthouse" etc. I did it with the guinea pigs. They now live in a run with a correx base so that when i feel the need to expand its not another £100 project. One day i'll buy something for me, but for now, i'd rather spend the money on the pets. (who needs Yule presents to each other right?)

Last edited by Mona's Humans; 12-08-2011 at 02:01 AM. Reason: I can't grammar today?!?!?!
Mona's Humans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2011, 02:01 AM   #8
Elliriyanna
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 248
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

Marchioro Jill 52.1 is great but I do not know centimeters
Elliriyanna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2011, 04:32 AM   #9
cutehammies
Hamster Pup
 
cutehammies's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 167
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

Well the imac fantasy would be great if you fancy extending it upwards. Just the base is about 60cm x 40cm, and the basic cage is twice that as it has two full levels. Its also good cos you could buy it and a couple of extensions cos it sounds like you want your cage to be really big, and then in a few months if you ever think you want it bigger, you can just purchase an extra level for your existing cage. An 8" Junior wodent wheel will fit.

Heres a great video on youtube about a lady who has a great imac fantasy

5 Tier Imac Fantasy Hamster Cage - Lady P's new Palace! - YouTube
cutehammies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2011, 05:00 AM   #10
StarlightSerenity
Wicked Witch of Manchester
 
StarlightSerenity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bourne, Lincs
Posts: 5,379
Default Re: Syrian cage help?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elliriyanna View Post
Marchioro Jill 52.1 is great but I do not know centimeters
That cage isn't big enough for a Syrian :/ If it's this one you're refering to - Amazon.com: Jill 52.1 Hamster Cage: Pet Supplies
StarlightSerenity is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bar spacing, cage, rescue, syrian

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:56 AM.