Kevin 82 or Ferret 100 ?

crazycatlady5 · 01-10-2013, 09:13 PM

OK Hamster experts..Which cage is better for a Syrian,

Kevin 82 [32.25 in. x 20 in. x 14.25 in. and two extra tiers]
or
Ferret 100 [39 x 21 x 25 and one corner tier]

In other words, is the extra length of the cage worth the sacrifice of the extra levels? What is more important for him as he nears old age? He is 1 1/2 now. I just brought him home yesterday - am getting the new cage next Wednesday. I can't decide. I do not want to get another Ware Natural, not for a Syrian, as I feel 24in is not big enough.

gutterglitterxx · 01-10-2013, 09:22 PM

My syrians each have a Kevin 82 and they have worked out really well for them. I use my own shelves though, not the ones that came with the cages. They have been great cages with ample space. Each of mine have 11" Wodent Wheels and 12" Flying Saucers... With room to spare.

But I have to admit that if I had the space and money, I would invest in the bigger cage you're talking about. I just like to give them as much space as possible.

But, in my opinion, the Kevin 82 is a great home for any syrian so choose what you think works best for you and where you will be putting it. And plan on having some hammocks and things like that to break falls, in the event that you do choose the 100.

strawberrysmom · 01-10-2013, 09:25 PM

Well, I have both. I love both. Of the two I love the Ferret 100 more. (And it's cheaper oddly enough). You have to put hammocks in the Ferret 100 (It's the Mamble in the UK so I just call it that lol) because it's so high that if a hammy fell from the climbing the top it could be injured or worse. My Bob fell. He isn't much of a climber and when he does he falls so I keep him in the Kevin and he's happy in there.

My Penny is in the Ferret/mamble and she is a super climber (really great at it) and I feel safer knowing she has the hammocks as a catch net. I have the entire top portion covered with a hammock I made out of a baby's receiving blanket and a long fleece hammock.

You can get wooden ledges (usually marketed for Chinchillas) for cheap at a few online places. I have an assortment that I found either at Petco, Petstore.com and Petdiscounters.com and I have them all around the cage - placed like she's climbing up a ladder.

As for the Kevin - one of the levels is crap. I don't use it. I only liked the corner round shelf in it and I use that in the Mamble and just give Bob a bunch of hammocks and wooden suspension bridge across the top. It's like a jungle gym for him and not a tall cage so if he fell he'd not get injured.

Anyway, whichever you get I think you'll be very happy. I think they are both worth it. If I could go back I'd not have gotten the Kevin only because now I have two Syrians and one is in the big ole Mamble and the other is in a NICE SIZED Kevin but it's still not as big as the mamble and that makes me feel like I'm being unfair! But like I said - Bob scares me to death with how uncoordinated he is with climbing.

I have thought about old age and I would just have a ton of hammocks all over and NO levels anymore (like take the ledges out) and that way if the old ham climbs the side of the cage they'd have hammocks to save them but without ledges and tubes you'd not have to worry about them having much oppportunity to over exert themselves.

The Ferret/Mamble comes with nice sized (easy to climb) tubes and one rounded shelf and a ferret sized litter pan which my Bob uses for his litter pan. He likes how big it is.

The Hamster's family · 01-11-2013, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycatlady5

OK Hamster experts..Which cage is better for a Syrian,

Kevin 82 [32.25 in. x 20 in. x 14.25 in. and two extra tiers]
or
Ferret 100 [39 x 21 x 25 and one corner tier]

In other words, is the extra length of the cage worth the sacrifice of the extra levels? What is more important for him as he nears old age? He is 1 1/2 now. I just brought him home yesterday - am getting the new cage next Wednesday. I can't decide. I do not want to get another Ware Natural, not for a Syrian, as I feel 24in is not big enough.

I would say go for lenght as too soon, you might have to put everything on 1 level because he is getting older... But that's just my opinion...

Good luck !

Annie xx

**kyrilliondaemon** · 01-11-2013, 10:54 AM

Go for the bigger cage - you can always add your own shelves if needs be, and its the floor space that matters most to hams anyway

j.j. · 01-11-2013, 11:40 AM

I have a Kevin. Its a pretty good size cage but if you can do the extra length then I would say go for it!
I also dont use the rectangular shelf. Its a waste of space and JJ would just hide under it and it would cut down on how I could interact with her. I took it out and created my own extra shelf and just use the corner shelf. I also dont use the tubes and other accesories that came with it.

crazycatlady5 · 01-13-2013, 07:46 PM

Thank you everyone (^_^) All great advice. All taken into consideration. Especially since he is up there in age. I haven't seen him use the wheel very much.

Strawberry -- I am also from the US. Where can I find the suspension bridges? I've already got the wood bend-a-bridges but some of the more really whacky cool stuff is more difficult to find here in America as you must know. The only thing I really want to get but can't find are those suspension bridges (^_^)

strawberrysmom · 01-13-2013, 09:35 PM

Try your local Petsmart in the bird section and you might find the one I have - it was hanging up in the bird toys section. Also/or go to Dr. Foster and Smith website and you will also find wooden/rope bridges there under their bird section. I'm going to be ordering a couple of those in large and small size sometime tomorrow because another member bought one and it looks terrific. I'm not sure what size they purchased. I figured you can't go wrong with large when you have a large cage. But I want the small size for my dwarf.

strawberrysmom · 01-13-2013, 09:36 PM

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...id=24494&rel=1

I can't find the wooden ladder on petsmart online - I think it's a store only item!

crazycatlady5 · 02-07-2013, 07:47 PM

I went with the Ferret 100. I am glad I picked the longer cage. There are times I watch him move about and I still don't think it's enough! If I could, he would have his own room. But Max is very happy. He spends more time awake now. I just have to buy some more "furnishings".