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Old 02-07-2013, 03:38 AM   #1
SamanthaJane
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Question Which cage for a bar chewer?

I have a hamster Luna, she is in temporary housing at the moment - looks like a Zoo Zone, but is 50 cm across.

She doesn't have any toys or anything yet.

I want to buy a new cage - either Alaska or Alexander/ or the Zoozone 2.

The thing is - she will not stop knawing on the bars in the cage at the moment, on the top where it opens. Constantly. (Driving me batty!)

Is this because she is bored? If I buy a cage with bars, I don't want her to do it all the time, but I have a feeling the plastic cages aren't as good for hanging hammocks etc? And if it cracks...well that's it!

On the other hand, I don't want to have to 'watch' her though bars all the time - I like the transparency with a plastic cage.

So - overall question I guess is - is she chewing the bars because she is bored? Or because some hamsters just like to chew bars?!
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Old 02-07-2013, 04:27 AM   #2
Lougarry
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

I don't know why some hamsters bar chew. It's always worth checking their teeth aren't overgrown. Some seem to just fall into the habit, though , and it can lead to nasty accidents.

My Magic is a bar chewer, but he seemed best in a big rat cage with lots of distractions. He still liked to chew, but would perch in a corner hammock and chew on wooden dolly pegs I hung on the bars. Unfortunately, as he got older I worried that he'd fall so transferred him to a Rody Rabbit - very similar to the ZZ2. He chews the top bars through the mesh

Some very determined chewers will chew their way through the bottom of a ZZ2! I do like it as a cage (Dinah is in one), but I tend to find hamsters are more sociable in a barred cage. They are also more flexible for stacking etc, especially if you get one with a side door. It's harder for them to chew on bars that are 7mm apart, but not impossible.

Another option is a big aquarium or vivarium (a large Exo Terra would be my preference).

If it were me, I think I'd try a really big barred cage with lots of wood to chew and things to climb or play on, but might be best to get it secondhand so you are not too out of pocket if you need in the end to switch to a plastic or glass tank.
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Old 02-07-2013, 05:46 AM   #3
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

Cupcake is a bar chewer...and I thought the ZZ2 managed to kill that habit, but when I got her a new hammock it didn't take long for her to realize she can reach the bars
Sooo I decided to still get her something that she can climb in, but without access to the bars and TA-DA
http://ca-en.hagen.com/File/Image/m/...b-f20c743fedb8
and it's not her favourite hanging spot so I'd say it was a success. The only thing I still need to pay attention to is her literally elevating her house by placing substrate underneath until she can climb on it and chew the bars. But that's easily combated.
However, I do agree with Lougarry that a barred cage is more versatile. I guess it's more a question of preference rather
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Old 02-07-2013, 05:57 AM   #4
Leesha
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

It could possibly be boredom. My first syrian was in a mickey max and chewed the bars relentlessly, she was then housed in a tank and then a Zoozone2 because it became a learnt behaviour. Does she have things to chew on? Toilet roll tubes, wooden toys?

I would say the ZZ2, (the one I linked you on RU hasn't got a meshed roof but that's done rather cheap) but also possibly a tank/viv. What about bin cages? Clear, can expand etc.

2 for £30 (you can just buy one from other places though ) It's 5cm shy of the minimum depth (40cm) and 1cm off the length (79cm) It's 50cm high.

Buy Wham Crystal 110L storage box with lid, 2 pack clear from our Crates & Boxes range - Tesco.com

Could find one of those as a toy/climbing/digging area and mesh the top to hang things off then maybe a meshed top 32L one (I think that would fit) for a flying saucer and food etc something like that.

Buy Wham Crystal 32L Underbed storage box with lid, clear from our Crates & Boxes range - Tesco.com
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Old 02-07-2013, 07:10 AM   #5
SamanthaJane
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

Great thanks for all the advice. Leesha thanks so much, you have been really helpful.

I THINK I will go for a bar cage. Really want the Alexander, but can't justify it's current price - so perhaps the Alaska, although it is slightly smaller sadly.

She just has a tube in there at the moment - nothing exciting
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Old 02-07-2013, 08:16 AM   #6
Lougarry
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

If you order the Alexander from the German zooplus site Tierbedarf, Futter, Tiernahrung günstig kaufen bei zooplus it is €79.90 (about £68.30), compared with £89.90 on the UK site. A few people here have done this with no problems. Helpfully, it's set out the same as the UK site so if you open the two side by side it should be straightforward to navigate even in German.

Alternatively, there are a couple of sellers on eBay who sell returned Alexanders from time to time, but there may be some slight damage.

Hope this helps.
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Old 02-07-2013, 08:24 AM   #7
Lougarry
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

Just for reference, petcarezone and petcare-mart are the eBay sellers I was thinking of (tbh I think they are the same company). They haven't got any Alexanders listed at present, but here are their last two listings:
Alexander Small Pet Cage | eBay
Alexander Small Pet Cage | eBay
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Old 02-07-2013, 01:04 PM   #8
SamanthaJane
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

Thanks for that Lougarry - that is very cheeky of Zooplus! Is the delivery the same?
I may just give it a couple of days and keep my eyes on those sellers on ebay, both of those cages were recent and went for a bargain!
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Old 02-07-2013, 01:06 PM   #9
Lougarry
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

I think delivery is still free, but not sure.

Someone who's bought from German Zooplus - is that correct?
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Old 02-07-2013, 01:40 PM   #10
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Default Re: Which cage for a bar chewer?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lougarry View Post
Someone who's bought from German Zooplus - is that correct?
Yeah it is
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