Caged advice.....which one?

hamstermomma · 01-22-2015, 07:24 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm needing a bit of advice on a cage....I just can't make up my mind. I'm wanting the biggest cage I can find offering lots of width, length and height for my Syrian

I've come across two cages, the first is 78cmWx 70cmHx 43cmD with 8mm bar spacing and comes with shelves.
The second is 100cmWx 70cmHx 54cmD with 1.2cm bar spacing and again comes with shelves. The only draw back with the second is that the bar spacing at the top where it joins is 1.8cm and a lot of the negatives on the feedback was about how big the spacing was where it joins.

I want the biggest cage which would be the second but I can't help wondering if the bar spacing will be too big. It's also double the price of the other cage.

Can anyone offer any advice?
Hope it makes sense

Rempanda · 01-22-2015, 07:28 AM

The biggest cage I know of is the Ikea detolf, it's about £40 I think. Fab if you have the space!
The second cage you've mentioned, if it's a syrian the bar spacing should be fine. I have 1cm bar spacing with my syrian and there's no way she's getting through it.
What are the cages you're looking at? The Alexzander and the Zoozone 2 are also really good cages.

cypher · 01-22-2015, 07:44 AM

The bar spacing on that second one could well be too big if it goes up to 1.8cm, it would help if you could give us links so we can see what you're considering though.
Apart from the Alexander, Alaska & others that frequently get recommended another cage worth thinking about if you want lots of space at a reasonable price is the Mamble rat cage http://www.amazon.co.uk/LITTLE-FRIEN.../dp/B00GO0K7YY

racinghamster · 01-22-2015, 08:29 AM

I`m one of those people who always look at floor space over height. Height for a hamster can mean FUN, but it can also end up as an injury, so look at that carefully before deciding. Obviously, the narrower the bar spacing the better as narrow bars can prevent bar chewing (but not always as hamsters that tend to climb, tend to start chewing the bars!) but yes, floor space and bar spacing are two of the more important considerations when buying a cage. Any cage with height should have full solid floors above with no gaps where a hamster can fall from a level.

Then you have the smaller cages that may be cheaper. Nothing wrong with a smaller cage, as long as the hamster has a decent running wheel to run on. If you can`t have one, the other is a must have.

Of the cages you mentioned above (and without seeing them) I would go with cage number one and get a decent wheel. x

**kyrilliondaemon** · 01-22-2015, 11:16 AM

Out of those two cages I'd definetly get the first, I don't mind height with a cage as long as there're enough shelves to break falls (for example we plan to have Pumpkin in a furet eventually) but the 1.8cm bar spacing would virtually guarantee escapes

Or... Do what we do and get the bigger one then just mesh over the gaps

Rempanda · 01-22-2015, 11:32 AM

Oh I've just seen the 1.8cm bit! Thought it was only 1.2cm. Yeah I think a hammy would get out of that!

hamstermomma · 01-23-2015, 11:27 AM

Thanks everyone.
Cypher I'd previously looked at the mamble rat cage, but after looking at it again I'm now swaying towards buying that one so thanks.
Any advice with shelves as it seems to come with two that look small, I'm just thinking about him falling. I've got a lot of hanging stuff but the shelves seem low. I'd want to get bigger ones to put on top of each other to make levels and reduce the chances of my little Brucey climbing and falling. Do any of you have any ideas?

**kyrilliondaemon** · 01-23-2015, 01:14 PM

We tend to get B&Q value pine shelving, plastikote it then screw it into place. Works well for us

hamstermomma · 01-23-2015, 01:54 PM

Ok thanks, so pine is ok for them?

**kyrilliondaemon** · 01-23-2015, 02:34 PM

Yeah, we've used it loads of times and others do too