Alaska for roborovskis

Mousey · 03-13-2016, 01:26 PM

Hello,

A friend of mine is looking in to getting two roborovski hamsters and was asking me for cage recommendations. I've got a syrian, Persephone, who lives in an Alaska cage and seems quite happy. I was going to recommend this to my friend but wasn't sure on the suitability. The bar spacing is approximately 0.9cms and I wasn't sure if this would be too big for a robo? I've previously had mice but kept them in a plastic Savic cage after someone said that they could squeeze thorugh a gap that a pencil could find it in. I've tested this on the Alaska so a bit worried that it wouldn't be small enough to deter robos from escaping? I've had Russian dwarves previously but again they lived in plastic a plastic Savic.

I'm sorry if this has been asked before!

AmityvilleHams · 03-14-2016, 11:24 AM

It's less than half an inch,so I doubt it would be a risk.Even then if it is too risky mesh could be used over the bars as a last resort but there is no reason that it would be a bad cage.However,a pair would need more space,so I would actually suggest a Detolf or DIY cage instead which then eliminates the bar spacing problem and also can have more floor space and allow for more bedding depth than most wire cages.

CMB · 03-14-2016, 12:55 PM

The Barney cage has 7mm bar spacing and it is 100cm x 50cm (advertised size) due to the slope of the base it would be a little smaller depending on how deep the substrate is. The corners, top and near door catches may be slightly bigger though.

I asked if a robo would escape at p@h (pet shop) and they said probably not, but advised me if I get a robo to get a larger robo when picking one out of a group.

Zoo zone 2 is about 100cm by 50cm and is a plastic tank style cage. It would need fine mess adding to ensure no escapes of nothing a hamster could climb and reach the bars as the bar spacing is quite large. I nearly got one, but got the Barney.

Check pinkneon's and barley's tank style cage. Ferplast maxi Duma multy It has smaller bar spacing on the top so may not need mesh adding.

Pebbles82 · 03-14-2016, 01:27 PM

Personally I would go for smaller bar spacing in a cage for a Robo and as CMB says, the Barney cage has that - it also has more floor space than the Alaska. It's the same height approx and both would need setting up carefully to avoid fall risks (ie deep substrate and hard things under a shelf or something hanging over them.

Or the perspex Maxi Duna Multy is a good habitat for a Robo but more expensive at about £69. The Zoozone 2 that CMB mentioned is a bit cheaper but the lid needs meshing.

I also think a detolf would be brilliant for them (and my first choice) if she has the space. And it only costs £40 - but it does need two lids making out of wood and mesh - which isn't that difficult as there are lots of tutorials and no tools needed apart from a stapler. The other good thing about the detolf is, if she ever needed to separate them, she could put a partition in the centre and turn it into two separate tanks.

The Barney is the cheapest, no diy option with small bar spacing. If it was me I'd get the detolf (if space) or the Maxi Duna Multy (which has narrow bar spacing on the top grid). I'm aware that for a pair of dwarf hamsters they say you shouldn't have any shelves or levels - assume this is the same for robos - so in that case, a taller cage like the Barney could be tricky. Whereas something like the Maxi Duna Multy doesn't need shelves in to lower the height for fall risks and is a better height for robos. Plus it is a ready to go set up - no diy or fiddling about lol.

Barney Pet Cage | Great deals at zooplus!

Cage Maxi Duna Multy

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...a2CPoQ_AUIBigB

DETOLF Glass-door cabinet - black-brown - IKEA

cypher · 03-14-2016, 09:35 PM

I've never had anything smaller than a Chinese in an alaska, bigger than a robo but also very slim & haven't had a problem at all, I know of at least two members who keep a robo in an Alaska so it could well be ok, my only concern is the larger gap at the top on the ends (& robos can climb!) I've put cable ties there just to be sure there aren't any larger gaps to get through. It does depend on the age of the robo too as a very young one will be a fair bit smaller than a fully grown one.
If your friend doesn't know already it might be worth mentioning that with a pair they will need two cages, pairs often need separating so a spare cage ready for emergencies is a must really.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-15-2016, 11:02 AM

My only concern with the alaska would be that too much space can be a problem for pairs. I think the bar spacing should be ok, my Sergei is quite a small robo and he has a cage with bigger bar spacing than the alaska. Have you considered a cage like the duna multy? It might be a better size for a pair.

flowerfairy · 03-15-2016, 11:24 AM

One of my robos is in the alaska and is fine. My other robo is in the grosvenor large rat and hamster cage which has 1cm bar spacing and is also fine. They both have deeeeeep substrate and do a lot of digging.

Edit to add that you can often get the maxi duna multi on amazon for around fifty pounds. Its a brilliant cage.

pinkneon · 03-15-2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMB

The Barney cage has 7mm bar spacing and it is 100cm x 50cm (advertised size) due to the slope of the base it would be a little smaller depending on how deep the substrate is. The corners, top and near door catches may be slightly bigger though.

I asked if a robo would escape at p@h (pet shop) and they said probably not, but advised me if I get a robo to get a larger robo when picking one out of a group.

Zoo zone 2 is about 100cm by 50cm and is a plastic tank style cage. It would need fine mess adding to ensure no escapes of nothing a hamster could climb and reach the bars as the bar spacing is quite large. I nearly got one, but got the Barney.

Check pinkneon's and barley's tank style cage. Ferplast maxi Duma multy It has smaller bar spacing on the top so may not need mesh adding.

That's an odd thing to say!!

pinkneon · 03-15-2016, 04:00 PM

Sorry, had to go back and reread as I saw my name haha! The maxi duna only has bars on the top, and my Syrian can't reach even if he stands on top of his house, so I doubt little Robos could escape! I got it for about 65 pounds I think ...

flowerfairy · 03-16-2016, 06:25 AM

I would say the bar spacing on the maxi is fine for robos. My syrian, Woodstock lives in one and its a wonderful cage.