Cage recommendations for dwarf hammy? (UK)

[MCHamster]

I've kind of got a crush on a little Russian I've seen up for adoption. However, if I were to adopt him, I don't really know what sort of cage would be most suitable. I'm terrible at DIY, so am looking at cages which can be purchased.

Are there any specific cages people would recommend for him? Or what sizes/bar spacing should I go for when I shop?

Thanks in advance.

[velma]

You'll most be likely be better off getting something online as pet shops generally carry too small cages. I personally like a tank style cage as you can deep substrate but they don't allow front access. I have a glass kerry terrarium and a plastic duna (they also make an even bigger multy maxi). The glass tanks are very heavy, the dunas are a lot lighter. Zoozones 1 & 2 are similar to the duna multy/multy maxi but would need the top meshing. I think to be on the safe side if you go for a barred cage then under 1cm spacing is good. Cypher has her dwarves in a good array of cages (such as the Alaska and Hamster Heaven, I think as well as options like the Borneo) so you want to check out her threads to see how they look when set up.

[cypher]

Personally I prefer barred cages, as velma said anything with 1cm bar spacing or less, I did have one of my Russians in a glass tank to start with but it didn't really work for either of us so I switched her to a barred cage & all my others have been in barred cages, better ventilation & much easier interaction I think.
I always go for cages with a large front door, the Alaska is a great cage but quite high, I do like it for my Chinese but for a Russian you would need to take care with the set up to avoid the chance of falls if the bar climb or if you have higher shelves, the Hamster Heaven isn't so high so easier to set up in that respect although it doesn't have quite so much space it's still a good cage although I recommend not using the tubes or penthouse & just blocking off the holes with the stoppers provided, there is also the Savic Mickey which is much the same as the HH without the tubes etc.
I think those are probably the best options for a Russian, sadly my favourite cage is no longer available in the UK but me & my hams get on fine with these.
I generally find it best to forget about shelves & accessories that come with most cages, the most important thing is plenty of depth for substrate in the base then you can design your own cage & use things like houses with flat roofs as extra levels.

[Pebbles82]

The standard Duna Multy is probably the cheapest option if that helps It's about the smallest size you'd want to go for. With a bigger cage you could fit a lot more enrichment in but this is still a good size.

Cage Duna Multy

Postage is £2.95 on top (it might not come in that colour - they come in various colours).

The Alaska from Zooplus is about the same price (barred cage that Cypher mentioned).

Some examples of set ups in them here

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Du...warf%20hamster

Some people also make bin cages - the largest Ikea Samla bin is a good option (about 78cm long - costs about £10 but needs cutting for meshing the lid and front).

[Frau Heike]

Hi there!
I personally prefer tank style cages, because they prevent bar chewing and allow you to offer deep substrate for your hamster to burrow away. But tanks can be really pricey and hard to handle!
If you have the space, I think a "Detolf" cage would be great for you. It's an IKEA hack, you basically buy a "Detolf Glass Display", build it without the glass levels and door, tip it on its side and - voilà! - you have a huge hamster habitat for a great price! (In Germany it costs 59,-€ at the moment) ErinsAnimals did a video review of this particular cage, you can check it out here.

If you don't have this much space, I think the Kerry terrarium velma mentioned would be a good alternative. It's available on zooplus and even though it is kind of small compared to the Detolf, I really like how it offers great ventilation and doesn't require you to build a lid yourself (as fish tanks usually don't come with suitable lids). Plus, it comes with some wooden hidey houses and toys!

[cypher]

I've never had any incidents of bar chewing with my dwarf hams, I know it can happen but mostly it seems to be more of a syrian habit for some reason.

[Biscuit_m8]

I have an Ikea Detolf for my hammy, and she loves it. Don't add the shelfs of the lid and tip it on its side. It is £40, and delivery to store is £15 or house delivery is £30

[MCHamster]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I was offered a Detolf cage awhile back but unfortunately had to decline for lack of space (both in my car and in my home). I would have loved to have had it.

I'm still of two minds about adopting the Russian, more on grounds of available space than anything else. I really want to get him but not if I don't have space for appropriate accommodation.

[chesca_27]

Have you looked at the Ikea Billy cage. It has a glass front. Very easy DIY project. It involves building flat pack furniture, using some silicone and then building a lid. Mine took me a few weeks to get all the materials and to build it because I did in stages at my dad's house, but I'm not always there. Anyway, it's a cheap option unless you want the Ikea parts delivered because the glass shelf costs only £12, but it's £35 to ship.

Very attractive design and it can be extended in the future to house more hamsters or maybe a syrian.

[freyashamsters]

Good idea Chesca about the Billy cage! ErinsAnimals has a video on extending it (she attached another, making it in total 160x35cm): How To Extend A Billy Hamster Cage - YouTube