That's good! I wasn't sure if you knew about the Alaska
The 80cm Mamble is quite a bit taller than the Hamster Heaven though (they misleadingly say it is 50cm tall when that includes the height of the Penthouse on top lol - the cage itself is 38cm tall max - more like 36cm inside). 38cm is ok for height. Similarly with the Alexander - it isn't actually 50cm tall - I think that must include the height of the handles. I asked someone to measure the height of the Alexander once when I was thinking of getting one, and it is 46cm - only 4cm difference but it does make a bit of difference and need shelves
. The Barney I have is quoted as 46cm tall but is actually 43cm tall inside. I was a bit worried about fall risks even with 43cm but have masses of substrate in, an extra shelf and the top part blocked so it can't be climbed on. And nothing underneatht that is hard to be fallen on.
Anyway the 80cm Mamble is a great choice and with levels the extra height will give a lot of places to go and things to do! But if it's actually fully 50cm tall (the website says that is the height to the top of the bars) it could do with a full level or equivalent really - a lot of people make a full level in the Alexander using the existing shelves, a bit like these (although this one doesn't allow for a wheel)
hamster advice please - Rabbits United Forum
Hamster cages - Rabbits United Forum
This kind of thing gives almost a full level but leaves space for the wheel
Syrian cages?
Melody Hoffen Waterhouse
The Alexander bars also curve in at the top after the first 39cm as well, meaning fall risks at the edges aren't so much of an issue (hence the gaps on those set ups).
Another option I've seen in the Alexander is something like this (bottom photo) - with substrate piled high between the shelves.
Alexander Cage - Mischief Hams
Your Mamble will be a couple of inches taller than the Alexander (assuming it is actually 50cm to the top of the bars!), so it would need a full level really. The extra height means it's easier to fit a wheel under shelves or a full level though, or screw one to the back bars with a shelf over it.
I find looking at the three Alexander shelves helps work out how to fill the gaps
So instead of the corner shelves, you could have a full width shelf either side possibly, the wheel in the centre at the back with a shelf over the top of it, and a joining shelf or piece of wood, across the front sitting across the two side shelves - so then you have a hole in the middle for an access ladder or tube and could hang a hammock over that possibly, from the top. Or if the side shelves are low enough, have a platform on legs over the gap in the middle.
This is a pic of Ruby's set up in the 100cm Mamble (which is taller obviously, but gives an idea)
Caged advice.....which one?
As a rule of thumb they shouldn't be able to fall more than 25cm and then onto something soft (like deep substrate) or a flat shelf. They can still jump over the side of hammocks and land on something hard underneath.
Planning the layout on paper can help
So you know what you need before setting it up. And deciding what wheel to get so you can fit the set up round the type of wheel.
Ranchouse cages sell wood shelves complete with the screw in bits, in all different shapes and sizes. They do this 25cm deep shelf in a selection of different lengths (from the drop down menu) so it would be possible to say, get two the depth of the cage - you could choose the specify option for 17" (which is just under the depth of the 43.5cm depth of the Mamble 80).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25cm-Deep-...n_g_kxy4jpELSg
That gives two full width shelves with a gap of 30 cm in the middle. They also do 30cm shelves (ie depth of shelf) which would give a gap of 20cm in the middle, so less "filling in" to do making almost a full level.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30cm-Deep-...BYkKImuxp9tjwQ
And this pack of 2 30cm wide by 15cm deep shelves - one over the wheel eg, and one across the front - then you would only have a "hole" in the middle of about 13cm x 20 or 30cm (depending whether the side shelves were 25cm or 30cm) and could hang a sputnik or hammock over that. That gives the kind of thing like in the Alexander.
The plastic corner shelves probably work out a lot cheaper! they are 41cm along the long sides, so would overlap slightly in the centre. With two back and front you'd still have a gap in the centre to sort but they would cover most of the height. Little friends sell them directly as well as on Amazon
http://www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk/...-deep-rim.html
Sorry that was a bit long-winded! And sorry if you already know all that
I know I went round the houses when looking for a bigger cage and decided setting up a taller cage could work out a bit expensive to avoid the fall risks. There are many stories of hamsters having broken bones from falls, or hanging by a broken leg from a chain. But if set up carefully, a taller cage can give an amazing amount of enrichment and fun.
I opted for lower and wider and got the 100cm Barney - but still ended up buying an extra shelf or two! But I like the height of that as my 12" wheel sits above the substrate and the fall risks aren't difficult to sort. If you have space for a 100cm cage, then it can work out cheaper - it comes with a good sized house for a syrian and a good shelf and ladder - after that it's just a wheel and toys. It also has a big door on top making it easy to get stuff in and out of the cage without taking the whole top bars off.