Newbie! Need a Syrian cage max 42cm deep

Munchkin30 · 10-19-2016, 06:14 AM

Hey all,

I'm getting our first family Syrian next week and my head hurts with the research!! Because I have a cat and a 1.5 year old and 5 year old, the main cage needs to live on our shelves (high up!) and can be any length/height but can only be up to 40cm deep. Every cage I look at gets discounted for some reason so I just don't know what to get!

The iMac fantasy seems to not have a deep enough base, and can't fit a big enough wheel??
The fun area Leon is fiddly to put together and clean (my 5 year old is supposedly doing this so I want it as simple as possible

)
The Savic Cambridge is too small??
Etc etc

Help!!!

Thanks all xx

cypher · 10-19-2016, 07:13 AM

That is going to be a difficult size to find as most suitable cages are deeper than that by a fair bit, I agree those cages you mentioned aren't suitable one way or another.
Trying to think what might fit but right now about the only cage I can think of that comes close is the borneo medium cage at 43cm but it is only available from Germany as far as I know. They are great cages, I have a large one but a lot depends on your budget! Tall though so set up would take a lot of consideration to avoid any dangers of falls.
Someone else might come along with a better idea.

Coco61 · 10-19-2016, 07:41 AM

Hi Munchkin. Are you in the U.K. That makes a difference on available cages. When you say the limit is 40 cms depth, is that the depth of the shelf? If so, do you think you could have a small overhang? Once you can have 50cms your options widen greatly. Could a practical pair of hands fix a lightweight piece of board to support an overhang?
If you think 50cms is possible then the Savic Hamster Heaven is 80 x50 or on zooplus online you will find the Barney or Alexander at 100x50 depending on your budget.

freyashamsters · 10-19-2016, 09:25 AM

I agree with what you said about the iMac fantasy and the Savic Cambridge etc, they wouldn't be suitable for a Syrian.

You have two good options; you can get a Borneo cage like Cypher said but that is shipped from Germany so postage would cost quite a lot. Or, you could get a Hamster Beaven, Barney or Alexander from Zooplus, depending on your budget. These are all 50cm deep but an 8cm overhang isn't that much of a big deal. However if you are still worried a Borneo would be your best option

AmityvilleHams · 10-19-2016, 10:43 AM

Would you be willing to make a cage?If so,this might be a better choice than a storebought cage and you could make one with a great amount of floorspace that is over 200cm long but a custom width that you'd never get from anything you buy from a pet store or online!

FreddyAndMe · 10-19-2016, 11:13 AM

I measured my Alaska hamster cage and accounting for the base going in at the front bottom it would JUST fit on the shelf with minimal overhang. Probably not ideal though!

A DIY cage would be a great idea! You could use wood, wire mesh, Perspex and aquarium sealant to make a nice clear cage that I'm sure the kiddies would love (I know I would XD)

cypher · 10-19-2016, 11:36 AM

That's a good point actually, I wasn't thinking about the difference between the widest point which is the measurement given for cages & the actual base at the very bottom, the alaska & the hamster heaven come in close to 40cm so there would be virtually no overhang.

Munchkin30 · 10-20-2016, 04:36 AM

Thanks all. I'd love a hamster heaven. Do you think it would fit?? This is the shelf. It's in a lovely cosy central room so the little one won't be ignored/lonely but will be safe from my monsters!! IMG_8062.jpg

cypher · 10-20-2016, 06:14 AM

An HH should be fine on there, I just measured mine & it's no more than 43cm, it's on a fluffy blanket which keep getting in the way of my tape so a bit hard to be precise but definitely no more than that.

ETA If you do go ahead & get the HH it's a good idea not to use the tubes or penthouse, at least to begin with, you get stoppers to block the holes off which makes it easy, the problem with them is that new hams will often hide away in them & can be hard to get to if you need to or want to interact with them & they may sleep, eat & pee in there which gets very unhealthy very quickly!
Some of us never use them & I personally think it's a better cage without & allows you to be more creative with your set up but if you like them you can always add them on once your ham has settled & made a nest elsewhere.

Coco61 · 10-20-2016, 06:33 AM

The HH is 80 at its longest but 50 deep but it certainly tapers in as cypher has measured. I have one and it comes in quite a bit from 50. But which are you measuring in the photo? Length or depth. It's hard to see. A small overhang is no problem for the cage. I agree with cypher on the tubes etc. I did not use mine and you will have fun creating your own interior set up. Eventually I did not use any of the shelves etc either. It is still a good cage though.