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Old 07-16-2017, 07:46 AM   #1
Goldenstar
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Default Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

I'm going to order a new hamster cage and can't decide between hamster heaven or Alaska. Can I get some pros and cons on these two and personal experiences please? Thank you!
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Old 07-16-2017, 08:37 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

If it's for a syrian I would get the alaska, you won't be able to get a decent size wheel in the hamster heaven, I have a 9" wheel in mine (for a dwarf) & it means very little substrate in that part of the cage so anything bigger wouldn't really fit.
Floor space is about the same but with the extra height you can get a lot more into the alaska.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:31 AM   #3
AprilPearl
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

Haven't had the hamster heaven, but I do have the Alaska and it's a good cage. I like the size of the door and it will fit a 12 inch silent runner. The platform it comes with isn't great, but you can buy if make new ones. The only real downside I found is that the bars are made of quite flimsy wire and the whole top section does come apart if you try to lift it off the base. But, I would definitely pick the Alaska over the HH if the HH can't fit a 12 inch wheel. Plus, the Alaska is much cheaper than the HH.
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Old 07-17-2017, 03:25 AM   #4
Jeir
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

Can I add a vote in for the Hamster Plaza? =D No?

Hamster Heaven:
Pros:
- Sturdy.
- Can add extensions via the two top port holes. I added a Savic Spelos to act as a nesting area, freeing up more room in the cage itself.
- Huge front door. Smaller door on top.
- Can fit a 12-inch wheel, but means the substrate can't be deep around it.
Cons:
- More expensive.
- Can fit a 12-inch wheel, but means the substrate can't be deep around it.

Alaska:
Pros:
- Cheaper.
- Taller.
- Large front and top door.
Cons:
- Flimsy.
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Old 07-17-2017, 03:37 AM   #5
AprilPearl
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

Like Jeir I also prefer the Savic Hamster Plaza to neither the Hamster Heaven or the Alaska. It has a big front opening door like the Alaska and space for a 12 inch wheel, but is also more sturdy and marginally bigger. I have done a review of it here:

http://www.hamstercentral.com/commun...ter-plaza.html
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Old 07-17-2017, 08:20 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

It might depend which wheel you've got and the size of your hamster An 11" wodent wheel can be hung upside down in the Hamster Heaven (safer and sturdier and spins better) and leave a reasonably bit of substrate under the wheel. It is about the smallest 11" wheel there is in terms of compactness. Any wheel bigger than that and I wouldn't go for the Hamster Heaven. The big front door of the HH is lovely and the cage well made. The front door makes interaction good and makes a kind of ramp when open. I also like being able to hang things from the roof. I wouldn't use it with the shelves and tubes though - maybe one of the shelves. You can use a couple of the tubes inside the cage as floor toys though but I wouldn't have them as external ones or in a run.

I haven't had an Alaska - it's a popular cage for a Syrian. It's a little bit longer (about 4cm which is almost 2 inches) and a little bit less deep (about 2cm) so the floorspace is slightly better. It is about 46cm tall (as opposed to the HH which is 38cm tall max) so easier to have a cage mounted large wheel and still have space for substrate underneath. If the wheel is floorstanding the height doesn't really make much difference.

What size is your hammy? We had a huge Syrian and I found a cage the size of the Hamster heaven was too cramped because he needed really big stuff! An average sized Syrian would be fine. I upgraded to the 100cm Barney cage which is good for a Syrian.

If you want a front opening door and can fit a 100cm cage in I would also suggest looking at the Savic Hamster Plaza - although it costs more than either the Alaska or HH.

https://www.zoo-bio.co.uk/savic/2208...aza-knock-down

They are tricky decisions. I went for a cage the size of the Hamster Heaven thinking it was huge. I had to move our room around to fit it in. By the time I'd rearranged the room I actually had space for a 100cm cage and regretted not getting one in the first place as I ended up then buying another cage and upgrading after a while!
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Old 07-17-2017, 10:09 AM   #7
ritacupc4ke
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

I do agree with Jeir on the hamster plazza on this one actually, even though you haven't mentioned it, since it seems to be very sturdy and have enough space for a syrian, and for his 11 or 12 inch wheel.

But out of the two options you said, I prefer the alaska hamster cage, although some people have claimed it to be a bit flimsy, but I imagined it would have much more spaced for your hamster to run around than the heaven one.

And I'm just a beginner hamster owner talking here, but with what I've picked up looking up stuff and experienced first hand, even though hamsters do like tubes and extensions, you would end up spending a lot of money with the hamster heaven cage to get a large area where they could run on, which they do need, whereas the alaska one is already better for having more space where they can run around, and even for fitting bigger wheels, etc.

Therefore, I think everything would fit more comfortably in the alaska one, however, if you choose for the heaven one your lovely hamster will definitely not have a bad life either.
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Old 07-17-2017, 02:25 PM   #8
Goldenstar
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

I had considered the Hamster Plaza cage but I don't have the space for the cage but thank you for your help. I think I'm going to go the Alaska, are the bars flimsy enough for her to escape?
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Old 07-17-2017, 03:07 PM   #9
Rads
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

Ghost lives in an Alaska that was Pip's there is plenty of room, even with the 12" wheel even sitting on 6" of substrate there is plenty of space..
I don't find it flimsy, and you can adapt it to your own ideas for your Hammies pleasure..
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Old 07-17-2017, 04:14 PM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Heaven or Alaska?

I think the Alaska is a good choice. It's also not too expensive, so if you ever did want to upgrade you haven't lost too much. But it's a good enough size that you may not ever need to upgrade. For the difference in price you could have some money to get a few things for the Alaska, like a good wheel and a house. The shelf in the cage is a bit flimsy but I believe it's useable. It does need a house though - the white plastic one on the shelf is no good as a house and the holes are too small for a Syrian, but it's easy to just remove it. A shoebox makes a good house. Cut a hole in for a door, cut the bottom out and you can use the lid as a lift-off roof, so you can check inside without having to remove the whole house and the nest falling apart. The flat roof also makes an extra shelf.
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