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Old 03-11-2018, 02:05 PM   #1
Emilys pets
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Default Should i get the detolf?

I have a very active syrian and am thinking of getting the ikea detolf cage for him! I have many questions like is it safe for hamsters? Is it big enough? How should i build the lid? And do you think there is a better easy DIY cage out there? If you can please send photos so i can see if i think its big enough for him etc.
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Old 03-12-2018, 03:44 AM   #2
Razor
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Sweden
Posts: 276
Default Re: Should i get the detolf?

Hi!
I have a Detolf for my dwarf. Personally, I like the cage. My girl seems to love it too. She spends a lot of time exploring the cage and running all over the place. But being a dwarf, I haven't had the need for a lid since even with 15cm of substrate, she cannot climb out.But it is recommended to have one for Syrians. You can refer this video for the lid.
I haven't had any safety related issues with the cage. She hasn't chewed on the bars per se, even if she does, it's usually when she wants to be picked up. I'm working on training her to not do that. Using paper straws around the bars in an option too. I have heard a few people complain that their hamster got stuck between the bars, but that's not an issue really, since it's unlikely a hamster would squeeze through a space it knows is too narrow. But as a precaution, I would place the bars the other way around (inverted as compared to the IKEA instructions). This does not compromise the structural integrity in any way, but just reduces the gap from 1.5cm to about 0.5cm, which would be too narrow for a hamster to even attempt to squeeze through.
I have written a review on the detolf. You can read more about it here.

And finally, here are a few pictures, (more in the link above.)

20180312_112718.jpg

You can see a 30cm (12") ruler placed besides the cage here. The wheel is a 6.5" saucer.
20180312_112759.jpg

This is approximately how big my hamster is in the cage.
ezgif.com-resize (2).gif

20180309_214328.jpg
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Old 03-12-2018, 11:42 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Should i get the detolf?

It does need a lid Especially for a Syrian -they are great escape artists. There are a number of tutorials on youtube and basically it's four strips of wood for each lid (two separate ones is easier than one big one) with mesh attached to them via stapes. The measuring to get the pieces of wood the right size is the important bit. A diy store can then cut them to the exact size you want when you buy the wood. Erin's Hamsters has a video tutorial although I would check the measurements of the wood carefully as some peoplehave said the measurements aren't quite right - but the video is a good example of how to make a lid.

I think your Syrian would love a detolf - so much scope. Not sure what cage you have at the moment, but an Alexander cage from Zooplus is a good option as well. Most Syrians are more than happy in that, but there are some for whom even that isn't big enough!
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Old 03-13-2018, 12:23 AM   #4
Emilys pets
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Default Re: Should i get the detolf?

Thank you! I have ordered the detolf and we will be getting some wood and mesh soon
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big, cage, detolf, easy, diy, send, photos, questions, thinking, safe, build, lid, active, hamsters, syrian, ikea

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