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Old 03-29-2018, 12:47 AM   #1
SlavicaK
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Default Initial layout - Alexander cage

We have about a week before we pick up our new Syrian, Pepsi. Finally all the basic necessities have arrived - other than the water bottles - and we put everything in the cage to see how it fits.

Before he moves in, there will also be some toys and all the wood will have been plasti-koted, unless something unforeseen happens.

Please let me know what you think of the basic layout. Thanks!
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File Type: jpg Under the shelf.jpg (1.25 MB, 55 views)
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Old 03-29-2018, 01:04 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

The basic layout looks really nice but you will need to put more substrate in which may mean changing things a bit, could you possibly stand the wheel on something a bit taller? It looks as though you have a bit of space above the wheel as far as I can see, you really need to fill the base completely with substrate & the only issue with that would be the wheel, the houses can sit on top of substrate or you can make stilts by gluing dowels on to raise them up a bit (you could do that with the wheel shelf too) so there's a good layer of substrate underneath, that might mean raising the shelf a bit if you can as the house underneath would be higher that way.
I found the logo bit on the Rodipet cage to be a bit of a pain sticking out, it's better if it's at the front so you can put the house closer to the wall of the cage but the easiest thing is just to saw it off!
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Old 03-29-2018, 01:38 AM   #3
SlavicaK
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

Thank you, Cypher. I can definitely put more substrate in - what's in now is 30L of bedding, I'm still expecting some more to arrive.
The wheel stand can actually be dug into the bedding, it shouldn't be a problem.

Yes, the logo part is annoying; I didn't think about it back when I ordered it.
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Old 03-29-2018, 02:27 AM   #4
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

Big cages do seem to take an almost endless amount of substrate to fill, always more than you'd expect but you won't need to replace much very often when it's done with a good deep layer like that.
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Old 03-29-2018, 05:38 AM   #5
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

The suggestions from cypher are what I was thinking too.

To make filling the bowls, you could put the bowls on the level.

If you were going to use the classic water bottles, you may want to use another make as the spout is too big to fit through the bars without bending them or you could have the water bottle inside the cage.

Last edited by CMB; 03-29-2018 at 05:43 AM.
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Old 03-29-2018, 04:22 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

It looks amazing. Great wheel and stand and great rodipet house. The logo - I sawed mine off with a small saw and just sanded the edges smooth. Didn't take long. The other house under the shelf. That little window is dangerous for a Syrian. One member's hamster got stuck in it. But easy enough to block off that window by glueing a piece of wood or a couple of dowels over it.

Agree with adding more substrate. With my rodipet house I've had it two ways. One way was to sit the back end actually on the edge of the cage base and the front half had legs stuck on to support it. So it sat on the substrate but was sturdy and couldn't subside if tunnelled under. Higher up it made an extra platform too. The other way was to have the house sitting on just a half inch of substrate (so it can't be tunnelled under) and have the substrate piled up around the outside so it's abit like a subterranean house. And then just channel out a bit of substrate near the door so they can find it. I also then put extra substrate inside the house so it was a bit deeper for nesting in.

Those wheel stands are great - a hidey place underneath. Looking forward to seeing it when finally set up
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Old 03-29-2018, 04:24 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

I would also be tempted to have an additional small shelf or ledge maybe on the front right, over the top of the corner of the rodipet house in case your hamster monkey bars across the top and drops and lands on the corner. Or a sputnik or something hanging over that corner of the house.
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Old 03-29-2018, 10:47 PM   #8
SlavicaK
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

Thank you, CMB and Serendipity!

CMB - I ordered a water bottle from the LivingWorld range. It's glass and secures onto the inside of the cage, so no bending should be required. And yes, the bowls will go on the shelf. I'm wondering whether I should get a bigger bowl?

Serendipity - I just read about the little house and someone's Syrian getting stuck, I will block the window. Thanks for the suggestions about the house, I think I'll go to for the subterranean version. I'll put another 30L of substrate when it arrives and see how everything fits in then.
I was wondering whether to install the other big Alexander shelf on the other side, but it makes the cage a bit too crowded for my taste (though maybe not for the hamster's). I might change my mind. I instead ordered a Sputnik, to put it over the right side of the cage.
We'll see what kind of hamster Pepsi is, but I do want to put in all that is necessary for safety before he moves in, as I don't plan to change the layout until he's settled in.

I've been following my Plasti-kote order online, it should get here on Wednesday or Thursday, which will give us two days to coat everything. I hope it's here in time!

My husband said he thought we were getting a hamster, so why does it require as much stuff as a pony? I tried to explain it's only the setup that will require that much stuff, I'm not sure he's convinced.
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Old 03-30-2018, 12:38 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Initial layout - Alexander cage

Ha ha. Yes I get comments like that too! I also get comments about how the hamster gets to eat better than we do and gets to be warmer than we are (he is in a different room which is always nice and cosy). Lol.

Have you got a litter tray for the house? It really saves on cleaning and they use it. I agree it looks better without the other big shelf. It's only really the front corner edge that could be an issue if landed on, so another option, might be to just put hemp mat on the roof in that area, if you didn't want to hang anything over it or have another shelf.

The thing with the rat sputniks is they need to be able to access them easily or they don't use them usually - so either hanging next to a shelf or something, or with a tube leading to it from shelf.
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