Metal Cages?

[Pebbles82]

That is one reason I got the Kerry Thinking I could have deeper bedding for our Robo. But you can still get quite a lot of bedding in a cage with 7mm bar spacing because it doesn't fall out through the bars I also find it not quite big enough - even though the floorspace is about the same as an 80 x 50 cage the sides are "straight up" so you can't expand outwards to fit things in - if that makes sense. I manage not to make a noise with the lid now - I clip and unclip it very carefully. Mainly my problem with it is there is only top access and I am finding that awkward - especially with a nervous hamster - there is very little interaction. If it was a bigger tank like the detolf that may not be so much an issue as it would be easier to put your arm in at an angle. But the size and top access together don't work for me well.

It has its pros and cons as most tanks vs cages do. It looks lovely and it's nice to be able to see your hamster through it, plus no worries about bar spacing size. But the interaction is important to me. On the one hand a hamster could be happy with deep bedding, but on the other hand they could be happy with more human interaction talking to you and smelling you through the bars and hand contact at the right level kind of thing.

I think something like the Ferplast Karat is nice - it has a deeper base than most cages and the base is glass, and the bars are narrow 8mm ones. If it had better door access it may be my ideal cage! It is also ridiculously expensive.

These cage decisions are hard - there are practicalities - such as wood being chewed - and there are human issues - such as wanting to interact easily. I don't think the ideal cage exists! Although an exo terra terrarium is quite good as it's glass but has front opening doors as well as top access - they are also ridiculously expensive. You wouldn't have the deep bedding like in a tank but it's about the same as most cage bases and could be deeper at the back or one end.

I have actually not got deep bedding in the Kerry now - just about the same as I would have in a cage, and our Robo just builds a mountain where he wants it deeper! And has a burrow in that mountain.

Personally I would go with a Marrakesch than a Kerry if it needs to be a glass tank - that extra length and big door on top would make the top access easier. The wood sides would be impossible to chew I think - they are so smooth and no edges to chew at.

The Rodipet one didn't appeal to me. I love the size and dimensions of it - but it looks weird - and I can't see how you'd get the top on and off easily if it's interlocking.

[SimonandSyril]

Ha coincidences, in mine I keep 5 inches of bedding and that seems to do my hamster fine. Have you seen the Alexander or the Barney, I'm hoping to get these in the future

[hellobg]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

That is one reason I got the Kerry Thinking I could have deeper bedding for our Robo. But you can still get quite a lot of bedding in a cage with 7mm bar spacing because it doesn't fall out through the bars I also find it not quite big enough - even though the floorspace is about the same as an 80 x 50 cage the sides are "straight up" so you can't expand outwards to fit things in - if that makes sense. I manage not to make a noise with the lid now - I clip and unclip it very carefully. Mainly my problem with it is there is only top access and I am finding that awkward - especially with a nervous hamster - there is very little interaction. If it was a bigger tank like the detolf that may not be so much an issue as it would be easier to put your arm in at an angle. But the size and top access together don't work for me well.

It has its pros and cons as most tanks vs cages do. It looks lovely and it's nice to be able to see your hamster through it, plus no worries about bar spacing size. But the interaction is important to me. On the one hand a hamster could be happy with deep bedding, but on the other hand they could be happy with more human interaction talking to you and smelling you through the bars and hand contact at the right level kind of thing.

I think something like the Ferplast Karat is nice - it has a deeper base than most cages and the base is glass, and the bars are narrow 8mm ones. If it had better door access it may be my ideal cage! It is also ridiculously expensive.

These cage decisions are hard - there are practicalities - such as wood being chewed - and there are human issues - such as wanting to interact easily. I don't think the ideal cage exists! Although an exo terra terrarium is quite good as it's glass but has front opening doors as well as top access - they are also ridiculously expensive. You wouldn't have the deep bedding like in a tank but it's about the same as most cage bases and could be deeper at the back or one end.

I have actually not got deep bedding in the Kerry now - just about the same as I would have in a cage, and our Robo just builds a mountain where he wants it deeper! And has a burrow in that mountain.

Personally I would go with a Marrakesch than a Kerry if it needs to be a glass tank - that extra length and big door on top would make the top access easier. The wood sides would be impossible to chew I think - they are so smooth and no edges to chew at.

The Rodipet one didn't appeal to me. I love the size and dimensions of it - but it looks weird - and I can't see how you'd get the top on and off easily if it's interlocking.

Thanks for the reply Serendipity. I agree that the Kerry and some rodent Terrariums have rather small doors, as for deep bedding, I wanted to give Teo a Terrarium so he can dig, I just find some of my barred cage a bit too shallow sometimes but they're still do-able.

As for the Marrakesch, I've already gotten the Kerry and it's on its way now, but I will try to get the Marrakesch as it's really beautiful.

I've identified the Terrarium I bought for Toria which is the Ferplast Ratatout 80, perhaps you can try looking if that's a good tank for you?

[cypher]

The Ferplast Ratatout 80 is narrow at 36cm making it a bit small, I would imagine it would make it difficult to create a good set up too, my cages are about 80x50 & that extra 14cm makes a big difference to what you can get in & how you can arrange things.

[hellobg]

Originally Posted by cypher

The Ferplast Ratatout 80 is narrow at 36cm making it a bit small, I would imagine it would make it difficult to create a good set up too, my cages are about 80x50 & that extra 14cm makes a big difference to what you can get in & how you can arrange things.

Yes, it's really very narrow, I didn't like that, but nonetheless I bought it just so Toria can try digging, I will try and get the Marrakesch in a few months or so to get that 100 cm feel.

[hellobg]

Originally Posted by SimonandSyril

Ha coincidences, in mine I keep 5 inches of bedding and that seems to do my hamster fine. Have you seen the Alexander or the Barney, I'm hoping to get these in the future

I see, as for the Alexander and Barney, I'm thinking about it perhaps if I ever get another Syrian, right now I really want to try having Winter Whites/Campbells in my life.

EDIT: Another one might be upgrading to the Speedy Gonzales 100 as the large front doors makes it easier if I'll ever get a Syrian.