Ferplast Maxi Duna multy 100cm

Bright_moon · 10-21-2018, 04:10 AM

After a long break from hamster owning I've decided to adopt a pair of dwarfies. (I've only ever owned a Syrian).

I've been deliberating for days about cages. Considered the Skyline Marrakesh and Maxi Duna and have finally settled on (and ordered) the Maxi Duna 100cm.

I've read conflicting views about the bar spacing at the top, some say it is fine for dwarf hamsters and others say it needs to be meshed, what is your experience if you own this cage?

Is there any chance at all that a dwarf hamster could push its nose or head through the bars and endanger itself?

What is the best substrate for them, does it need to be a completely dust free one?

cypher · 10-21-2018, 04:27 AM

I don't have one but I believe the bar spacing is 1cm, if it's any bigger than that it will need meshing.
It's a nice size cage but some people who have actually succeeded in keeping pairs together find that they do better in smaller cages with less area to become territorial over.
Whichever cage you get you will need to have another cage ready to use from the start, most pairs fall out as they mature but that can happen at any time so you do need to be prepared to separate them before anything serious happens.
If you just get one single dwarf it will be very happy alone, they don't need the company of another.
I've found the best substrate to be Fitch it's virtually dust free & holds burrows well, the hams love it & it's economical, I get the 10kg bags which last me ages but if you have space the 20kg bag is even cheaper.

flowerfairy · 10-21-2018, 11:36 AM

Bar spacing on the maxi duna is fine for dwarves. Good luck!

Bright_moon · 10-21-2018, 11:48 AM

Thank you so much for your replies.

Cypher, I've ordered a bag of that fitch substrate that you recommended.

I will bear that in mind with the need to get a second cage. The two I'm adopting are a mum and her baby girl, so hopefully they will be ok with each other.

That's good to know about the bar spacing, thank you. xx

Pebbles82 · 10-21-2018, 06:25 PM

I think it’s less than 1cm from memory of other posts on this - note like 8mm. Either way it’s fine. I think when you have two of everything for a pair then 100 cm is just right. Gives you more scope for bigger houses, 2 or 3 wheels etc. Assuming you know about no levels for pairs and houses with more than one entrance and two of everything. Even if they share they need an alternative do they can have one each to avoid territorial behaviour. I read that having one large wheel as well as a dwarf sized wheel is good as it’s deeper so easier for them to run in together.

Bright_moon · 10-22-2018, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

...Assuming you know about no levels for pairs and houses with more than one entrance and two of everything. Even if they share they need an alternative do they can have one each to avoid territorial behaviour. I read that having one large wheel as well as a dwarf sized wheel is good as it’s deeper so easier for them to run in together.

That's really good to know. I remember reading about two of everything but that's a great tip about having a house with more than one entrance.

I do have two wheels that used to belong to my Syrian, one is a flying saucer and the other is a standard wheel, they are both large rat sized ones. Are they too big for dwarfies do you think? Not even sure if the big wheel will fit in the cage, it may be too tall.

I ordered a cuddle pouch bed thingy, like a sack shape that lays on the ground. Should I order a second one or can they share it?

cypher · 10-22-2018, 01:50 AM

Which wheel is it? Some spin a lot easier than others but it may well be too big for them, a large flying saucer takes up so much space in the cage I would think you could use that space in a better way for them with more toys or larger houses.
Is the cuddle pouch fabric? If it is then I wouldn't put that in as it may be chewed which can be dangerous.
For a house I would us a cardboard box for now at least 15cm with no base & a couple of holes cut out for doors, just laid directly on a deep layer of substrate so they can burrow down.
P@H do a fairly good wheel that looks like the silent spinner which would be ok for dwarf hams or the 9" silent runner is really good for them, I would stick with upright wheels rather than flying saucers which are ok for a little use out of the cage but not as a main wheel.

Bright_moon · 10-22-2018, 02:05 AM

I think the wheel is a 12 inch silent spinner. The pouch is a fleece one. Anything that can't go in the cage I can always use during play time.

Thank you for the wheel suggestion and house idea.

cypher · 10-22-2018, 02:13 AM

I definitely wouldn't put the fleece pouch in the cage, Russians can be prone to chewing that sort of thing, you could try it out of cage & keep a close watch to see, it's the sort of thing that they might well fight over too so avoid anything like that.

Bright_moon · 10-22-2018, 03:34 AM

Would this sort of thing be ok as a sleeping place or is a house shaped/igloo style better?
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