Cage help/ideas please!

AliceJayne · 10-30-2018, 08:46 AM

Hello! I currently have two male Syrians and they are both have a 145 litre bin cage each, dimensions are 71 x 55 cm, or 28 x 21.5 inches (602sq inches).

I live in the UK and this was the largest bin cage that is sold here that would be at all suitable for a hamster cage, and at first I actually mis-measured and believed it to be nearer 700sq inches.

Well now my boys are growing I am quickly seeing that their cages are too small and I am desperate to upgrade and would love some advice!

I would rather not have a wire cage as they are in my room and I am a very light sleeper and am worried about bar biting, so I have been looking at the Ferplast Maxi Duna Multy and the Large Zoozone 2, both around 780sq inches.

I also love the look of the Living world green eco habitat but it's quite pricey and I hear about people having issues with the bottom wood panel being stained or chewed!

I would love the detolf but there definitely isn't room for two of them in my room haha.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for cages, no smaller than the zoozone, preferably not wired and not crazy expensive haha

Thank you!

buttercuplols · 10-30-2018, 09:11 AM

The RUB (Really Useful Box) 145lt is 81 x 62cm and available in Argos. I am planning on getting that one and adding my smaller bin as an upper level once my hamster is bigger.

Don't know if that's any help but I hope so. Not sure how much the RUB currently is but my smaller one sure is sturdy and perfect for the job in my opinion!

Lx

AliceJayne · 10-30-2018, 09:26 AM

That is the one I actually have, I got it from Wickes! However the internal dimensions are quite a bit smaller than what they say on the website, on the Wickes website it said 81 x 62cm and this definitely is not the internal dimensions! Turned out to be 71 x 55

This was actually how I ended up miscalculating the square inches.

If you do decide to go for that one and it is the same as mine it is a fantastic bin cage! Really really sturdy, easy to clean and carry! Really safe lid handles as well, we just meshed a large section in the lid and on the side. Would definitely support the weight of another bin cage on top!

Just a shame they don't do it in a larger size.

If you do get it please let me know how it goes

mangoandmimi · 10-30-2018, 10:34 AM

As much as I like zoozones and the look of the maxi multy I just don’t think they’re the best options for Syrians because of the low height. I used a zoozone for a Syrian years ago with an 11” wheel - the cage isn’t big enough to be able to build bedding up properly outside the wheel while providing other toys and it just didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. It’s also nice to have a comfortable 8” of bedding with Syrians and in a zoozone it’s just not really possible.

I’ve very nearly bought the eco habitat twice now which pretty much is the best cage you can buy for Syrians, and the main concern I found was possible bowing at the base which can be fixed with a strip of wood as a support. But then lots of people didn’t have that issue, so I’m wondering if that was caused by not assembling it properly. You can cover the base with cardboard sheets to protect the base and with deep bedding it shouldn’t be an issue really.

buttercuplols · 10-30-2018, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceJayne

That is the one I actually have, I got it from Wickes! However the internal dimensions are quite a bit smaller than what they say on the website, on the Wickes website it said 81 x 62cm and this definitely is not the internal dimensions! Turned out to be 71 x 55

This was actually how I ended up miscalculating the square inches.

If you do decide to go for that one and it is the same as mine it is a fantastic bin cage! Really really sturdy, easy to clean and carry! Really safe lid handles as well, we just meshed a large section in the lid and on the side. Would definitely support the weight of another bin cage on top!

Just a shame they don't do it in a larger size.

If you do get it please let me know how it goes

Cool! Great minds think alike! 😉 Thanks for the advice. I'll keep checking back here and see if anyone has more for us! I've only been on here a day and everyone has been so lovely and helpful!

Thanks again!

AliceJayne · 10-30-2018, 01:07 PM

mangoandmimi : Yes that was one of my main worries with the Zoozone, I have just bought two 12 inch wheels as well and I was thinking I would just not have to put any substrate underneath them and thats quite impractical

If I got the eco habitat I wouldn't use the wheels so I'm not sure if that would solve the bowing problem? And that's a great idea about the cardboard sheets, I could even waterproof spray it as well! I will have another think about it, currently Zooplus are sold out!

buttercuplols : Haha they certainly do!

Is there any chance you are in the South of England? If i did get new cages I wouldn't need mine anymore and I would be willing to give them to you if we were at all close!

alpacassei · 10-31-2018, 02:52 AM

I use the 160L RUB storage trunk (£30 from argos) for my Syrian’s bin cage. The external measuements are 105x50cm, i cant rememberers the internal measurements exactly but they’re around 95x45. The base does go upwards where the wheels are which could be an issue for chewers but I my Syrian’s never been interested in them.

Sunflower’s 100cm Bin Cage

buttercuplols · 11-02-2018, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceJayne

buttercuplols : Haha they certainly do!

Is there any chance you are in the South of England? If i did get new cages I wouldn't need mine anymore and I would be willing to give them to you if we were at all close!

Thank you so much for your kind offer. I'm in Cornwall so as South (West) as it gets! But... I've had a bit of a change of heart and I'm considering taking the RUB back and getting the Alaska and maybe just sectioning it off partly to begin with if she's scared. Thank you so much for your kind offer on the big RUB though. That's really generous!

AliceJayne · 11-02-2018, 08:56 AM

alpacassei : Yes I almost went for that cage instead of the RUB one! I would ideally like something slightly bigger if possible, I am now thinking I may try and make my own acrylic tank! Did you manage to mesh the lid of it okay?

buttercuplols : Awwh thats okay!

Yes it would definitely be easier buying a premade cage! I am sure she will love the Alaska!

buttercuplols · 11-02-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceJayne

buttercuplols : Awwh thats okay!

Yes it would definitely be easier buying a premade cage! I am sure she will love the Alaska!

I've changed my mind again. I think I'm going for a Ferplast Maxi Duna Multy now. Haha! So indecisive! I believe that brings us full circle to the original question of what you should go for. If I order mine before you decide I'll let you know what it's like.