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Old 03-14-2019, 05:25 PM   #11
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

Sorry - I don't have a 100cm cage and wasn't actually suggesting you get the kallax, I was just talking about the height. My tank is supported by 2 of the 2x2 kallaxes I meant. Probably be concerned about a 100cm x 50cm cage on there being stable enough but haven't tried it myself. I think I'd be too worried about knocking into a corner or something by accident.

I understand what you mean about the cages. Cages are tricky as they're not cheap and I think nearly all of us have had to upgrade or repurchase for one reason or another and it isn't ideal. I don't think staining in the eco habitat would be a problem at all - in there you would want at least 10 inches of bedding, it would be unlikely that pee would reach the base really. If you really wanted to protect it then a layer or 2 of Plastikote would sort the problem. Floor space is only one of the issues with the maxi multy as I reckon you'd only be able to get 4/5 inches of bedding in there with a wheel in, whereas you actually want to aim for 10-12" as they are burrowing animals.

I wasn't sure what you meant about bugs - do you mean mites or similar? Unfortunately that's always a risk when you have a hamster, natural setups are better for them. Cork, branches, wood, rocks, terracotta, different substrates etc are all different textures with unique smells which is a lot more enriching than plastic everything. They are also safe to chew which is really important, as plastic is not. So always best to use more natural items if possible. It might seem like a hassle thinking about potential bugs so it is a good idea to freeze everything for about a week before using it. Especially food, dried plants/herbs, cork tunnels and things like that that may carry bugs. That should kill off any nasties. Generally if you do get an infestation like that you won't need to bin everything, you can usually salvage most of it and probably just bin the worst.

An 11" wheel is probably fine for most Syrians. For larger Syrians you might need a 12" wheel.
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Old 03-14-2019, 05:33 PM   #12
halloumi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

I'd be more than happy to purchase more than one kallax and have them side by side, to get the support right. I was just wondering how owners here use their kallax for support

I think I mean mites or wood worm? Basically I saw it happen to one of the hamster owners I follow on Instagram, they got some sort of wood worm and had to get the hamster to a vet, buy a new emergency non-wood cage, all non-wood toys...I have nothing against getting wooden toys and natural toys, but it's more that I don't want to have a wooden cage as in case such a scenario occurs, it would be a lot of hassle! She was very stressed trying to find an alternative cage in the interim.

Last edited by souffle; 03-15-2019 at 03:16 AM.
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Old 03-14-2019, 10:00 PM   #13
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

I just have the one Kallax unit. There is no issue as it is either 46cm or 47 deep (can't remember exactly) - and the footprint of the cage base won't be much deeper than that - even though the width of the Maxi Duna is about 51cm it slopes in at the bottom and the base is always smaller As for hanging over the edges - you're talking about 6" overhang at either side. Now for the Barney cage that was fine - the weight of the cage kept it from moving easily. I would think that would be pretty much the same with the Maxi Duna once you have the wheel and substrate in.

Best wheel for the maxi duna I reckon is the 28cm Trixie wood wheel (it has a cork running surface) - it would need the wood and the cork running surface painting with two coats of plastikoted. It fits fine and is a good size for any Syrian hamster - even a larger one. You could get the plastic 28cm Trixie wheel - but that one isn't silent. Also the wood one can be a bit sturdier - but either will do

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small..._wheels/609617

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small..._wheels/174195

Have you thought about what substrate you'd be using yet?
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Old 03-15-2019, 12:12 AM   #14
halloumi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

That’s great, thank you! I can always get the unit and cage, and if it feels unstable at all I can buy a second unit to put next to it

Thank you for the wheel suggestions! I feel a bit nervous about painting wooden things but I will have a go. How do silent spinners and flying saucer wheels rate on the internet nowadays, purely out of curiosity?

No I haven’t decided what substrate yet, and don’t really know where to start! I’ll have a look on the forum and have a think I see that egg box type is very popular now, and I’m assuming that’s for the bedding? Not sure what to do for the base of the cage. I would prefer something I could examine in person and don’t have to be in to arrive at my house, but I’m sure I can find a good balance somehow thanks again!

Last edited by souffle; 03-15-2019 at 03:16 AM.
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Old 03-15-2019, 03:03 AM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

A 12” silent spinner wouldn’t fit unfortunately - and I wouldn’t get one anyway. They had a manufacturing change and don’t spin well - hamsters unable to push them! I would go fir the plastic Trixie wheel then - unless you want a silent wheel. Most people don’t find it noisy. The wood one is silent.

For nesting most people use plain white toilet paper sheets torn into strips - a pile in the cage and they forage for it/pouch it to build a nest with. You can still have paper bedding for substrate / floor of the cage as well. The fitch substrate I use is recycled food grade paper. Different texture than toilet paper though and firmer pieces but soft. Our hammy puts a bit of the Fitch in his nest too - they seem to like it because it’s soft to burrow down in. Hemp bedding is popular too - Zooplus sell big bales of Hugro Hemp. I was allergic to it so stuck with Fitch .

Last edited by souffle; 03-15-2019 at 04:17 AM.
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Old 03-15-2019, 01:25 PM   #16
halloumi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
A 12” silent spinner wouldn’t fit unfortunately - and I wouldn’t get one anyway. They had a manufacturing change and don’t spin well - hamsters unable to push them! I would go fir the plastic Trixie wheel then - unless you want a silent wheel. Most people don’t find it noisy. The wood one is silent.

For nesting most people use plain white toilet paper sheets torn into strips - a pile in the cage and they forage for it/pouch it to build a nest with. You can still have paper bedding for substrate / floor of the cage as well. The fitch substrate I use is recycled food grade paper. Different texture than toilet paper though and firmer pieces but soft. Our hammy puts a bit of the Fitch in his nest too - they seem to like it because it’s soft to burrow down in. Hemp bedding is popular too - Zooplus sell big bales of Hugro Hemp. I was allergic to it so stuck with Fitch .
Great suggestions for bedding, thank you! I can see that there are quite a few bad reviews on Fitch re: inconsistency in quality? I would definitely try it out in the future, but I think I am more comfortable with buying a nesting that I can examine in person. I found the following in my local pet shop today, wondering if any of these are any good? It's so hard to know what is dusty, what isn't so bad, what's good, what's not. You just can't trust what pet shops sell!

Tiny Friends Farm Small Animal Eco-Bedding
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...co-bedding-15l

Pets at Home Paper Flakes (looks most similar to Fitch?)
https://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/ahMAAOSwX3FbE7PB/$/Complete-Pets-At-Home-Hamster-Cage-and-Accessories-_57.jpg


Pets at Home Recycled Paper Bedding
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...-small-animals

Kaytee Clean and Cozy Natural Small Animal Bedding 12.3L
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...l-bedding-123l


I would be happy to use toilet roll, but it doesn't seem overly absorbent compared to things like kitchen roll, and I imagine other types of paper bedding? Of course, I am a total novice though :')


EDIT: Looking at the potential Kallax units, I'm most drawn to the 1x4 or 2x4 units. It seems the depth is 39cm? Unless I am being dumb in turning around the orientation to horizontal rather than vertical? Hahaha

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-80275887/

Would the depth still be okay for the Duna Maxi?

Last edited by halloumi; 03-15-2019 at 01:54 PM. Reason: Kallax research
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Old 03-15-2019, 02:23 PM   #17
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

Ha ha maybe I got it wrong- it might be 39cm - I haven’t found the depth an issue - and currently have a 50cm deep cage on it.

The toilet paper strips are just for building a nest. Hamsters don’t usually pee in the nest apart from babies having the odd accident at first. It wasn’t a suggestion for substrate/litter for the base of the cage.

Out of the ones you’ve listed I’d go with Kaytee Clean and cozy - but I still think Fitch is better and works out cheaper. I’ve used it for years and never had an issue. Occasionally batches vary in that they will be less white or more white or occasionally a bit less soft but it’s always good stuff. The main issue recently is that it was out of stock for a month or so after Christmas. It works out a lot cheaper than Kaytee Clean and cozy - which seems identical to me except the Fitch tends to be a better texture in my opinion.
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Old 03-15-2019, 02:30 PM   #18
halloumi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Ha ha maybe I got it wrong- it might be 39cm - I haven’t found the depth an issue - and currently have a 50cm deep cage on it.

The toilet paper strips are just for building a nest. Hamsters don’t usually pee in the nest apart from babies having the odd accident at first. It wasn’t a suggestion for substrate/litter for the base of the cage.

Out of the ones you’ve listed I’d go with Kaytee Clean and cozy - but I still think Fitch is better and works out cheaper. I’ve used it for years and never had an issue. Occasionally batches vary in that they will be less white or more white or occasionally a bit less soft but it’s always good stuff. The main issue recently is that it was out of stock for a month or so after Christmas. It works out a lot cheaper than Kaytee Clean and cozy - which seems identical to me except the Fitch tends to be a better texture in my opinion.
I will buy the cage before I go to Ikea, and bring the base along with me to test it out on various IKEA furniture! If you're finding it works fine with a 50cm deep cage then I'm sure I am just painting a strange vision in my head and it will be completely secure!

Thank you so much for all of your advice, I will definitely look to get Fitch down the line but until there's a good time to order it (when I'm in to receive the parcel), I will just pick up a bag of Kaytee, and use toilet paper in the house once they're potty trained. Until then, I'll use whatever the breeder is using
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Old 03-15-2019, 02:53 PM   #19
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

The hamster will just build a nest - with whatever they can find to build it with. They prefer to take it to the house rather than you put it in the house. In fact I’ve seen hamsters remove nesting from the house and then put it back again how they want to build the nest! Don’t use fluffy bedding though it’s very dangerous. Paper strips are the usual nesting material - you can buy bags of paper strips but toilet paper works fine. If you get Kaytee Clean and Cosy I’d get the white one. I bought some of the coloured recently to try out and it had a bit of an ink smell to me and our hamster expressed disgust! I think the smell will wear off when aired a bit maybe.

If you want to try Fitch you can buy a small 1kg bag in Amazon - it doesn’t go very far but a cheaper way of trying it.

Yes I have also had the Barney cage on top of the Kalisz and that is 54cm deep. The actual footprint of the cage base will be about 10cm less than the max cage width so not much more than the mall ax depth at all.

One thing I do have though is a large hemp mat on top of the kallax and under the cage - it stops the cage slipping around in case it’s knocked and makes it much more stable.
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Old 03-15-2019, 04:09 PM   #20
halloumi
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Default Re: Table smaller than hamster cage’s depth (Duna Maxi Multy)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
The hamster will just build a nest - with whatever they can find to build it with. They prefer to take it to the house rather than you put it in the house. In fact I’ve seen hamsters remove nesting from the house and then put it back again how they want to build the nest! Don’t use fluffy bedding though it’s very dangerous. Paper strips are the usual nesting material - you can buy bags of paper strips but toilet paper works fine. If you get Kaytee Clean and Cosy I’d get the white one. I bought some of the coloured recently to try out and it had a bit of an ink smell to me and our hamster expressed disgust! I think the smell will wear off when aired a bit maybe.

If you want to try Fitch you can buy a small 1kg bag in Amazon - it doesn’t go very far but a cheaper way of trying it.

Yes I have also had the Barney cage on top of the Kalisz and that is 54cm deep. The actual footprint of the cage base will be about 10cm less than the max cage width so not much more than the mall ax depth at all.

One thing I do have though is a large hemp mat on top of the kallax and under the cage - it stops the cage slipping around in case it’s knocked and makes it much more stable.
Ah amazing, thank you! I'll be sure to do all of the above - especially the hemp mat! And yes, of course - I know for a fact that the breeder doesn't use or approve of fluffy bedding so no worries there! From the looks of the breeding tanks, it seems she uses some sort of paper bedding.

Thank you again for all of your invaluable information. It's really helped me get back into the swing of hamster care
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