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Old 06-09-2019, 12:33 AM   #1
Willow_1029
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Question Detolf hamster cage questions

Hi, I have a female Syrian hamster called biscuit and I really want to upgrade her cage, I’m thinking about getting a detolf. Currently she is in a zoo zone 2 which is around 650 square inches. I know this is over the minimum but I have heard that females sometimes require over 800 square inches. I can tell she is stressed in her current cage because she constantly bar bites. I have a few questions about the detolf though:

1. Can it be put directly on to the floor ( I only have space for it to be put on the floor however I have heard it can bend in the middle or snap)

2.how much will it cost to make a lid (£)

3.is it easy to dismantle

4. Will it fit easily in a car to take it home ( vw golf)

5. How can I explain to my mum that I need it . She says I allready have a massive cage 😢
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Old 06-10-2019, 06:46 PM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

1) yes but use books or something to support the middle or as much of it as you can, otherwise snapping is going to be likely.

2) my lid cost £40. Wood planks, corner brackets, mesh and optional handles. Excluding the price of a staple gun. Would recommend making two lids one on each side and preferably a raised one for a Syrian but that’s not so simple.

3) it’s not the easiest to dismantle and putting together you’re best off leaving it as it is!

4) it is 163cm long and would just about fit in my parents Volvo estate so I’m going to go with no.

5) the jump up size wise from a zoozone to a detolf is significant. I’ve had to move my past hamster into a zoozone 2 holiday cage from a detolf and always felt it was a big downgrade to be honest. It’s the length that means you can do so much more with it and it doesn’t have the sloping sides and short height, which is my main problem with the zoozone.
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Old 06-11-2019, 02:47 AM   #3
Shannonmcn
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

1. No. Mangoandmimi is correct. The end pieces are slightly larger than the glass "box" so when it sits on the ground the entire bottom panel is unsupported. It might be fine like this with nothing inside it but as soon as you put bedding etc in it's going to start bending and it'll shatter. I have mine on two lack tables with a short section in the middle unsupported and it's fine but you need I'd say at least 60-70% of the length supported completely.

2) Cost will depend what you have available. You need just under 5m length of timber for two half-lids. It's sold in 2.4m lengths so 2 will do, these range from £4 to £9 each depending on the thickness and width and which one you have to go for will probably depend on what's in stock.

You should be able to get both sides done with one 900x600mm sheet of mesh which is about £8. Gorilla glue is about £6, connecting/ mending plates and nails (2x4pack) would be about £11, staples and a staple gun (light duty) is £7.25. I used glue and staples to attach the frame as well as the mesh, but nails and plates for the timber might feel more secure for you.

All prices above from B&Q. Total is between £26 and £42.

There are people who use oven trays as lids, I mostly see this in the US and I haven't done it myself so I can't speak to which ones are suitable etc but it could be something to look into.

3) It's okay. Mine has been taken down and moved 3 times now. It's a two person job and not letting the glass bend under it's own weight is a bit hair raising at times but it's doable.

4) We fit ours in a Polo but it was through the whole car. Front seat forward, back seat forward, parcel shelf off, me squeezed into the back seat beside it. Not ideal but doable!

5) What are the reasons YOU believe she needs it? Bar biting is stress behaviour, she can damage her teeth, the zoozone isn't *much* above what's considered the minimum cage size (it IS the absolute minimum in Germany) and she's obviously an active girl. It depends on your mum how you convey this tbh, if she would respond to facts then get her the facts, the cage is not "massive" it is just above minimum. Hamsters have huge territories in the wild, they are active, foraging animals etc etc If she would be more swayed by you explaining that your hamster is trying to tell you that she's unhappy and that she is in fact, hurting herself because of it then focus on that.

Ideally though this is not your mum's decision, other than the permission to take up the space. You can work this out yourself if you need to do extra chores for the money, rearrange your room to fit it in, do favours for favours to get the transport etc.

Last edited by Shannonmcn; 06-11-2019 at 03:06 AM.
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Old 06-11-2019, 04:21 AM   #4
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

Adding on to what Shannonmcn said...

Does your hamster make a noise when it bites the bars? If so, has your mum noticed? If she has, you can use that as a way of opening up your topic of conversation maybe? If she hasn’t noticed as it’s in your room then go to her when you know you have her attention and she isn’t tired. Approach her when she isn’t busy doing something that involves her getting uptight e.g. busy on the computer or hanging up laundry when the wind is blowing - these are silly examples but the whole aim here is approaching her when she is able to give you her full attention in a relaxed situation. I would explain to her what your hamster is doing and why the hamster is doing it. Make some notes and while your talking to her refer to them. Show her you have researched the cage sizes, why hamsters need it, why your hamster may personally need more space - some are more active than others and every hamster is different. Explain to her how your knowledge in the field of hamster requirements has improved and that you are learning more about the responsibility of caring for them. Shannonmcn is right...this is your choice and responsibility but your mum may still have the final say so think of ways forward - do chores if that’s what it will take and prove to your mom that you are actively taking responsibility for this knowledge you have in knowing your hamster needs more space by working for it. If she is only concerned about space and that you have another cage why not advertise to sell it to hamster owners who own dwarf hamsters or such - what animal could live in the old cage happily - I’m not sure? Show your mom you have thought this through and have plans to put into place.

Also, who can help you make the lid? Do you have a family member who can help you? Are you able to build it?

Think through things before approaching your mom so you have all your facts in a row. If she isn’t happy because of your issue with space then what about adding onto your existing cage by adding a bin on top or extension so you don’t use more space? It’s not ideal space wise but at least you are trying to increase the space and you can run a tunnel between the two? I’m not encouraging you to expand on your current cage because of its size but something more for your hamster if mum says no is better than nothing. You could then wait for your birthday or Christmas or a moment when your mum May be more open to the suggestion.

Good luck, let us know what the outcome....sending positive Detolf vibes your way.
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Old 06-13-2019, 01:02 PM   #5
Willow_1029
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

Thank you everyone for your advice! It helps a lot. Regarding putting it on the floor I will have to put books/wood underneath as there is no way I could get something to put it on as it won’t fit. I am still persuade my mum to let me have the cage , I have made a word document about the cage that I gave to her as whenever I try to speak to her about it she says I’m “moaning“. If she still doesn’t change her mind I’m going to ask for the cage for my birthday to show how much I really want it . Thanks for answering all my questions ��
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Old 06-15-2019, 04:48 AM   #6
Willow_1029
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

So I have come to the conclusion my mum is never going to say yes to getting a detolf . When over I bring the subject up she says “I’m not going to Change my mind “ I am still going to ask for it for my birthday but it’s very unlikely I will get it . Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to make biscuit less bored and stop chewing the bars ??
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Old 06-15-2019, 05:29 AM   #7
Shannonmcn
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

Standard ideas are as much bedding as possible, with a substrate that she can make burrows in and making her work for her food. So scatter feeding or food puzzles or hiding food around her cage.

Does she get out for a run about? My two syrians are in a detolf and in an even larger cage and they still need a run as often as I can so they don't get weird and frantic.

Sorry your mum isn't coming around. I moved back home for a bit when I was like 25 and was in the exact same position. I know how distressing it is to see your ham stressed out and not be allowed to do what you need to do.
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Old 06-15-2019, 08:29 AM   #8
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

When I first got Luna she chewed her bars, I had to work really hard at it to try and work out how to get her to stop. I had just moved her into an Alaska Cage at the time, she is now in the Savic Plaza. She stopped for over a year then suddenly started up again, but she has stopped again now.
I found that things like these may help https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Naturals-...ateway&sr=8-30.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produc...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Instead of chewing the bars, she would chew on these.

and i make walnut hanger things (idea from erins animals) so you can put food in the empty half shells of the walnuts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4POW...2&index=2&t=1s

any boredom breakers that distract them for a little bit - i tried to place things in the area that she was chewing.

Also I noticed she was chewing when she wanted to be let out, so I tried not to let her out then and would only get her out when she had stopped chewing and gone off to do something else. So she didn't associate chewing with being let out of her cage.

I hope you manage to help your hammy to stop chewing. I totally get how it's not nice to see, and if you aren't allowed a bigger cage, keep trying lots of different little things and hopefully something will help .
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Old 06-15-2019, 10:56 AM   #9
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Detolf hamster cage questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
When I first got Luna she chewed her bars, I had to work really hard at it to try and work out how to get her to stop. I had just moved her into an Alaska Cage at the time, she is now in the Savic Plaza. She stopped for over a year then suddenly started up again, but she has stopped again now.
I found that things like these may help https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Naturals-...ateway&sr=8-30.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produc...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Instead of chewing the bars, she would chew on these.

and i make walnut hanger things (idea from erins animals) so you can put food in the empty half shells of the walnuts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4POW...2&index=2&t=1s

any boredom breakers that distract them for a little bit - i tried to place things in the area that she was chewing.

Also I noticed she was chewing when she wanted to be let out, so I tried not to let her out then and would only get her out when she had stopped chewing and gone off to do something else. So she didn't associate chewing with being let out of her cage.

I hope you manage to help your hammy to stop chewing. I totally get how it's not nice to see, and if you aren't allowed a bigger cage, keep trying lots of different little things and hopefully something will help .
Thanks for this idea, I love the mat idea...have added it to my list.
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cage, detolf, square, inches, put, floor, hamster, heard, questions, cost, make, space, bend, middle, 2.how, snap, lid, mum, explain, massive, allready, golf, fit, dismantle, easy

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