Double storey furniture layout

[Schwartzie]

Can anyone advise me on degus and Trixie shelves...do they not tilt or flop down when attaching to the wire cage? I was going to attach the shelves to the plastic of the bin but now it's bars all the way. The cage worked out the same price as the two bins cages together and I would still had to buy a soldering iron to make the spaces for the mesh which I save on now. Will figure out how to link pictures and will put a picture on. Very excited!

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Schwartzie

Can anyone advise me on degus and Trixie shelves...do they not tilt or flop down when attaching to the wire cage? I was going to attach the shelves to the plastic of the bin but now it's bars all the way. The cage worked out the same price as the two bins cages together and I would still had to buy a soldering iron to make the spaces for the mesh which I save on now. Will figure out how to link pictures and will put a picture on. Very excited!

yayh exciting. with the trixie shelving - did oyu mean one of these?
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Na...gateway&sr=8-1

if so, they work out fine, you may have to do a bit of fiddling around to get it into the square corner of the cage, it was fine when i had the alaska cage but for the savic plaza, i had to cut a tiniest riangle shape off one corner for it to fit. They are sturdy as they have 2 fasteners on 2 sides, so 4 in all.

[Schwartzie]

Here is what the cage looks like

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

yayh exciting. with the trixie shelving - did oyu mean one of these?
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Na...gateway&sr=8-1

if so, they work out fine, you may have to do a bit of fiddling around to get it into the square corner of the cage, it was fine when i had the alaska cage but for the savic plaza, i had to cut a tiniest riangle shape off one corner for it to fit. They are sturdy as they have 2 fasteners on 2 sides, so 4 in all.

That's the platform yes. Ok, glad it's ok to use.

[Ria P]

Your cage will make a great home for a lucky hamster. The shelves and platforms are easy to attach because they screw on and stay in place. They're versitile because you can place them anywhere. I have a small platform in a corner and my hamster built a second nest underneath it. He rarely walks a straight route across his cage but likes to climb from shelf to shelf, over and through tunnels, under the wheel etc and when placed correctly so he can't hurt himself in case he falls he can safely do so. He's quite agile and has never fallen off as far as i know but with plenty of substrate which reduces the height he can't come to any harm. A lot of hamsters want out of their cage but mine has always been the opposite. It's a job to get him out, sometimes he runs about when out but other times he's really huffy, throws poops about and makes me feel guilty for taking him out.
Here's a photo. I looked at lots of cages here to get ideas. It also depends on the individual hamster what works best. Things that have no purpose or he doesn't use i exchange with something else and see what happens but without great changes or he gets miffed.

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Your cage will make a great home for a lucky hamster. The shelves and platforms are easy to attach because they screw on and stay in place. They're versitile because you can place them anywhere. I have a small platform in a corner and my hamster built a second nest underneath it. He rarely walks a straight route across his cage but likes to climb from shelf to shelf, over and through tunnels, under the wheel etc and when placed correctly so he can't hurt himself in case he falls he can safely do so. He's quite agile and has never fallen off as far as i know but with plenty of substrate which reduces the height he can't come to any harm. A lot of hamsters want out of their cage but mine has always been the opposite. It's a job to get him out, sometimes he runs about when out but other times he's really huffy, throws poops about and makes me feel guilty for taking him out.
Here's a photo. I looked at lots of cages here to get ideas. It also depends on the individual hamster what works best. Things that have no purpose or he doesn't use i exchange with something else and see what happens but without great changes or he gets miffed.

Oh my word!!! I love your cage set up! What did you use to cover my bases with the stunning patterns? I'm so copying you on that idea! So awesome! My list of items mirrors alot of yours so it's so helpful to see your layout. I took a screenshot of it so I can go through my list again.

The Trixie suspension bridge goes to the roof of the cage...what does your hamster do when it gets to the end? How does he get to the treats hanging from the top bars?

I'm going tomorrow to look at mesh to cover up the cage. Very exciting! My husband thinks I've gone crazy. When he saw the price of what's in my shopping cart so far he just laughed and shook his head. It's for the education of our 3 month old baby of course...tongue in cheek.

I will change my list and converge it into one floor now but will get some shelves u have as I only have two platforms.

[Schwartzie]

Ria P...what is the spacing between the bars of your cage? My spaces are 1inch...is that too big for a Syrian?

[AmityvilleHams]

1 inch bar spacing is far too large for even a very big Syrian hamster, they'd escape very quickly and could get seriously hurt unfortunately.

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

1 inch bar spacing is far too large for even a very big Syrian hamster, they'd escape very quickly and could get seriously hurt unfortunately.

Thanks so much for the feedback. There is mixed information on it on the net but will mesh the cage as originally planned to.

[Ria P]

I have the Alaska cage and the bar spacing is 1cm. I've only been a hamster's friend since March this year so am no expert but would say that 1in spacing is only suitable for rabbits or guinea pigs and dangerous to hamster but you said that you're going to mesh it.
The pattern on the base are simple decal tiles i bought on Amazon, cut to fit and stuck on. I would send you the link if i'd know how. They are from China and i found them by typing "stick on tiles" into the search engine.
I don't think my hamster climbs to the end of the bridge. He climbs from the house roof onto the bridge to go on the degu shelf to get to the sweetcorn treat hanging from the cage roof. He is very food orientated and a bit lazy so i make him work for his treats. Keeps him entertained too. The nutty stick hanging from the cage roof in the right back corner he gets to by climbing from the log stump onto the shelf then onto the higher shelf onto the platform or he takes the shortcut from the tunnel and pulls himself up to the platform. He gets into the haybasket from the house roof and pulls himself up. He needs the exercise because he likes his food. The carrot/cone string at the front is for decoration but is a hamster thing. He's not interested because he can't eat it and wants the real carrot. I know because he was able to get to it in his old cage. He loves his coconut which i leave empty aside from a few sunflower seeds. He likes to sit in there for ages, munching his sunflower seeds, washing and poking his nose out. He has a small clay flower pot and a clay saucer in his cage for his insect mix and fresh food. Good for his claws too. I like different textures but need to get something made from cork to see if he likes it. He doesn't like plastic but is fine with the plastic wheel which i clean now and again. He seems to get sweaty paws from running but knows when i've wiped it because he spends ages sniffing it. I cover the top of his cage with a sheet of card when its sunny and in the evening when i have the light on. People do different things with their cage set ups and i don't think there's a right or wrong as long as the hamster is happy, the basic requirements are met and the environment is safe and stimulating. Not any different from our own homes really.