House pictures please

Schwartzie · 06-20-2019, 04:20 AM

I had a laugh this morning when I went over my shopping list and I have completely changed my list since starting this journey. My list has adapted and evolved as I’ve learnt and it was really fun comparing.

At the top of my list was the Trixie Leif labyrinth hamster house which I was completely mad about because of its size and being able to lift the lid. It was only after I sat down and drew my 100cmx50cm area and all my things I wanted to put into it when I realized that this fab house was going to be too big. If you picture my cage length ways...it’s got about 7inches plastic base with mesh. I’m going to try and describe the layout I’m wanting...I’m wanting to do two layers of megazorb so it’s like steps using plant holders with the deepest part around the house in the right back corner of the cage. It will be like living on top of a mountain top with your house perched on top. I’m hoping this will encourage more digging and will be deeper than 10inches. If I was to go with the Trixie house I wouldn’t be able to create two levels because it would be too long.

I then decided to go with a Zille reptile habitat decor hideout bark bends small size and was going to face the smaller side towards the wall and use megazorb to cover up the other side. I also have a bark log that I will use to place over the hole instead of a bridge. The thought then occurred to me that I would have to lift up the entire piece of bark to spot clean. Would that be a problem? If The hamster doesn’t use that as it’s toilet would lifting it only when I do a big clean and that area is up for cleaning be ok?

Please, I would be so grateful if other owners wouldn’t mind sending pictures of their house layout and what it looks around it so I have an idea of what other people do. I’m going all natural so I’m using mainly bark and logs and earthy styles. My aim is for my hamster to start digging under its house and pop out through one of the pot holders on the second level. I then hope it will try digging on the first level and pop out through the pot holders on the floor. This is probably a long shot but I am trying to provide opportunities for the hamster to create tunnels. I was also thinking of placing pot holders submerged in the megazorb under the scattered logs I’m using to encourage it to create tunnels like that too.

I’m just struggling to picture the layout around the house. I went through the threads of cage layouts but they are too far on most of them so it’s hard to see.

I would so appreciate ideas from others.

Pebbles82 · 06-20-2019, 01:21 PM

Rodipet have a great selection of houses - be careful the site is addictive! Most have lift off roves and in various sizes. The 2 room granite one might be good and won’t take up as much space as the Leif house. Plus it can be done as a subterranean house if you want - part buried in substrate.

Pebbles82 · 06-20-2019, 01:23 PM

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...t-rodents.html

Schwartzie · 06-20-2019, 10:14 PM

Thanks Serendipity7000...I love rodipet! They don’t ship to Saudi though...sob!

Ria P · 06-20-2019, 11:20 PM

Are you planning on a Syrian or dwarf?
I think your final layout will depend on your hamster.
Mine doesn't build tunnels or dig in his cage, he only digs when annoyed which he hasn't been lately because he now has a layout he likes.
It's a shame Rodipet doesn't ship but what about the Ferplast guinea pig house from Amazon? I cut the roof into two sections to be able to take Henry's small corner toilet out for cleaning without disturbing him in his nest. It has a big entrance and sometimes people put a small bendy tunnel there like a porch but i didn't because my hamster closes the door by shovelling substrate. The design is so simple because the four walls slot into each other so no glueing or pins required and comes as a flat pack. You could make one or get a friend to post one. I would definitely recommend a house with a removable top so you don't have to lift the whole thing up when spot cleaning and risk the nest falling apart. I hope you're going to post a photo once you've set it all up. I'm really looking forward to see it.

Schwartzie · 06-21-2019, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

Are you planning on a Syrian or dwarf?
I think your final layout will depend on your hamster.
Mine doesn't build tunnels or dig in his cage, he only digs when annoyed which he hasn't been lately because he now has a layout he likes.
It's a shame Rodipet doesn't ship but what about the Ferplast guinea pig house from Amazon? I cut the roof into two sections to be able to take Henry's small corner toilet out for cleaning without disturbing him in his nest. It has a big entrance and sometimes people put a small bendy tunnel there like a porch but i didn't because my hamster closes the door by shovelling substrate. The design is so simple because the four walls slot into each other so no glueing or pins required and comes as a flat pack. You could make one or get a friend to post one. I would definitely recommend a house with a removable top so you don't have to lift the whole thing up when spot cleaning and risk the nest falling apart. I hope you're going to post a photo once you've set it all up. I'm really looking forward to see it.

Thanks Ria. I’m getting a Syrian. I’m a little confused...please help me understand something. Do you have a little toilet with sand in it, inside your house plus an area of sand for your hamster to use or roll in? Is that how it works? If I could use a small container to place inside the house then I can go with the Trixie Leif house and leave the big sand area I planned to create which would leave so much more room to add more logs etc.

I’ve read a few times that Syrians aren’t big in rolling in their sand baths. Is it ok to leave out a sandbath and just use the sand inside the house?

Schwartzie · 06-21-2019, 04:14 AM

Will post pictures for sure...I really can’t wait for all my things to arrive. I don’t like to be patient...this is hard for me...hahaha!!

Pebbles82 · 06-21-2019, 04:46 AM

Personally I think the Leif house can be a bit tight for a Syrian - the entrance holes are only about 5cm diameter which might be ok for a smaller syrian. You might be better with a larger open house. The Ferplast Guinea pig house is a good size for a hamster - however not big enough to fit any kind of litter tray inside as well.

Before I had the Rodipet labyrinth house I actually had the Ferplast Sin Rabbit house - which worked great. It was quite tall so had it stood on the base of the cage with substrate piled up round the outside and some inside. This meant it was stable and couldn't sink (not possible to tunnel under) and substrate inside reduced the effective height.

And it was plenty big enough to put a litter tray in. It should be fine in a 100cm by 50cm cage. I had it in an 80 x 50 cage and it took up far too much space so upgraded to a 100 x 50 ish.

It fitted well at one end so the width of the house (the shorter side) was facing the longest part of the cage and the length of the house fitted into the 50cm width.

I think it's actually about the same size - external dimensions - as the Leif house - maybe a bit shorter.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-46...gateway&sr=8-1

Maybe your best bet would be a shoebox house for now. Similar idea to the rabbit house. Cut the base out of a shoebox so the house is sat on the substrate and open underneath, cut a door at one end of the long side (so the other end is dark inside) and keep the lid as a lift off roof.

Ria P · 06-21-2019, 07:23 AM

Henry Hamster has two toilets and both are Rodipet ceramic ones. After lots of peeing arrangements trial and errors i concluded that he wanted a ceramic en suite toilet and the only one that fits into the Ferplast guinea pig house is the Rodipet S size for dwarves. I put substrate in not litter or sand and he's happy now and uses it which makes spot cleaning easy. He has the Rodipet M size for Syrians in a cage corner which he uses when out of his house, filled with substrate. He has a baking tin full of sand outside his house and digs in it but never pees in the sand, he uses the toilets for that. He doesn't roll around the sand but rubs his back in it sometimes.
Thing is, like humans every hamster has his or her own personality and until you actually have a resident hamster you won't know their likes and dislikes. Hamsters are strong willed little animals who very much have their own minds and don't always agree to what us humans think they ought to like or need.
You'll find out soon. This forum really helps to talk all things hamster while you wait for things to arrive. I am currently 500 miles away from my own hamster and really miss him but at least i can still talk about him here. People who don't know me well give me funny looks when i chat about Henry like he's a person and then find out that he's a hamster!

Schwartzie · 06-21-2019, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Personally I think the Leif house can be a bit tight for a Syrian - the entrance holes are only about 5cm diameter which might be ok for a smaller syrian. You might be better with a larger open house. The Ferplast Guinea pig house is a good size for a hamster - however not big enough to fit any kind of litter tray inside as well.

Before I had the Rodipet labyrinth house I actually had the Ferplast Sin Rabbit house - which worked great. It was quite tall so had it stood on the base of the cage with substrate piled up round the outside and some inside. This meant it was stable and couldn't sink (not possible to tunnel under) and substrate inside reduced the effective height.

And it was plenty big enough to put a litter tray in. It should be fine in a 100cm by 50cm cage. I had it in an 80 x 50 cage and it took up far too much space so upgraded to a 100 x 50 ish.

It fitted well at one end so the width of the house (the shorter side) was facing the longest part of the cage and the length of the house fitted into the 50cm width.

I think it's actually about the same size - external dimensions - as the Leif house - maybe a bit shorter.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-46...gateway&sr=8-1

Maybe your best bet would be a shoebox house for now. Similar idea to the rabbit house. Cut the base out of a shoebox so the house is sat on the substrate and open underneath, cut a door at one end of the long side (so the other end is dark inside) and keep the lid as a lift off roof.

Thanks so so much for the advice. How do you spot clean if the roof doesn’t lift off? I’ve noticed while searching that not many hamster/small animal house roofs actually lift off. Shoebox might be the best option for now - you’re right.