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Old 10-11-2019, 01:29 PM   #1
stan
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Default Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

Hi all. I am thinking of getting a dwarf hamster, and just wondering about a suitable cage. I like tank style cages, and I am considering the Kerry or the Marrakech. It needs to sit on top of a kallax unit. Currently I have just the 4 unit, which would fit the Kerry nicely. I would be able to make the Marrakech work by getting a 2 x 2 kallax to put next to the 4 x 4 to make it a 3 x 2.

Do you think the Kerry would be big enough for a dwarf hamster, and suitable enrichment? I like it a little more due to being glass all around, so high visibility. That said, I do like the idea that the Marrakech can flatpack for storage.

I currently have a Syrian in a Medium Ecohabitat. I love the Ecohabitat, but definitely could not fit another in the front room. I also upgraded to the Ecohabitat from a 77 x 47 cage for my Syrian as I just couldn't make a good set up in the smaller cage. I don't want to risk having to go through upgrades again, but I also know dwarf hammies need smaller things, which is why I was thinking 75 x 45 might be okay in this instance?

Any advice is much appreciated.
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Old 10-11-2019, 02:29 PM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

Hi. I would definitely go for the Marrakesh. I have had the Kerry and while it is technically big enough for a dwarf hamster I found the size restrictive partly due to the straight sides and the top entrance. The Marrakesh is more accessible from the top partly due to the extra length and gives a lot more scope for enrichment. I sold my Kerry and upgraded our Robo to an 80 x 50 cage virtually the same as the hamster heaven. While it might not sound much bigger it gave a lot more usable space and better access. I actually think the hamster heaven, with all the plastic stuff removed and start with a plain cage is a very good option for a dwarf hamaster. Not too big, not too small and with a big ftomt door which makes interacting with the hamster easier as well as easy access generally.

I loved the look of tank style cages but prefer barred cages for the interaction and front access. If you’re really set on a tank style though then the Marrakesh is just right. Probably about the same internal floorspace as the hamster heaven - a bit longer but less deep.

Another option would be the maxi dubs multi which has similar dimensions to the Marrakesh but would easily sit in top of your single 4 cube kallax unit. Because the base slopes in. I have had 100 Cm cages on top of that kallax unit with no problem as the footprint of the cage base isn’t as big as the width of floorspace when full of substrate. I think that might be a good option and in between the prices of the Kerry and Marrakesh. It’s a Perspex tank style cage.
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Old 10-11-2019, 02:31 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Ma...c=1&th=1&psc=1
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Old 10-21-2019, 10:31 AM   #4
stan
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

Thanks for the advice. After much debate, I finally went for a vivarium 86cm x 40. I also got a cupboard update while I was at it, so it sits on top of a different unit now. I've added a perspex barrier at the front so I can add bedding height, and will be adding some additional ventilation at the side using some circular metal inserts. No hamster for it as yet, but I am getting the cage ready first, and then planning to see if any dwarf hamsters catch my eye.

Here is the work in progress:
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Old 10-21-2019, 10:54 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

Looks great! Some people have used a few circular vents in the end panels, but another option is to just remove the top and make a mesh lid for the top instead to give maximum ventilation. I'm assuming you could just cut out a large hole in the existing lid and mesh it so the existing lid makes a "frame".
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Old 10-21-2019, 11:55 AM   #6
stan
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

That's definitely one to keep in mind. I'm going to add 3 circular vents each side, and with the panels at the back I think that should work. The top is currently housing my wine rack and some plants, but obviously will think about changing that should I notice the ventilation is a off.

Are there any key things to keep an eye on in respect to being sure the ventilation is fine? I have got a vivarium thermometer/hygrometer so can watch temp and humidity. My Syrian is in the Living World Eco, and that seems fine to me, although I have heard people suggest that it does not have enough ventilation.
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Old 10-21-2019, 12:26 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

I think tanks generally have less ventilation than barred cages but most people manage fine with a solid sided tank and an open/meshed top. There may be someone else with more experience of how much ventilation a viv needs
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Old 10-21-2019, 02:08 PM   #8
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

I'm definitely of the opinion that standard vivariums don't have adequate ventilation. Of course, with a custom made mesh lid they'd have comparable ventilation to a tank with meshed lid. I personally am still not the biggest fan of tanks for ventilation reasons among other issues, but in some cases people do make tank style cages work.

They must have a full mesh lid though, those circular ventilation holes aren't appropriate for rodents. The reason they work so well for reptiles is because reptiles in general often need fairly high humidity, and a mesh lid would not always allow them proper humidity. However, with rodents like hamsters for example that trapping of humidity and inadequate air flow could lead to very big problems such as respiratory illnesses which we want to avoid at all costs through prevention(ie no plastic houses or tunnels, respiratory safe and dust free substrate and nesting material, and proper ventilation that does not allow humidity to build up).

Preferably your ventilation would even extend beyond just a mesh lid and would include at least a couple mesh side panels, but if you'd be incapable of having at least 6 inches of substrate with mesh side panels that would also be an issue to consider.
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Old 10-21-2019, 02:17 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

If you wanted to keep the solid lid, maybe you could mesh the back instead? ie take the back panel out and mesh it? I personally would go for maximum ventilation too. Opinions vary and I do know there was a member on here who always used vivs with vents in the side panels. The other thing is, a chewy hamster would chew at those!
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Old 10-22-2019, 12:34 PM   #10
stan
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Default Re: Kerry Vs Marrakech Vs ??

Thanks for the advice. Given what you have said, I have decided to change the vents for something a little different. I will copy the side ventilation from the Eco Habitat by drilling 10mm holes in a collection on either side above substrate level (probably two rows). I will mesh the inside behind these to prevent any chewing. They will be staggered with the back air vents of the viv, which will increase the airflow considerably.

From reading, it seems vivariums are designed to change over air around 8 to 15 times per hour, which is adequate to prevent any nasties building up in the air. The humidity is generated by heating pads, water bowls, misting regularly, specific substrates. This all seems to be quite some effort just for reptile keepers to maintain the humidity, so I don't believe high humidity will be an issue. Hamsters also don't produce much urine, so there is not much moisture beyond their daily respiration rates.

Over-heating won't be much of a problem, the climate where I live is usually between 5 deg C and 25 deg C, but the majority of the summer is around 14/15 deg C. For the occasional two weeks of hot weather we get, I could always put the hamster in a temporary habitat with greater ventilation, should the thermometer and hygrometer suggest things are a bit stuffy in there.

I'll keep you updated on the next steps!
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kerry, marrakech, ecohabitat, cage, make, dwarf, fit, suitable, syrian, smaller, hamster, thinking, kallax, unit, upgraded, instance, front, room, set, things, upgrades, hammies, risk, good, nicely

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