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Old 03-21-2020, 05:00 AM   #1
Matildasmom
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Default Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

So last week we came home with two hamsters. One is a syrian we named Matilda and one is a Robo dwarf we named Princess. We meant to only leave with Princess for my daughter (18 year old) but her old mom (me) just fell for a little girl that had been there some months without being adopted.

As usual, the place we got them from was completely ignorant on proper information. We asked other pet owners as well before taking them home, who apparently were the same level of ignorance. We left with two cages that were adorable and very expensive but horrible for our babies. I researched the next day, first for Matilda my Syrian, only because she is larger and she looked miserable in shining new pink castle with attached tower. I ordered a Prevue cage with tons of better supplies (12" cage, etc) and shelled out another wopping $160 easy. We did also purchase a good sized play pen that we are waiting for as well as I've learned here that the hamster balls are stressful to them.

So, as of now, Princess hates me . For very good reason. We attached both cages together with the attachment and play tubes (I will attach photos of this) and I know this isn't correct or enough. Right now, after spending over $300 last week on these little ones, with my husband not having work for the coronavirus shut down (factory closed indefinitely), it's getting a bit tight to shell out another 100 plus for another amazon cage. I can't find any tubs suitable online and we can't leave the house to shop for one. I did find this cage in NJ that I can't find much about. I can afford this one but wanted to be certain of what other's thought. It's the Gabbia Criceto Bernie deluxe; measurements 15x21 with a 10" height.

Any suggestions can be helpful and thank you!



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Old 03-21-2020, 05:15 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Hi, neither of these cages is fit to house a hamster in as they are both as awful and unsuitable as they can get.

I do apologise for being so blunt but there is no diplomatic way of putting this.

Have you considered a DIY option? You could make a bin cage from a very large plastic storage box by meshing the lid and adding a meshed front window.

You could source a second hand large aquarium, maybe one that's no longer water tight and make a meshed, wooden framed lid for it.

You could convert a piece of furniture or build a hamster home yourself or look for a second hand vivarium.

Another option is to buy a second hand rabbit or guinea pig cage and then mesh it.
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Old 03-21-2020, 05:32 AM   #3
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Hi, you are not the first person and sadly won;t be the last person to find themselves in this situation re hamster cages.

No, the Gabbia Criceto Bernie deluxe is not suitable. It is only 315sq inches, absolute minimum is 450 sq inches, but to be honest I would be aiming more about the 600sq inches at the very least, which your prevue is.

I understand the situation at the moment is a bit exceptional, but maybe keep looking for something more suitable like a plastic bin storage box?
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Old 03-21-2020, 07:02 AM   #4
sushi_78
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

What's your Robo in at the moment? If I understood correctly, the Syrian is in the two connected cages which you rightly found out aren't suitable, but the prevue is perfect for a Syrian.

What kind of tubs have you found online? Given the unusual circumstances any tub bigger than the Gabbia cage you mentioned would be fine in the short term for a Robo. Bin cages need a meshed lid really, but again in these short term unusual circumstances you could get away with leaving the lid off, and being very careful with tall toys and any other animals in the house, until such time as you can make a proper lid.

The Gabbia cage you mentioned looks like a slightly smaller version of a Savic Rody which are sometimes used for Robos in the short term (for taming etc.) Personally, in these extreme and difficult circumstances I would not rule that cage out if there was no better option. It's still better than the Crittertrail, and hopefully in a few weeks you would be able to find something better.
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Old 03-21-2020, 07:28 AM   #5
Matildasmom
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
What's your Robo in at the moment? If I understood correctly, the Syrian is in the two connected cages which you rightly found out aren't suitable, but the prevue is perfect for a Syrian.

What kind of tubs have you found online? Given the unusual circumstances any tub bigger than the Gabbia cage you mentioned would be fine in the short term for a Robo. Bin cages need a meshed lid really, but again in these short term unusual circumstances you could get away with leaving the lid off, and being very careful with tall toys and any other animals in the house, until such time as you can make a proper lid.

The Gabbia cage you mentioned looks like a slightly smaller version of a Savic Rody which are sometimes used for Robos in the short term (for taming etc.) Personally, in these extreme and difficult circumstances I would not rule that cage out if there was no better option. It's still better than the Crittertrail, and hopefully in a few weeks you would be able to find something better.

Sorry, my post can be confusing. I can show you the prevue for Matilda. My syrian is in that while Princess, my robo is currently in the admittedly unsuitable cage. Thank you for your help with that; I think this week we will just need to tighten up more and get another Prevue then just add supplies as we go. Thank you; it is really frustrating to not have many options in this country which are suitable.





This is Matilda


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Old 03-21-2020, 07:34 AM   #6
sushi_78
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Ok, I see. A prevue would be good for a Robo too. In terms of supplies, you can use lots of small cardboard boxes and tubes to fill the cage up rather than necessarily buying things, and scatter the food over the bedding, and the only essential items would be a wheel, a water bottle and a dish of sand.
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Old 03-21-2020, 07:38 AM   #7
Matildasmom
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Thanks so much for the helpful replies. I think this is the best way to show Matilda's cage. It was difficult to even find this one as suitable. All the other ones I've looked up show being from Europe. This is the one I have for Matilda, my syrian. I think this is the only option to try to get for Princess as well; we can just try to tighten things up right now. I'm reluctant to waste more money on something that even won't be appropriate for her.

I do really appreciate the diy options also. I will talk to my husband later today and get his input. Thank you for your suggestions.

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Old 03-21-2020, 07:44 AM   #8
sushi_78
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

That cage looks great and the pink theme is very pretty. The pink and white house is too small for a Syrian, but perfect for a Robo so you could move that to Princess' cage. A shoebox or another similar size cardboard box makes a good house for a Syrian.
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Old 03-21-2020, 07:55 AM   #9
Matildasmom
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

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Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
That cage looks great and the pink theme is very pretty. The pink and white house is too small for a Syrian, but perfect for a Robo so you could move that to Princess' cage. A shoebox or another similar size cardboard box makes a good house for a Syrian.
I will switch the house, thank you. I have a lot more wood houses and supplies on the way from Thursday. They are supposed to be arriving on Mon or Tues from amazon. I will look up cardboard boxes for her as well; I think they have some examples here. Thank you again for your kind help.
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Old 03-21-2020, 09:38 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: Houseing questions about Robo Dwarf

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matildasmom View Post
I will look up cardboard boxes for her as well; I think they have some examples here.
I can't see your prevue cage, maybe my phone is playing up and i'll try again later.

A shoebox house you can make yourself with an actual shoe box. Use the lid as a removable roof which is handy so you can check on Matilda and her nest/hoard without disturbing her too much. Cut out the base so the box sits on top of the substrate (hamsters like to sink their nest into the substrate and often keep a hoard underneath the nest )and cut out a big enough entrance hole. You can put a little bendy bridge across the entrance to make it darker inside.

Here is a photo of a DIY Ikea Samla bin cage which i keep for foster hamsters.
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