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Old 05-08-2020, 10:04 AM   #1
Snail
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 87
Default Alaska cage for a winter white

So I have just ordered the Alaska cage for my winter white(definitely partially winter white but specific breed is unknown) and Im wondering if anyone has any bad experiences with it or good experiences with it for a russian dwarf/ww. Some people say the bars are flimsy and gaps can be too big for russians but my winter white seems on the larger side especially compared to my other russian dwarf who is a fraction of the size(still a healthy weight id say mostly fluff). Im not with my ww until lockdown is over to supervise the cage switch process, he is in a bin cage at the moment. But I just wanted to know peoples general experiences with it aswell as any methods to try bypass any negatives of the cage.

If the cage turns out to be unsuitable for him when it arrives I will save and and use it for a syrian I may potentially adopt
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Old 05-08-2020, 10:50 AM   #2
Ria P
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: Alaska cage for a winter white

My Syrian lives in an Alaska and he's not a hamster who ever tries to escape because he's too fond of his nest i guess.

I really like this cage because it is a good size with big front and top doors. I suppose a very determined and small enough hamster might be able to squeeze through the gaps of the top door as shown in the photo.

It is not flimsy but i wouldn't call it strong enough to put another cage on top of it.

I think its a bit high for a dwarf and a Hamster Haven or Metro would be better suited but you could set it up carefully with fall risks in mind.
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Old 05-08-2020, 11:07 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Alaska cage for a winter white

As above. The bar spacing should be fine. The height can be an issue for a dwarf hamster as there is risk of injury from falls (they can monkey bar across the roof when you’re asleep). It could work if set up carefull but really you’d need a full level or a few extra shelves and a careful set up. One other way round it is to effectively reduce the height by putting cardboard round the inside bars - say 2 to 4 “ high. And filling the base with substrate up to just below the height of the cardboard. I agree that an ideal cage for a dwarf hamster is the hamster heaven or hamster sky - lower height (it’s about 36cm tall internally). Provided the tubes and penthouse are removed and blocked off and it is better with just the one solid shelf. That also then gives space for a proper house/nesting box open underneath and sat on the substrate. The little plastic pod houses are also best removed as they get sweaty inside and aren’t big enough. I use those for out of cage time or in the pet carrier.
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Old 05-08-2020, 05:02 PM   #4
Snail
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 87
Default Re: Alaska cage for a winter white

Thanks for the advice I think im going to try set it up to have less risk of him falling. He was never one to monkey bar but behaviours can definitely change. I bought a wooden bendy bridge which i might put at halfway height ish to try discourage climbing the bars and also provide a halfway point if he were to end up falling down. I never even considered him falling as being a danger so Im really glad it was brought up! Ill try my best to modify it but if need be I will save it for a larger hamster
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Old 05-09-2020, 06:09 PM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Alaska cage for a winter white

They can injure themselves falling on hard items so any hard items it would be better to put under the platform and have plenty of substrate to cushion any falls. Especially dwarf hamsters - broken back etc. And it is surprising what they do at night during their very active phase when we don't see them! The usual thing is to climb to the top to see if they can get out of the top door!

I think you could make it work but if there's the option of a different cage, that might end up working out cheaper in the long run as buying extra shelves and platforms can get expensive. Although it hurts forking out £60 odd pounds for a Hamster Heaven when you have an Alaska cage! Zooplus tends to sell the Hamster Heaven a bit cheaper.
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Old 05-11-2020, 06:31 AM   #6
Snail
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Join Date: Jan 2020
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Default Re: Alaska cage for a winter white

His bin cage is always going to be a back up as its very large and he’s absolutely fine in it. He seems to enjoy the cage so far but we will be putting carboard over the bars and modifying it to suit him as much as we can and if it doesnt work out its a great cage for a future hamster! Will be getting an ikea detolf when I am able for my roborovski so if that turns out well I could maybe get a second one for my winter white. Im not going to force him to stay in the cage but all seems well so far! Thank you for all the advice
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cage, winter, experiences, white, alaska, russian, process, bin, wanted, moment, switch, supervise, fluff, potentially, lockdown, syrian, peoples, save, turns, unsuitable, arrives, negatives, adopt, aswell, general

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