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Old 05-14-2020, 10:57 AM   #1
ootchia
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: england
Posts: 23
Question natural cage queries 🌿

hello in preparation for my hamster, i have been devoting a lot of my free time in quarantine to research about getting my first hamster. i decided to make my own diy cage as i can provide a large floorspace to accommodate any hamster i get. i wanted to make a natural setup. is this okay?

my first proper query would be, what substrate? originally, before i was going for a natural setup, i was going to use kaytee clean and cozy as the whole bedding/substrate. is this a good idea? a lot of people recommended coconut coir, as it goes with the cage theme, and i’ve scrapped the idea of soil.

accessories? I’ve been looking on rodipet for stuff, but since i’m in the uk I don’t know if it ships there. pets at home seems to have some herbs so i will buy from there.

any natural cage tips or ideas would be very much appreciated
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Old 05-14-2020, 11:05 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Kaytee clean & cosy is a really good substrate so that would be fine.
Some people do use coir in a small part of the cage for variety but it isn't suitable as a main substrate, personally I wouldn't recommend it as it can get damp & doesn't dry out like substrate so you could potentially end up with mould issues.
Rodipet does deliver to the uk & the cost is quite reasonable really, they do some good houses, I really like the wooden ones with granite lids, although any wood does need to be painted with Plastikote water based enamel to pee proof it you could use the clear one if you wanted a natural look.
Cork tubes & tunnels are great for natural looking cages or any cage for that matter, coconuts make good hideouts too & also have a nice natural look.
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Old 05-14-2020, 11:52 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Agree with Cypher about not using coir. You can use more than one type of substrate -in fact it can add variety as different textures. Hemp bedding is a good choice for a natural look and doesn't work out too expensive as it's quite a big bag. Hugro hemp on Zooplus is a good one. I couldn't use it unfortunately as it set off hayfever type thing with me. So you could have that in one area and Kaytee CC in another area (maybe the house end as it's softer).

Yes as above, Rodipet do ship to the uk. In fact they have a uk website so you don't have to translate things - it still ships from Germany though. I can highly recommend their cork logs and tunnels- not just a tunnel but an interesting texture to climb over and can double up as a ramp up to a platform if placed partly under the platform - so it's like a tunnel leading under the platform. The medium and large sizes are best as the extra height is good for climbing over/ramp. For either a dwarf or syrian.

I also love their houses - I prefer the labyrinth houses - both for Dwarf and Syrian hamsters and they sell the legs with them so you can support it underneath and they can burrow down. The labyrinth houses double up as a good extra platform/level. The ones with the terracotta dishes on top are good as it's then a food dish as well. I also get the granite tile they sell for putting under the water bottle - helps keep their claws in trim - you find that at the bottom of the granite house section.

For a syrian I would definitely go with the large labyrinth house - I find the granite ones don't work quite as well for a syrian as the rooms aren't as big.

If you're looking for a free standing platform for a tank style cage, Getzoo do excellent ones in different sizes and different heights.

Rodipet 's uk website here

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/
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Old 05-14-2020, 03:51 PM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

The Kaytee clean&cozy in natural and camo looks good in a natural set up. Rosewood does millet sprays called pick n' fly in a pack for under £4 so works out cheaper than the Rodipet ones.
I also quite like the ceramic mushroom hides by Wundapet and the 55cm long Trixie bendy ladders.
An inexpensive option for platforms are the Ferplast guinea pig houses for around a tenner submerged into the substrate. I leave the front panel off so the hamster can burrow into it.
It looks nice to line a wall with a boredom breaker mat but saying that, my dwarf has learned to climb them.

It's so much fun to do a natural set up because there is so much available.
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Old 05-15-2020, 07:07 AM   #5
ootchia
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Join Date: May 2020
Location: england
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Smile Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Kaytee clean & cosy is a really good substrate so that would be fine.
Some people do use coir in a small part of the cage for variety but it isn't suitable as a main substrate, personally I wouldn't recommend it as it can get damp & doesn't dry out like substrate so you could potentially end up with mould issues.
Rodipet does deliver to the uk & the cost is quite reasonable really, they do some good houses, I really like the wooden ones with granite lids, although any wood does need to be painted with Plastikote water based enamel to pee proof it you could use the clear one if you wanted a natural look.
Cork tubes & tunnels are great for natural looking cages or any cage for that matter, coconuts make good hideouts too & also have a nice natural look.
Thank you, I will check it out. Rodipet seem to have good reviews.
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Old 05-15-2020, 07:08 AM   #6
ootchia
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Join Date: May 2020
Location: england
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Smile Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Agree with Cypher about not using coir. You can use more than one type of substrate -in fact it can add variety as different textures. Hemp bedding is a good choice for a natural look and doesn't work out too expensive as it's quite a big bag. Hugro hemp on Zooplus is a good one. I couldn't use it unfortunately as it set off hayfever type thing with me. So you could have that in one area and Kaytee CC in another area (maybe the house end as it's softer).

Yes as above, Rodipet do ship to the uk. In fact they have a uk website so you don't have to translate things - it still ships from Germany though. I can highly recommend their cork logs and tunnels- not just a tunnel but an interesting texture to climb over and can double up as a ramp up to a platform if placed partly under the platform - so it's like a tunnel leading under the platform. The medium and large sizes are best as the extra height is good for climbing over/ramp. For either a dwarf or syrian.

I also love their houses - I prefer the labyrinth houses - both for Dwarf and Syrian hamsters and they sell the legs with them so you can support it underneath and they can burrow down. The labyrinth houses double up as a good extra platform/level. The ones with the terracotta dishes on top are good as it's then a food dish as well. I also get the granite tile they sell for putting under the water bottle - helps keep their claws in trim - you find that at the bottom of the granite house section.

For a syrian I would definitely go with the large labyrinth house - I find the granite ones don't work quite as well for a syrian as the rooms aren't as big.

If you're looking for a free standing platform for a tank style cage, Getzoo do excellent ones in different sizes and different heights.

Rodipet 's uk website here

https://www.rodipet.co.uk/
Thank you! Do you have hay fever anyway? Because I do and I don’t know if that will be an issue. I’m not allergic to animals, thankfully.
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Old 05-15-2020, 07:15 AM   #7
ootchia
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: england
Posts: 23
Smile Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
The Kaytee clean&cozy in natural and camo looks good in a natural set up. Rosewood does millet sprays called pick n' fly in a pack for under £4 so works out cheaper than the Rodipet ones.
I also quite like the ceramic mushroom hides by Wundapet and the 55cm long Trixie bendy ladders.
An inexpensive option for platforms are the Ferplast guinea pig houses for around a tenner submerged into the substrate. I leave the front panel off so the hamster can burrow into it.
It looks nice to line a wall with a boredom breaker mat but saying that, my dwarf has learned to climb them.

It's so much fun to do a natural set up because there is so much available.
Thank you, I’m really enjoying designing the cage as there’s a lot available now that I’ve looked. My friend who had a hamster is giving me her wooden toys has a bendy bridge and a wooden hut. She is also giving me her cage (which I feel is too small as it is, sadly, commercial but could makes great travel cage) and her Johnson’s Clean ‘n’ Safe Animal Disinfectant. I’m slightly apprehensive to take it but she’s giving the whole thing for a low cost.
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Old 05-15-2020, 07:54 PM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

How small is the cage? Some people start off a hamster in a smaller cage while settling/taming and then upgrade them. But smaller doesn’t mean “small” as such! If it’s for a Syrian and the cage is too small you could start out with problems like bar biting and other stress behaviour such as cage aggression. It would be better to have something like the Hamster Heaven or Alaska cage from Zooplus. If it’s for a dwarf hamster and no less than 60 x 40 it might be fine as a starter cage as long as it’s not a high cage.

If the cage isn’t suitable it would be better to get one that is and keep the one your friend is giving you as a “play cage “ - eg somewhere to put the hamster when you’re doing a cage clean.

Wood items will need to be disinfected thoroughly if used by another hamster and those kind of items can transfer disease- depending what your friend’s hamster died of - but sometimes it’s unknown if there was disease. Bark wood items are not easy to disinfect - some people say to bake them. Personally I wouldn’t use the wood items. You can make a lot if hamster stuff from cardboard - a shoebox makes a good house and a tissue box a good hide. Pringles tubes make good tunnels. Any plastic or ceramic items are ok as they can be washed in washing up liquid and be fine.

The Johnson’s clean and safe could be handy but normally you don’t need it for a cage clean - warm soapy water is fine. Disinfectant just needed for disease but the donated cage would need fully disinfecting before use. Give it a rinse and good airing afterwards as hamsters can be overpowered by scents.

Re the hemp - I have asthma and anything grassy sets me off .
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Old 05-16-2020, 08:23 AM   #9
ootchia
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: england
Posts: 23
Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
How small is the cage? Some people start off a hamster in a smaller cage while settling/taming and then upgrade them. But smaller doesn’t mean “small” as such! If it’s for a Syrian and the cage is too small you could start out with problems like bar biting and other stress behaviour such as cage aggression. It would be better to have something like the Hamster Heaven or Alaska cage from Zooplus. If it’s for a dwarf hamster and no less than 60 x 40 it might be fine as a starter cage as long as it’s not a high cage.

If the cage isn’t suitable it would be better to get one that is and keep the one your friend is giving you as a “play cage “ - eg somewhere to put the hamster when you’re doing a cage clean.

Wood items will need to be disinfected thoroughly if used by another hamster and those kind of items can transfer disease- depending what your friend’s hamster died of - but sometimes it’s unknown if there was disease. Bark wood items are not easy to disinfect - some people say to bake them. Personally I wouldn’t use the wood items. You can make a lot if hamster stuff from cardboard - a shoebox makes a good house and a tissue box a good hide. Pringles tubes make good tunnels. Any plastic or ceramic items are ok as they can be washed in washing up liquid and be fine.

The Johnson’s clean and safe could be handy but normally you don’t need it for a cage clean - warm soapy water is fine. Disinfectant just needed for disease but the donated cage would need fully disinfecting before use. Give it a rinse and good airing afterwards as hamsters can be overpowered by scents.

Re the hemp - I have asthma and anything grassy sets me off .
Thank you! I think the cage is too small although when I asked her initially for advice she said you have to have a large cage. I’m pretty sure hers was less than 450sq inches though she seemed apprehensive to show me. I’m going to make Lyn own cage with my dad, hopefully out of melamine and glass.

I might decide not to borrow the stuff from her as there isn’t a lot and now I’m unsure of what her hamster died of — I think it was diabetes.

I don’t think I’ll be using hemp as even waking in the forest makes me sneezy.
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Old 05-16-2020, 09:24 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: natural cage queries 🌿

Yes I'm like that too. Even the dried grass hammock for hamsters sets me off. The natural coloured Kaytee Clean and Cosy would be nice though? What country are you in? There are various cheaper substrates you can get in bulk that are paper based also. Boxo (brown) in the US and Fitch in the Uk. I use Fitch - only comes in white though.
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