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Old 09-08-2020, 06:10 AM   #1
sueham
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Default 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Hello

I was hoping someone could help me. I have a adult hybrid hamster (not sure of his age; he was a rescue!). He is currently in the fun area Leon cage which I personally don’t think is the best for him. It’s a nice looking cage but I don’t feel the space he is offered in that cage is the best.

I’m looking at other suitable cages for him. Would a cage with 9.5mm bar spacing be ok for him or does it need to narrower?

Thank you
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Old 09-08-2020, 07:34 AM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Hello. I believe other owners find that size bar spacing is fine for dwarf hybrids. You can get cages with smaller bar spacing but there aren't that many of them.

Yes the Leon is an oddball of a cage. I have often felt it would be great if the floor area was bigger, but it is more tall than wide.

A good size cage for a hybrid dwarf would be something like the Hamster Heaven or savic mickey 2XL (the mickey 2XL is the same cage but with narrow bar spacing - I have it). All the plastic tubes and penthouse and so on don't work with the Hamster Heaven though.

Although they don't have the levels they have more floor area, which hamsters enjoy - areas for nesting, wheeling, floor tunnels etc and the opportunity to do. And both those cages are quite low so there isn't a risk of fall injuries providing there's plenty of substrate in there.

I prefer the Mickey 2XL as it's suitable for any species of hamster - 7mm bar spacing. But it costs a lot more than the Hamster Heaven, which is absolutely fine and suitable for all except tiny roborovskis. But it does need all the plastic stuff removing and setting up from scratch with a proper house etc. Leaving one shelf in would be ok.

That size cage is a sort of sweet spot for a dwarf hamster. It's 80cm by 50cm and has a nice big front opening door so good for interaction with the hamster.
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Old 09-08-2020, 07:41 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

This is the Mickey 2XL. It's only sold by Amazon and the price fluctates - it's never much less than £86 though. The wire shelf needs removing in it as bad for hamsters feet.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savic-Micke...9575745&sr=8-1

This is the Hamster Heaven - pets at home sell it - not sure if they're cheaper. Zooplus usually sell it for £60 but they seem to be out of stock. It comes with caps to block off the tubes when you remove them. The tubes really don't work well as hamsters block them up and pee in them. And particularly not good for dwarf hamsters who might struggle to climb them. So you get a lot of useless plastic! But the cage itself is identical to the Mickey 2xl apart from the bar spacing. Although it says it's 50cm tall - it isn't. It's the same height as the Mickey xl (about 36 to 38cm tall). The height measurement is inclusive of the plastic penthouse.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...-(online-only)

1cm bar spacing is ok for russian dwarfs I believe.

Personally I would go with the Mickey XL - if you don't mind paying the bit extra. It's a good cage, I like the narrow bar spacing, and there are no holes in the roof to block off! But you would need to get a shelf for it really. Something like this is ok. And both cages need a good house. They do best with a house that is open underneath and sat directly on top of the substrate, so they can burrow down and bury hoards under the nest and have normal hamstery behaviours.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Natu...9576158&sr=8-5

There are lots of nice hamster houses and hidey place toys available, but a cardboard tissue box with a hole cut in and the base cut out is fine too They just like a good sized nesting box.
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Old 09-08-2020, 07:53 AM   #4
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Thank you serendipity. I have been browsing the site to see what other cages people have their hamsters in. I’ve actually seen some of your posts (I think) it a front opening black and grey cage? I can’t think of what the name of that cage is but was wondering if that could be suitable? I think I remember seeing that the bar spacing on that is 1cm, though I’m not sure.

Thank you
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:10 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Yes that's the Mickey 2XL. The original blue base got broken when we moved house so I found a replacement base which is grey The bar spacing is 7mm on it. Small enough to prevent mice getting in and robos getting out ha ha. I have a Syrian in it at the moment but he has grown very large so will need to be upgraded. You might be able to get the Hamster Heaven cheaper somewhere though. The bar spacing on that is 1cm.
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:13 AM   #6
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

It was set up differently for our Roborovski dwarf hamster - I'll see if I can find a photo. Here it is. Room for a wheel attached to the bars and a flying saucer plus various toys. He had a shelf at the back which you can't see on this photo and a sort of subterranean house front right which doesn't really show either.

Attachment 51261

This photo shows the house and shelf better

Attachment 51262

Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:54 PM.
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:20 AM   #7
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

This cage is also ok for a dwarf hamster. It's slightly smaller but still a reasonable size. It doesn't have the big front opening door though which I find really good. Little doors can scare the hamster when you're trying to get them out. And make it harder to put a tube in for them to crawl into eg.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...me-extra-large

PAH also have the Hamster Sky which is the same cage as the Hamster Heaven but no penthouse and less tubes to block off - it's a bit cheaper. Also 1cm bar spacing.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...xODc4ZGU3Yzhl~
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:49 AM   #8
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

I think 9.5mm is fine for a hybrid and would agree that the Leon isn't ideal.

I would also recommend the Hamster Heaven / Sky Metro / Mickey 2XL (all the same cage basically). The Sky Metro is the cheapest and just comes with less plastic tat to throw away. I have my new Russian hybrid in a Mickey 2XL and I'm very happy with it.

Which cage was it you were looking at with 9.5mm bar spacing?
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Old 09-08-2020, 10:25 AM   #9
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
This cage is also ok for a dwarf hamster. It's slightly smaller but still a reasonable size. It doesn't have the big front opening door though which I find really good. Little doors can scare the hamster when you're trying to get them out. And make it harder to put a tube in for them to crawl into eg.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...me-extra-large

PAH also have the Hamster Sky which is the same cage as the Hamster Heaven but no penthouse and less tubes to block off - it's a bit cheaper. Also 1cm bar spacing.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...xODc4ZGU3Yzhl~



Thank you so much for the detailed answer! I really appreciate it. I ideally wanted to get a 100cm cage but I can’t seem to find any I liked. I have had the Alexander cage in the past for Syrian hamsters. I did like the cage but I don’t think it would be the most suitable for our little guy now. The small front opening would make it difficult for me to get our little guy to come out.

Is there a larger cage out there with this kind of front access? I’m sure I recall seeing a post about one but can’t find it now.
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Old 09-08-2020, 10:28 AM   #10
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Default Re: 9.5mm bar spacing for dwarf hybrid

Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
I think 9.5mm is fine for a hybrid and would agree that the Leon isn't ideal.

I would also recommend the Hamster Heaven / Sky Metro / Mickey 2XL (all the same cage basically). The Sky Metro is the cheapest and just comes with less plastic tat to throw away. I have my new Russian hybrid in a Mickey 2XL and I'm very happy with it.

Which cage was it you were looking at with 9.5mm bar spacing?

I owned the old hamster heaven, when it came with the solid yellow shelves instead of the pink and green shelves it seems to come with now. That was home to Syrian hamsters (at different times, not together!) and I loved the front access.

I can’t remember what the cage was I saw. I’ve gone through so many posts I’m getting confused

Thank you for your help
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