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Old 01-06-2021, 12:04 PM   #1
TheyCallMeChips
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Default Criticism please!

Just got this for my boy - it’s the Savic Hamster Heaven cage (80cm x 50cm). I didn’t want to use any of the stuff that came with it aside from the green thing that goes on top (which I turned into a hideout). How do you think my setup can be improved?

-This is the biggest cage I could find that fits on my desk. My desk can fit an 80cm x 80cm cage, 90cm x 80cm at absolute maximum - if you find any that are close to this (preferably in the UK) please let me know ��.
-I know there’s not many chew toys - I couldn’t find any at my local pet shop, but I have some ordered so fingers crossed they’ll arrive soon.

EDIT: Since posting, I've gone and made a few changes to his cage. Idk which order it'll post them in, but the one with the larger hide and pink shelf is the most up to date.

Last edited by TheyCallMeChips; 01-06-2021 at 02:22 PM. Reason: Added updated information
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Old 01-06-2021, 12:20 PM   #2
NibblesTheHam
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Default Re: Criticism please!

You might want a sand bath, it's not necessary, lots of hamsters enjoy them, though. Shelves are often nice, you can get lots that clip onto the bars of a cage, or you could make your own. You also need a main hideout, like shoebox sized, preferably multi-chambered. How deep is the bedding? Is he a syrian or a dwarf?

There's a thread that holds a lot of inspiration here, Let's see your cages - New thread - July 2017
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Old 01-06-2021, 12:42 PM   #3
TheyCallMeChips
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Default Re: Criticism please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by NibblesTheHam View Post
You might want a sand bath, it's not necessary, lots of hamsters enjoy them, though. Shelves are often nice, you can get lots that clip onto the bars of a cage, or you could make your own. You also need a main hideout, like shoebox sized, preferably multi-chambered. How deep is the bedding? Is he a syrian or a dwarf?

There's a thread that holds a lot of inspiration here, Let's see your cages - New thread - July 2017
He's a Syrian - I should've probably specified that lol. I'm in the middle of getting the sand bath sorted, just finding the right sand is the problem since the stuff I had before wasn't safe for hamsters, despite it being advertised as such. I've got some shelves that came with the cage, I'm just debating on whether or not to use them since they take up so much space. I'll probably end up adding them in at some point.

There is a hideout like that there, I just placed it under the sawdust since he likes to burrow. It's not multi-chambered unfortunately, but I do plan on getting a multi-chambered one once I can afford it.

The bedding is 6" deep.
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Old 01-06-2021, 12:50 PM   #4
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Criticism please!

I would be adding some shelves in, so your hamster hasn;t got a big drop to fall if he/she climbs up the bars.

Things like cork tunnels/branches/wicker tunnels etc are good too. You can also use boxes from your recycling.

Like Nibbles said a hideout for sleeping in too is a good idea.

I have a couple of videos that might help:

Setting Up The Savic Plaza Hamster Cage 2020 | Cosmic Hamsters - YouTube

Cosmic Hamsters: Budget Hamster Cage Setup, Using Recycled Items - YouTube
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Old 01-06-2021, 01:36 PM   #5
TheyCallMeChips
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Default Re: Criticism please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
I would be adding some shelves in, so your hamster hasn;t got a big drop to fall if he/she climbs up the bars.

Things like cork tunnels/branches/wicker tunnels etc are good too. You can also use boxes from your recycling.

Like Nibbles said a hideout for sleeping in too is a good idea.

I have a couple of videos that might help:

Setting Up The Savic Plaza Hamster Cage 2020 | Cosmic Hamsters - YouTube

Cosmic Hamsters: Budget Hamster Cage Setup, Using Recycled Items - YouTube
I've just gone and added in a shelf and moved his hideout, since he kept covering the entrance lol. I don't know how good his hideout will be in the longrun since it's very transparent, as it's not actually a hideout, just some weird thing meant to go on top, but it's the best I can do for now. But, I do think he'll like his new shelf lol. Does this look any better?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 136665923_684428395770449_533822681496306331_n.jpg (435.8 KB, 16 views)

Last edited by TheyCallMeChips; 01-06-2021 at 01:43 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 01-06-2021, 01:51 PM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Criticism please!

I think it looks a bit bare at the moment but then again my partner says that my cage set ups are too crowded.

Here's an example photo of my spare Hamster Heaven set up for a rescue dwarf but i could easily adjust it for a Syrian by removing the two wheels and adding one big one.
The house is the Ferplast guinea pig house and a Syrian needs a proper house to build a big nest in and keep a hoard in. Hamsters like a big heap of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper left outside for nesting material.

I always get rid of all the plastic shelves, tubes and penthouse of a HH and start off with an empty cage then add a platform or Trixie corner shelves, bendy ladders etc. which i buy on Amazon or The Range mainly but we all have different ideas about set ups.
A lot depends on the hamster and sometimes i have to adjust the set up after a month or so to tailor it more towards the hamster's preferences.

As for sand, i've always used the Tiny Friends Farm bathing sand and never had any issues.

Whimzee dog chews are well liked by hamsters and usually disappear into their nests.
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File Type: jpg 20210105_212911.jpg (2.74 MB, 21 views)
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Old 01-06-2021, 01:59 PM   #7
TheyCallMeChips
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Default Re: Criticism please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
I think it looks a bit bare at the moment but then again my partner says that my cage set ups are too crowded.

Here's an example photo of my spare Hamster Heaven set up for a rescue dwarf but i could easily adjust it for a Syrian by removing the two wheels and adding one big one.
The house is the Ferplast guinea pig house and a Syrian needs a proper house to build a big nest in and keep a hoard in. Hamsters like a big heap of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper left outside for nesting material.

I always get rid of all the plastic shelves, tubes and penthouse of a HH and start off with an empty cage then add a platform or Trixie corner shelves, bendy ladders etc. which i buy on Amazon or The Range mainly but we all have different ideas about set ups.
A lot depends on the hamster and sometimes i have to adjust the set up after a month or so to tailor it more towards the hamster's preferences.

As for sand, i've always used the Tiny Friends Farm bathing sand and never had any issues.

Whimzee dog chews are well liked by hamsters and usually disappear into their nests.
Thank you for showing me - that's the sort of thing I want my cage to end up looking like (but maybe less crowded since he's a pretty big hamster lol). I don't have any money for anything else right now (as mentioned, I have got some toys on the way), but the next thing on my list is gonna be a new hideout for him. Would you reccomend a chamber house with lots of small rooms, or just one large house? I've attached a photo of what my setup looks like now.
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File Type: jpg 136665923_684428395770449_533822681496306331_n.jpg (435.8 KB, 14 views)
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Old 01-06-2021, 02:23 PM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Criticism please!

It looks much better now with the shelf . They like a shelf - it’s some overhead cover to sit under and something to climb up onto. The plastic penthouse doesn’t make a great house - you could maybe use it for our if cage time as a toy/hide. They need a house that is open underneath and sat on top of the substrate - so they can have normal behaviours and bury hoards under the nest. It also ventilates the house so it doesn’t get sweaty and smelly. Cardboard is your friend! A tissue box or child’s size shoe box makes a good house so it’s dark inside and plenty of space for him to build a big cosy nest for winter. A normal sized shoe box is best if it will fit. You cut the base out and cut a hole for a door - if the door is at one end of one of the long sides he will nest at the other end where it’s darker. You keep the lid as a lift off roof.

You might find he decides to nest in that little round pink house on the shelf. That’s what our first hamster did and it was not good! It’s far too small and hot smelly. But they like round things. It might be better to remove that and add a cardboard house at floor level. If you have a bendy stick bridge you can put that over the house entrance so it’s darker inside (they do need to retreat somewhere dark at times) and it also makes a ramp up onto the house roof.

The cage is fine . Some hamsters want more space but some will be happy in that size cage. You can always upgrade later if necessary but many Syrians will be happy with that cage. It has that nice big front opening door which is great for interaction and encourages easier taming.

One word of caution. If you change things too much early on he may get stressed and start bar chewing so apart from adding a house I would leave things as they are now for about two weeks. They need that two weeks settling in time.
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Old 01-06-2021, 02:23 PM   #9
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Criticism please!

You can make a hide out of a cardboard box, do you have any in your recycling, or ask a friend/family member if they have one.

Use egg boxes for tunnels etc.

It's getting there with your last photo.
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Old 01-06-2021, 02:37 PM   #10
TheyCallMeChips
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Default Re: Criticism please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It looks much better now with the shelf . They like a shelf - it’s some overhead cover to sit under and something to climb up onto. The plastic penthouse doesn’t make a great house - you could maybe use it for our if cage time as a toy/hide. They need a house that is open underneath and sat on top of the substrate - so they can have normal behaviours and bury hoards under the nest. It also ventilates the house so it doesn’t get sweaty and smelly. Cardboard is your friend! A tissue box or child’s size shoe box makes a good house so it’s dark inside and plenty of space for him to build a big cosy nest for winter. A normal sized shoe box is best if it will fit. You cut the base out and cut a hole for a door - if the door is at one end of one of the long sides he will nest at the other end where it’s darker. You keep the lid as a lift off roof.

You might find he decides to nest in that little round pink house on the shelf. That’s what our first hamster did and it was not good! It’s far too small and hot smelly. But they like round things. It might be better to remove that and add a cardboard house at floor level. If you have a bendy stick bridge you can put that over the house entrance so it’s darker inside (they do need to retreat somewhere dark at times) and it also makes a ramp up onto the house roof.

The cage is fine . Some hamsters want more space but some will be happy in that size cage. You can always upgrade later if necessary but many Syrians will be happy with that cage. It has that nice big front opening door which is great for interaction and encourages easier taming.

One word of caution. If you change things too much early on he may get stressed and start bar chewing so apart from adding a house I would leave things as they are now for about two weeks. They need that two weeks settling in time.
I'll give the shoebox thing a try once I get my hands on one lol. I do definitely plan on changing out the hideout/penthouse when I get the chance, but it's all I have for now. And yes, I have noticed some signs of stress, which is understandable since this has been a very big week for him - I only got him last Friday. So, my plan for now is to just leave things as they are and just let him settle in before making any drastic changes.
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