Gabber Rex questions

Emma · 03-05-2006, 03:49 AM

For those familiar with the gabber rex - is this it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/L-K-CRICETO-REX-H ... dZViewItem

Looking at Hazel's nose I feel I have to do something about her bar chewing. Whats the height of this like - do you think she'll still be able to chew the roof bars (she's a sizeable 160g-ish hamster)?

Can you really fit a savic jumbo rolly rat wheel in the space where the teensy wheel is in the picture?

And how do you sort your water bottles out?

Thanks in advance

Em x

Btw, if I did buy from this ebay seller, I would do some education about wool bedding whilst I was at it!

souffle · 03-05-2006, 08:15 AM

Yes Emma that is the Gabber Rex and we have all our hams in these cages. To be honest the bar knawing has never been a problem in this cage though we did have it with a previous hamster who could stand on the shelf and reach up to chew. We stopped him by putting books on top of the area near the shelf so he could not put his nose through to chew. After two weeks we took them off and he never tried it again. Nelson & Bailey have never tried to chew. The Savic rolly Jumbo most definitly fits on the space and ours use them every night. The water bottles ..well there is a hole in the clear top section you can push the spout through and two holes on top for a wire to attach it with. We.found it a bit high for babies so have drilled a lower hole in the base plastic and attach it with an elastic loop through the holes. It does take a sippy but we find them hard to clean and fiddly to fit. It is a big cage so you do need quite a bit of room for it but we love them ourselve. I am going to take some pics to show how we fit the water bottle and will post them soon.

**babyboos** · 03-06-2006, 02:51 PM

I use these for dwarf colonies so the wheel it comes with is fine, but yes it does happily take the rat Savic Rolly Jumbo wheel. My guys use the little house as a sandbath / potty area, and sleep behind the green section. I fill this area with shredded tissue. the floor space is great and fits in many toys, coconut, egg box, see-saw etc. or make up Superpet Puzzle Playground pieces. I have not had a Syrian chew the roofbars, but I know Debs (flogging_molly) had Molly in one and she got to the bars - determined little madam. The water bottle sits nicely for an adult Syrian next to the food dish depending on which way round you place the lid. For babies I suspend a water bottle with a built-in hook on top from the wire roof.

My only gripe with the Gabber Rex is the access - one little door on top is not very good. I would prefer the whole wire section lid to hinge up like the Ferplast Dunas, but it slides out without too much difficulty. And I would maybe hold it in place with books rather than secure it under the provided clips, depending on the escape intent of your hamster.

souffle · 03-06-2006, 03:54 PM

We never clip the lid on and just lift the whole top off for access if need be. Mind you they usually stand and wait to be lifted out! I doubt they could push the lid off as it is fairly heavy. Ours too sleep under the green bit we call the corridor. We took the roof off the house as it is too small for an adult to sleep in (syrian) Nelson occasionally acrobats around the roof but can lower himself down and he is usually only does it when a whiffy lady is around!

**pophammy** · 03-07-2006, 12:37 PM

Babyboos, I thought that you could take the whole mesh bit off! If you unslot it I think it comes off!

**babyboos** · 03-07-2006, 01:21 PM

Yes sorry you can, I don't think I was very clear but unless you have one it is hard to describe. The top mesh is held on very securely by sliding it under retaining clips, these are not designed to be run past every day as the fit is nice and snug, so best thing is to not use the clips and hold lid down instead.

souffle · 03-08-2006, 07:25 AM

As promised here are some pics of the Gabbar rex water bottle set up

Holes for water bottle (we drilled the lower one in green bit)

Water bottle hanging

rolly jumbo wheel in situ

Hope these help. Bye the way you could probably save postage if you asked your local pet shop to order you one. Ours did & it cost 24.99. I also saw them on the shelf in our local garden centre at 27.99.

Emma · 03-09-2006, 06:46 AM

Thanks

that makes sense now.

I'm not sure now about switching Hazel..........she does so much climbing! Her nose doesn't look as bad now as it did the other day, and I haven't noticed her chewing quite as incessantly, maybe she's taught herself a lesson by making her nose sore.

I've bought her some new toys and she's definitely spent more time distracted by them and less time at the bars - will have to try and keep this up.

souffle · 03-09-2006, 08:04 AM

Well it would save the expense of a new cage

If you can sort of block the bars at the bit she chews she may stop so that wil be good. Glad her nose is improving.

**babyboos** · 03-09-2006, 10:19 AM

Maybe ask at your local petstore to see if they could order them for you for future reference - ideal enclosures for dwarf hamsters