Hello from a slug

Slug · 07-01-2019, 03:52 PM

Hi there, I'm Slug and I don't currently own a hamster.
That's hopefully going to change in the future, if I can ever get my head around all the different cage options here in the UK and which, if any, are appropriate for a syrian

I have no DIY skills what so ever but I'm in absolute awe of the DIY cages around here. I'm also in awe of how much space some of you have for these cages, eek!

I have a young lurcher names Clem who I love to pieces, even if he is too smart for his own good, and I'm a bit of a d&d fan.

Mostly I'm just very grateful that a place like this exists. If only manufacturers could catch on too eh?

LunaTheHamster1 · 07-02-2019, 11:53 AM

Hi Slug, welcome. Yes, would be great if manufacturers and pet stores caught on a bit quicker! No excuse really, they would still make profits.
I hope you work out which cage is best for you. I would love to make a DIY cage but I am too ill at the moment so made do with shop bought. I am sure you know in the UK there is the alaska cage - personally that is the absolute smallest size I would get for a syrian. I started off with that and moved up to the Savic Plaza. (bought in the sale - otherwise quite expensive) The Barney and Alexander are great cages too. I guess the reason why I like the alaska and savic plaza so much out of the 4 of them is they both have big front doors, but I guess it depends on what you are looking for in a cage. I hope you get a cage and your syrian soon, do keep us posted on what you end up getting.

Slug · 07-02-2019, 03:14 PM

Hey, thank you for the welcome!
So far I'm leaning towards the Barney cage due to both the size and the price, though I agree the tiny front doors are likely to be a pain. I'm currently drooling a little over the Borneo XL, I'm just a little wary as it looks like I'd have to buy it through a third party seller on amazon.

Ria P · 07-02-2019, 03:45 PM

Hi and welcome!
I had a cage with small doors and sold it. I now have a cage with a large door and much prefer it because it is so much more practical.

Pebbles82 · 07-02-2019, 05:44 PM

I have the Barney cage

I thought the doors would bother me but they don't - it all works well. In fact our hamster likes coming to one of the small doors when he wants to come out - I have a ramp next to it. I use the large top door a lot for doing things in the cage and sometimes one hand in the top and one through the side.

I think it's a great cage for a Syrian due to the amount of floorspace. It's 54cm so almost 2 inches deeper than the other 100cm cages and surprisingly this does make a much bigger floor area and more useable floorspace. It also makes the cage bulky and large!

But you can't really go wrong with the Alexander, Barney or Savic Plaza - all have their pros and cons and all 100cm cages.

Personally I wouldn't get the Borneo due to the height. It is really tall - it would need very careful setting up with quite a few shelves to almost make a full level, to be safe from fall risks. Unless it's the 120cm borneo you're thinking about! Then it would be worth sorting the height issue to have the size as it's about the only 120cm cage.

LunaTheHamster1 · 07-02-2019, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slug

Hey, thank you for the welcome!
So far I'm leaning towards the Barney cage due to both the size and the price, though I agree the tiny front doors are likely to be a pain. I'm currently drooling a little over the Borneo XL, I'm just a little wary as it looks like I'd have to buy it through a third party seller on amazon.

I can't remember why I ruled the Borneo out when I was looking - maybe it was the price or like serendipity said the extra height being a worry.

I nearly bought the Barney, but backed out at the last minute due to the small front door. I guess you have to work out what your priorities are in a cage.

There was a 10% code kicking around on the internet for the savic plaza at petsathome at the moment if that helps.

Pebbles82 · 07-03-2019, 04:20 AM

If I didn't have the Barney I would get the Savic Plaza

It is a little on the tall side also (it's actually about the same height as the Alexander cage) but if set up with plenty of substrate and hard items on or under a shelf it should be fine!

A big front door does make a difference, especially with interacting and being able to use the roof to attach things where you want them.

I would definitely choose the Savic Plaza over the borneo for a Syrian - I think the depth is the same on both but the Borneo is taller.

Slug · 07-03-2019, 04:39 AM

The one I've been looking at is 119 x 59 x 57cm with a base depth of 18cm.
I do kind of like the idea of having lots of ledges and bridges and stuff, though if I did go with the borneo I'd absolutely take pictures of the setup and post here for input before getting a hamster (I'll likely do that regardless of what cage I end up going for) just to be on the safe side.

I didn't realise pets at home now stocked the savic plaza though, that's definitely given me some food for thought!
I may have to make some old fashioned pros and cons lists in order to make a decision.

Thank you so much for the help!

Pebbles82 · 07-03-2019, 04:47 AM

You're welcome. Yes the 120cm Borneo is huge. But it is very tall - it really needs either a full level (via one full level or a number of overlapping shelves), or another alternative is put cardboard or perspex round the inside of the bars above the top of the base for 3 to 34 " and have a much deeper base full of substrate (that effectively reduces the height 3 to 4 inches).

Height is a big issue for avoiding injuries. Hamsters get up to all sorts at night and can monkey bar across the roof and drop, so they need to be able to not drop too far, or not to land on anythng hard, other than soft substrate. Even bouncing off the edge of a shelf on the way down can cause injury.

If you're happy wiht a 100cm cage I would go with the Savic Plaza

But a 120cm cage would be great too. If adapted as above.

alpacassei · 07-03-2019, 08:27 AM

I have the Alexander which I love but the small front doors can definitely be a pain with spot cleaning, especially since I usually have one of my smaller cages stacked on top covering the top door. I think next time I buy a 100cm cage I’d definitely go with the Savic Plaza.

Another 100cm option if you dont mind trading a front door for a full top door is the Ferplast Criceti 100. It had the same plastic/wire hybrid construction as the Plaza but instead of a square front door, the whole top is the lid. I have several cages with full top doors and they definitely make spot cleaning a lot easier although you cant stack them as easily

Theres also the Eco Habitat but honestly an Ikea hack such as the Linnmon would be more affordable and sturdier