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Pebbles82 · 02-08-2019, 03:58 AM

I know it is very nerve-wracking especially if you're spending a lot of money. I think I agree with Mimi that for a Syrian it needs to be 50cm deep. I was looking at tanks for a similar reason - needed it to be mouseproof in case we got mice in the house again. But I couldn't get anything just right within budget so went for 7mm bar spacing and just being careful.

Anyway - the detolf is your cheapest option. Custom Aquaria - you need to phone that number on that page (they are not very computer literate! But don't say I said that please!)

Yes I probably didn't go with Junglepets because it was just a bit less deep than I wanted and costly for something not quite the right size. Another issue I considered is all glass aquariums are - just glass and can be broken. The detolf is made of toughened glass - much harder to break the glass. Although it's not that deep it has a great floorspace.

It put me off the idea of making lids as well. Not just the diy but the time when my life was very busy. Even the Eco Habitat needs some diy really because in my opinion the lid needs meshing for it to be secure and escape-proof.

The man at custom aquaria talks forever but is very helpful - although effectively what he was offering to make was just a slightly larger terrarium - like the exo terra but you could have it 100 or 120 and with a deeper base if wanted - and it still worked out cheaper than the exo terra. It's just an awful lot of money.

Personally I would go with the detolf and don't worry about the wheel. The wodent wheel from Rodipet would fit or the Trixie wheel. Then if you decide it isn'tworking or not right it can be sold - there are often second hand detolfs for sale - they only for about £15 or £20. To stand it on you have these options that most people use.

Two of these (with a slight gap in the middle between the two kallax units or the units pushed together and one end of the detolf butted up against a wall. It actually doesn't end up cheaper than a tank if you buy the Kallax units as well though.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-70307493/

Or two of these - cheaper option

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-80111339/

Or one of those 90cm lack tables and one of these, with a slight gap in the middle

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-60193736/

A four foot tank could sit on a chest of drawers with a bit of overhang - but I think that would be quite high up - nice to see from the front but difficult for the top access. I had the Kerry Terrarium on top of one of the smaller Kallax units and found that too high for top entrance easily - any higher and I've had needed a stool to stand on.

So there are the ergonomics and practicalities for the human as well as the hamster to consider too. I don't think I'd want a tank on anything taller than the kallax units.

I think when I was trying to decide all this I got so fed up I decided to get a fairly cheap good sized cage (the barney) rather than wait any longer or try and decide - and then upgrade again if necessary and sell it on. I didn't like the look of it particularly but the hamster really enjoyed it. And I found it to be a more than adequate size so didn't feel the need to upgrade.

Regarding the cats - I can see a tank seems more of a wall and safer although cats can still sit on top of a meshed lid and pester so the main thing would be to keep the cats away. And have the hamster in a room where the cats are kept out of.

But I think either Junglepets or Custom aquaria will make you a tank the size you want for less than £150 - I found Junglepets easier to deal with. Although the guy at Custom Aquaria is a perfectionist I think and gives lots of options!

02-08-2019, 03:58 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Is this vivarium ok? I know it is very nerve-wracking especially if you're spending a lot of money. I think I agree with Mimi that for a Syrian it needs to be 50cm deep. I was looking at tanks for a similar reason - needed it to be mouseproof in case we got mice in the house again. But I couldn't get anything just right within budget so went for 7mm bar spacing and just being careful. Anyway - the detolf is your cheapest option. Custom Aquaria - you need to phone that number on that page (they are not very computer literate! But don't say I said that please!) Yes I probably didn't go with Junglepets because it was just a bit less deep than I wanted and costly for something not quite the right size. Another issue I considered is all glass aquariums are - just glass and can be broken. The detolf is made of toughened glass - much harder to break the glass. Although it's not that deep it has a great floorspace. It put me off the idea of making lids as well. Not just the diy but the time when my life was very busy. Even the Eco Habitat needs some diy really because in my opinion the lid needs meshing for it to be secure and escape-proof. The man at custom aquaria talks forever but is very helpful - although effectively what he was offering to make was just a slightly larger terrarium - like the exo terra but you could have it 100 or 120 and with a deeper base if wanted - and it still worked out cheaper than the exo terra. It's just an awful lot of money. Personally I would go with the detolf and don't worry about the wheel. The wodent wheel from Rodipet would fit or the Trixie wheel. Then if you decide it isn'tworking or not right it can be sold - there are often second hand detolfs for sale - they only for about £15 or £20. To stand it on you have these options that most people use. Two of these (with a slight gap in the middle between the two kallax units or the units pushed together and one end of the detolf butted up against a wall. It actually doesn't end up cheaper than a tank if you buy the Kallax units as well though. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-70307493/ Or two of these - cheaper option https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-80111339/ Or one of those 90cm lack tables and one of these, with a slight gap in the middle https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/...-art-60193736/ A four foot tank could sit on a chest of drawers with a bit of overhang - but I think that would be quite high up - nice to see from the front but difficult for the top access. I had the Kerry Terrarium on top of one of the smaller Kallax units and found that too high for top entrance easily - any higher and I've had needed a stool to stand on. So there are the ergonomics and practicalities for the human as well as the hamster to consider too. I don't think I'd want a tank on anything taller than the kallax units. I think when I was trying to decide all this I got so fed up I decided to get a fairly cheap good sized cage (the barney) rather than wait any longer or try and decide - and then upgrade again if necessary and sell it on. I didn't like the look of it particularly but the hamster really enjoyed it. And I found it to be a more than adequate size so didn't feel the need to upgrade. Regarding the cats - I can see a tank seems more of a wall and safer although cats can still sit on top of a meshed lid and pester so the main thing would be to keep the cats away. And have the hamster in a room where the cats are kept out of. But I think either Junglepets or Custom aquaria will make you a tank the size you want for less than £150 - I found Junglepets easier to deal with. Although the guy at Custom Aquaria is a perfectionist I think and gives lots of options!