Mini Duna by Ferplast ~ Review - Page 3

Pomegranate · 07-23-2011, 01:12 AM

Here's Pie's current Mini Duna setup.

He has: 8" Jnr Wodent wheel, coconut house, log bridge, willow teepee, ceramic sandbath, ceramic food bowl, chocolate orange box, and toilet roll inner. Then under the platform he has a large glass jar (which is his toilet), his open nest, and a grass nest.

I really like this as a spare 'keep in the shed just in case' kind of cage. The tank style and bar spacing on the top make it suitable for even the tiniest of hamsters, and it's handy for a transport cage, hospital cage, or a temporary play area while you're cleaning a hammy's main cage. It wouldn't be my first choice for a permanent home, I'm on the look out for a local second-hand ZZ1 or Duna Multy (70x40cm cages) for Pie which as well as having more space, would also have that bit more height allowing more room for substrate and digging possibilities. That said, the Mini Duna platform is much more useful than other cage platforms, being quite stable and a good size. (If they made a built-in platform for the Duna Multy in the same style that would be perfect.) With that in mind, it is a comfortable home for a single dwarf.

I wouldn't recommend it for Syrians or groups of dwarves.
I'd give it 3/5.

Pros: Good minimum size with space for a number of toys, platform is large enough to be properly useful space, good access through the large top door for taming and spot-cleaning, very easy to clean, comes in several colours, quite cheap (normally around £20-30), easily available in the UK, just fits an 8" wheel if you're mean with the substrate, the platform and the wheel attachment are completely removable.
Cons: The water bottle holder with suction cups isn't secure and leaves ugly marks on the cage (Pie's water bottle is held on with velcro instead). Compared to Zoozones, the plastic itself is quite flimsy, and easily cracked. The hinge of the door weakens over time and the grill sometimes 'pops' out of the hinge when fully open. The wheel the cage comes with is too small even for dwarves; I'd recommend binning it. The house that also comes with the cage makes a good hidey hole for dwarves (my other dwarf has it as his toilet, it's very easy to clean), but the ventilation is poor and I wouldn't recommend it being used for actual nesting, especially in the summer.

Jennithefluffy1 · 07-31-2011, 06:52 AM

I got my pair of RC hammies 2 days ago from P@H and also got this cage as a holiday home for when I'm home from uni. Main problems I've found already being that the wheel is pretty small, and when they use it the entire platform rattles (not great when the cage is in your bedroom...) I managed to solve this by putting the supplied house underneath the platform though. Just until my silent spinner arrives =]
Another thing, the supplied water bottle works for about 5 mins when you put it in, and then stops working. Even when I push against it with my finger. Luckily I noticed after only a few hours when hammies started chewing at the spout and replaced with a standard red-topped one, but I think it's because there's two balls in it to prevent leaking and makes it more prone to blocking.
I'd also say there's not a whole lot of space, but should be fine as a holiday home/spare cage in case of fighting.
On the upside, the platform is good, and see-through so that you can check on hammies underneath. They've replaced the water bottle holder so it no longer leaves marks. And the opening hatch is nice and big so no squeezing your hands through.
It's also pretty nice to clean since you can take it all apart =]

CoolcatNatNat44 · 07-31-2011, 10:00 AM

I like your set up Pomegrante

Gizmo_Gonzalez · 07-31-2011, 11:56 AM

My hamies seemed to enjoy their Feraplast when they moved into it together at 1st as it was twice the size of the one they were in at the pet shop which they shared with 4 other dwarfs! I change toy's in the cage and put new things in or burry mealworms and treats around in and under shavings to keep them entertained, however after 4months it's now too small as they are use to their play pen every night and the run of the house in a ball. I've had to get another home so they have a cage each to stop the fighting. it's a nice cage for a beginner like myself or for one elderly dwarf but really the bigger floor space the better.

I must say though mine seem to enjoy running up the ladder and jumping off the 1st floor onto the ground floor. Gonzalez is a little daredevil and enjoys jumping off things. (Scary to watch the 1st time i saw it!)

Pomegranate · 07-31-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolcatNatNat44

I like your set up Pomegrante

Thanks!

Pie seems to as well, but I'll feel better when he's got more room.

**Hamtastic** · 07-31-2011, 11:08 PM

Pie's cage looks very cozy, Pomegranate. I'd live in it

I like all the sunny colors, and the chocolate orange box fits.

Nagrom · 08-01-2011, 12:33 AM

I really like the mini Duna as a single dwarf housing option.Sadly they are very rare in SA so getting them is quite a task,Iv even got ahold of Ferplast Head office and there's only one place in SA that sells them and they cost the equivelent of €70 so that's rather steep.So I have been useing tanks as housing,but do plan to buy one someday.I do tend to agree with racingHamster with 70x40 cages being much better,I would always try give atleast that as a min to any hamster.But saying that some hamsters do better with less space,My one dwarf loves space and each time I upgrade him he just loves it,Then his brother hates space I had to move him back into a smaller cage because he completely change when he went into the larger space.So I rate it's up to the owner to fine which suits each hamster best,But I do believe larger cages must always atleast be tried.

Gizmo_Gonzalez · 08-01-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nagrom

I really like the mini Duna as a single dwarf housing option.Sadly they are very rare in SA so getting them is quite a task,Iv even got ahold of Ferplast Head office and there's only one place in SA that sells them and they cost the equivelent of €70 so that's rather steep.So I have been useing tanks as housing,but do plan to buy one someday.I do tend to agree with racingHamster with 70x40 cages being much better,I would always try give atleast that as a min to any hamster.But saying that some hamsters do better with less space,My one dwarf loves space and each time I upgrade him he just loves it,Then his brother hates space I had to move him back into a smaller cage because he completely change when he went into the larger space.So I rate it's up to the owner to fine which suits each hamster best,But I do believe larger cages must always atleast be tried.

It's a shame you can't get hold of a mini duna. Mine has just upgraded to that from another feraplast and he loves it. They're in every pet shop around me. Have you considered making a bin cage?

Sassy · 02-17-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwarfNome

Just thought I might update on my cage situation. Since writing this review I've attached a bin to the Mini Duna, and just having measured it, I'm surprised at the measurements. Not counting the tube, the cage is actually 1m in length! So Arrow does in fact have a ZooZone 2 sized cage now

The bin, for toy ideas:

Hi i know this is an old thred but i have a mina duna cage for my syirian but i want to extend it how did you get the hole in the side was it easy? thanks

**kyrilliondaemon** · 02-17-2012, 12:41 PM

Sassy - One (expensive) option is to get the extension kit, turn it into a duna fun and use the tubes from that. Sadly that option is expensive, since the kits cost about £20 alone and are only avaliable from one place where you have to email and ask and then order by phone. (I actually think they took the parts from duna fun cages and are selling the remains as mini-duna cages lol)
I think the general idea is just to cut it, but I'm not brave enough to try it.