VivExotic Repti-Stax 34" vivarium as a hamster cage - Review - Page 2

**ianpallen** · 08-28-2014, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LittlePuds

Ive ordered a 14kg bag of siccofloor hemp from zooplus, i were ordering my wheel from there and thought i might as well get bedding and a couple of other bits for free delivery. I were going to go with megazorb as i like the look but put off a bit by all the reviews of it being dusty.

My megazorb was a bit dusty putting it in the cage, but when I put it in the guinea pig cages, it was not dusty. I wonder if it was just in the top layer. I have cleaned and moved it around but not seen any dust in the cage.
I might try the siccofloor next time though.

2LittlePuds · 08-28-2014, 07:03 AM

I had a good read of reviews before deciding on siccofloor, quite a few seemed to think megazorb was dusty throughout, as well as some mentioning a foul smell so i thought id go with siccofloor, couldnt really find a bad review on it. My little sister helps out at some stables though so im going to see if she can get hold of a little bit of megazorb as well as aubiose for me to have a see for myself what each is like

**ianpallen** · 08-28-2014, 07:35 AM

That would be best to get a sample of eaach if possible. The best way of deciding.

RedSky · 08-28-2014, 08:24 AM

I love the cage. A great idea. I am building a cage at the moment, as I wanted a vivarium style but with extra depth for digging as my dwarf hamsters more or less live underground all the time.
As for bedding, I found megazorb had a horrible smell and was dusty. Maybe I just had a bad batch, but I wasn't buying any more. I have since used Fitch, I ordered a bag online with delivery it was £17.50, but for the size of the bag not a bad do. I then found out the company is about an hour away and I needed to go over that way anyway so I picked up about 8 bags (as many as I could get in the car) for about £8 each. Seeing that you are in Lancashire, maybe it isn't too far? Or if you are closer to me I could sell you one of mine.

Fitch Recycling - Fitch Pet Bedding - Animal Bedding

2LittlePuds · 08-28-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSky

I love the cage. A great idea. I am building a cage at the moment, as I wanted a vivarium style but with extra depth for digging as my dwarf hamsters more or less live underground all the time.
As for bedding, I found megazorb had a horrible smell and was dusty. Maybe I just had a bad batch, but I wasn't buying any more. I have since used Fitch, I ordered a bag online with delivery it was £17.50, but for the size of the bag not a bad do. I then found out the company is about an hour away and I needed to go over that way anyway so I picked up about 8 bags (as many as I could get in the car) for about £8 each. Seeing that you are in Lancashire, maybe it isn't too far? Or if you are closer to me I could sell you one of mine.

Fitch Recycling - Fitch Pet Bedding - Animal Bedding

Hi, thankyou for the offer

someone else did mention fitch on another thread and it is quite close, its manchester way and i pass regularly but i like the more 'natural' look of hemp bedding and megazorb which is why ive decided to give siccofloor a try. Fitch does seem like really good value for money though so if i decide to change from siccofloor for any reason then fitch will definately be worth considering.

2LittlePuds · 08-28-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LittlePuds

Hi, thankyou for the offer

someone else did mention fitch on another thread and it is quite close, its manchester way and i pass regularly but i like the more 'natural' look of hemp bedding and megazorb which is why ive decided to give siccofloor a try. Fitch does seem like really good value for money though so if i decide to change from siccofloor for any reason then fitch will definately be worth considering.

Ha, just re-read that, I missed the part where you bought 8 bags!! Thats one heck of a lot of bedding! Lol

RedSky · 08-28-2014, 09:06 AM

Yeah, with 4 hamsters and a gerbil, with all but one in decent size cages, and all enjoying lots of depth we get through it pretty quickly. But once I was there I thought I might as well stock up since we have the room to store it and I wasn't sure if I was going back that way.

I too prefer the natural look. But at £8 a bag, and great quality, easy for them to dig through (unlike megazorb) and no smell I couldn't say no.

Imay · 08-28-2014, 10:48 AM

Wow I came on here to look for people using vivariums as hamster cages and this is the exact same vivarium I was looking at. And you bought the exact same wheel I have too! Looking forward to seeing this totally set up.

Definitely getting this for my hamster when I can afford it, it looks lovely! He currently has a tub cage but I don't like how it looks and I'm tired of the childish look of most commercial cages.

Do you think it would work to stack two on top of each other? I'm thinking of getting a chinese hamster alongside my Syrian.

**ianpallen** · 08-28-2014, 02:04 PM

Vivs are idal for stacking on top of each other. If you put vents in the roof, you will need to put spacer bars (1" x 1" wood) inbetween them for air flow.

2LittlePuds · 08-28-2014, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imay

Wow I came on here to look for people using vivariums as hamster cages and this is the exact same vivarium I was looking at. And you bought the exact same wheel I have too! Looking forward to seeing this totally set up.

Definitely getting this for my hamster when I can afford it, it looks lovely! He currently has a tub cage but I don't like how it looks and I'm tired of the childish look of most commercial cages.

Do you think it would work to stack two on top of each other? I'm thinking of getting a chinese hamster alongside my Syrian.

Yes, would work fine for stacking

although as ian said if you put extra ventilation in the roof you will have to add spacers so air can still circulate. Or alternatively you could add ventilation to the side panels/back and keep the top solid. On the swellreptiles site it shows theyre designed for stacking

i think the viv is brill and im very happy with my choice

the alaska on the other hand was sat empty on my unit for a couple of weeks and something just kept telling me it werent 'right'. I knew i would want to change it in the near future so thought i may as well send it back and get it right from the start