Adopting a Syrian

[LunaTheHamster1]

That's awesome serendipity, congratulations
I love having a robo and a syrian. It's been a nice change to having 2 syrians.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Mine too. We need a new baby Syrian here. Not quite a baby - about 3 months old. Actually I am freaking a bit about a set up. All the things that fit the plaza (shelves etc) are in Pip's cage! Hard to get hold of wood shelves these days. I used to get them on ebay and amazon.de - both now defunct. I may use the green shelf the cage comes with for a change.

The green shelf is fine and you can get the Trixie corner shelves i use on package pets. There are a number of small businesses on etsy who supply wooden shelves, houses etc.

[Pebbles82]

Thanks Ria. Yes finding smaller shelves isn't a problem. My only issue with the green one is the holes round the edge. I've always thought they were risky - for getting a toe caught in eg - although not seen or heard of anyone complaining of this. I guess I could cover it with hemp mat.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Thanks Ria. Yes finding smaller shelves isn't a problem. My only issue with the green one is the holes round the edge. I've always thought they were risky - for getting a toe caught in eg - although not seen or heard of anyone complaining of this. I guess I could cover it with hemp mat.

I wedged folded up bits of paper strips in mine in the past when I used the green shelf. I too have never heard of anything bad happening to a hamster, but it does seem a likely thing to happen with that design.

[Ria P]

Package pets does the 33cmx 33cm Trixie corner shelf for £7.99 which is quite big. I always plastikote the top.

[Pebbles82]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

I wedged folded up bits of paper strips in mine in the past when I used the green shelf. I too have never heard of anything bad happening to a hamster, but it does seem a likely thing to happen with that design.

Exactly! And all the reviews of the cage would be initial set ups - we're not going to hear about hamster injuries from people who've bought the cage. Mind you no negative comments like that on Amazon about the shelf. But people often don't go back to update reviews.

The shelf is a rat shelf so has quite large holes. I can't see why a hamster would stand right on the edge of the shelf and jump - when there's a ramp or ladder - but it's possible.

Luna - I saw you stuff the paper in on your video . I do think it's risky and if hemp mat went over the edges of the shelf there would be nothing solid under the extended edges and the hamster could fall off! (Had that before but it wasn't far to fall). I guess I could glue the hemp mat on!

But no I really don't think those holes are safe - I'd worry about it. But maybe they're big enough that a hamsters leg would go right through and they could just pull it out again (need to go and check - I have the shelf in a cupboard downstairs - never used it).

But if they did decide to jump off the edge of the shelf and a foot went through as they jumped - then yes it would be a hamster hanging by a broken leg. Hmm

I'll think about it. I have two smaller shelves but no other big shelves.

Ria thank you I'll check those out. Ever since I had the Barney cage I like one long shelf at one end. Had one of the ranch house cages ones which we cut to fit - and that's in Pip's cage (they no longer sell the larger shelves).

Could probably make one actually - it's just a piece of pine cut to size - OH has a very small drill for making a hole for fittings so finding the right screws and fittings could be fiddly but - if I get chance I'll look at making one.

Or just do something different - plenty of other people have nice set ups without one long shelf. Maybe I could have a long thinner shelf along part of the back instead.

Finding shelves has always been a problem until someone on here found Ranch house cages - and since the pandemic they do very little in the way of shelves - just small ones. You can't even buy the bendy screw in bridges on their own - only with two smaller shelves.

I guess it just isn't that profitable for them these days.

[Ria P]

You could also use a big, free standing platform. I know Luna has one because i bought one after seeing Luna's. I get mine in The Range shop for a fiver.

[Pebbles82]

Yes that's an idea - which one do you have? Is it the Trixie one? Presumably the legs need to be set in well enough to clear the curve at the bottom of the cage base?

[Pebbles82]

I just looked back at my review of the Plaza a couple of years ago, to see what size the shelf needed cutting to! I had already measured it in Pip's cage, but not sure how accurate my measuring was with all the stuff in the cage. Anyway it was the same 18.75" wide to fit the inside bars (and 25cm deep). So all I need is a piece of pine cutting that size and some fixings (and OH drill to make small holes for the fixings). If I decide to do the same again - but maybe I should do something different this time. I just got so used to the long shelf in the Barney!

Savic Plaza dimensions and review

[Pebbles82]

As an update if anyone is looking for shelves. This place sells them in various sizes or to any size you specify. Their delivery times are a bit slow though. But I'm thinking it could be a lot cheaper to just get a piece of untreated pine cut at a diy place and buy some fixings!

Meadowland 20" x 10" KIln Dried Pine Shelf Ledge Chinchilla Degu Rat Guinea Pig | eBay