Omg I got the call he's almost ready

[crystalsangel]

Originally Posted by cloudy

I have a tank style cage and it has plenty of ventilation. I love my cage.

I like being able to see them without bars in the way 😁
I would have loved another ikea komplement cage but I needed it to be easily movable

[Pebbles82]

It's true - even people with tank style cages long for a front opening door (hence terrariums are popular but expensive). It's really good for interaction with the hamster and makes taming and out of cage time easier. Some hamsters really don't like a hand coming from the top.

[AmityvilleHams]

Originally Posted by crystalsangel

In the groups I'm in tank styles are more favoured over barred
It's each to there own and a hamster can live a happy and full life in either

Different groups will always have different opinions. I personally used to be a huge fan of tank style cages myself, but knowing what I've learned now I really wouldn't consider them optimal by any means.

Ultimately the significant difference in ventilation along with issues I've already mentioned can definitely make tank style cages less than ideal in the long run. I really wouldn't recommend them other than extreme bar chewer type scenarios, elderly or injured hamsters where bar climbing can't be managed even with setup changes, etc.

I would still encourage you to keep the front panel barred though regardless of how much you seem set on a tank style cage. You can still provide really good substrate depth that way especially with a partial perspex panel that doesn't get in the way of the door or go all the way up, as well as create even deeper sections of substrate away from the bars.

Water bottles for example would be very difficult to attach in a tank style cage. Even if you choose to use a water bowl it's very important to have a backup just in case, since not all hamsters immediately know how to use them plus they can very easily get tipped over, dirty, etc.

[crystalsangel]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Different groups will always have different opinions. I personally used to be a huge fan of tank style cages myself, but knowing what I've learned now I really wouldn't consider them optimal by any means.

Ultimately the significant difference in ventilation along with issues I've already mentioned can definitely make tank style cages less than ideal in the long run. I really wouldn't recommend them other than extreme bar chewer type scenarios, elderly or injured hamsters where bar climbing can't be managed even with setup changes, etc.

I would still encourage you to keep the front panel barred though regardless of how much you seem set on a tank style cage. You can still provide really good substrate depth that way especially with a partial perspex panel that doesn't get in the way of the door or go all the way up, as well as create even deeper sections of substrate away from the bars.

Water bottles for example would be very difficult to attach in a tank style cage. Even if you choose to use a water bowl it's very important to have a backup just in case, since not all hamsters immediately know how to use them plus they can very easily get tipped over, dirty, etc.

I have a tank style already which has a water bottle and a water bowl

[crystalsangel]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

It's true - even people with tank style cages long for a front opening door (hence terrariums are popular but expensive). It's really good for interaction with the hamster and makes taming and out of cage time easier. Some hamsters really don't like a hand coming from the top.

Il probably leave the front on for now I do worry about bar bitting as my ones I had before did that and it would keep me up all night so I'm paranoid about that
Granted that was 20+yrs ago and they all had terrible cages with sawdust and fluffy bedding 😢😱
Im an over thinker and have a tendency of focusing on things even tho it's not happed yet I mean I don't even have him yet and in convinced he'll monkey bar and bar chew

[Ria P]

Tank style cages and Ikea conversions are very popular and it does come down to personal choice and preference.

What i meant to say was that there is a perspex front panel with a perspex door available but you may already be aware of that.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by crystalsangel

I like being able to see them without bars in the way 😁
I would have loved another ikea komplement cage but I needed it to be easily movable

I agree with you. I have never liked bars.

[crystalsangel]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Tank style cages and Ikea conversions are very popular and it does come down to personal choice and preference.

What i meant to say was that there is a perspex front panel with a perspex door available but you may already be aware of that.

Yes I saw that but didn't want to pay an extra 45 just for that and I don't like the look of it
Tbh I don't like the front opening as I find It to small
Its so much easier to sort my other cage out

[AmityvilleHams]

Originally Posted by crystalsangel

Il probably leave the front on for now I do worry about bar bitting as my ones I had before did that and it would keep me up all night so I'm paranoid about that
Granted that was 20+yrs ago and they all had terrible cages with sawdust and fluffy bedding 😢😱
Im an over thinker and have a tendency of focusing on things even tho it's not happed yet I mean I don't even have him yet and in convinced he'll monkey bar and bar chew

Luckily, male Syrians tend to be easier to please than females in terms of cage size. While every hamster is different male Syrians do at least seem a lot less likely than females to start bar chewing when in cages around the 80 cm x 50 cm to 100 cm x 50 cm range.

There are reasons outside of just cage size for bar chewing though, but those tend to be decently manageable or things you can correct. If it does happen the forum will be able to help with some ideas on managing it or any potential causes that you could correct!

As for monkey barring that's a completely reasonable concern. It can happen in tank style cages too, even if you set things up to avoid it. They can end up getting their wheels stuck and climbing on them, piling up substrate, climbing water bottles, or any number of bizarre things you wouldn't expect if they're determined enough to do it. With a safely set up cage with nothing to fall on that would injure them, it isn't as big of a problem.

[crystalsangel]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Luckily, male Syrians tend to be easier to please than females in terms of cage size. While every hamster is different male Syrians do at least seem a lot less likely than females to start bar chewing when in cages around the 80 cm x 50 cm to 100 cm x 50 cm range.

There are reasons outside of just cage size for bar chewing though, but those tend to be decently manageable or things you can correct. If it does happen the forum will be able to help with some ideas on managing it or any potential causes that you could correct!

As for monkey barring that's a completely reasonable concern. It can happen in tank style cages too, even if you set things up to avoid it. They can end up getting their wheels stuck and climbing on them, piling up substrate, climbing water bottles, or any number of bizarre things you wouldn't expect if they're determined enough to do it. With a safely set up cage with nothing to fall on that would injure them, it isn't as big of a problem.

Thank you 😁 both cages are a gd size I'd like to have gone bigger but it's still above minimum
Plazas I think 700sq inch and the komplement is 898sq inch