perfecto or custom aquaria?

fluffychick · 06-08-2011, 03:40 AM

Teddyhas been in the gabber rex for 2 nights and is now very interested in having a little chew at the plastic base. he never chewed in the mini duna, given that he has now got lots more space and more toys you would think he would be too distracted. but the move seems to have set off a different behaviour.

I am anticipating a chewfest one night and finding him gone and a large hole...

so I am now thinking of getting a glass tank, both perfecto and aquaria tanks are on ebay.

Does anyone have any opinions on which is better? what are the chances of chewing out of the lid if they can reach it from the shelves?

edited to add there is a critters choice available too.

I never thought that getting a hamster cage would be such a pain.

**Silver** · 06-08-2011, 04:14 AM

Hi,

Ive got a two shelf perfecto & a Custom made Custom aquaria tank but have not had a critters choice one.

So the good points of the Perfecto. Brilliant tank, fun watching your hammy climb the shelfs. The lid is metal more solid than mesh. Even on the highest shelf in the two shelf perfecto my Jan Whinter White can not reach the lid as much as she tries. Of course don't put anything high on the top shelf then they won't reach the lid.

So the bad points of a Perfecto. Hard to clean out because of the shelfs. You have to scoop as much of the shavings as you can reach, then tip the tank on its front edge & tap it gently so the shavings that are at the back of the tank fall to the front of the tank so you can pick them up. Then try & jam a hoover under the shelfs to pic the last few stubbon bits up. Then pet spray & jam your arm under the shelfs to wipe the corners out.

So the good points of the custom aquaria tank. You can have it made to your exact requirements. I had mine made 27inc long x 12inc wide x 12 inch high. I didn't have any shelfs as I just wanted a plain tank style. But you can have as many shelfs built into it as you want. The BEST thing about these tanks is that the shelfs come out, so no jamming things under the shelfs just take them out & simple scoop up the shavings & pet spray. The lid is verry robust & even locks so even the most agile escape artists can not get out. Joe who is in my Custom Aquaria tank shins up the side of his water bottle & monkey bars across the whole mesh lid & he is a strong boy & its done no damage to it at all.

So the bad points of the Custom Aquaria tanks. The avalibility of them. They are made in Northamptonshire buy one man & two part timers so he is usually rushed off his feet. He does have a friend who delivers the tanks to your door obviously for a price. In some of his tanks ive seen second hand on Ebay the shelfs are quiet steep even though there are ladders so that is something to think about, if they were to steep you can take them out but of course that means the tank is a smaller size.

Hope that helps xxx

fluffychick · 06-08-2011, 06:44 AM

thank you silver, that is a great help.

I like the idea of removable shelves for easire cleaning and I guess then I could even leave the shelves out altogether if I decided to set the cage up differently.

there is an Aquaria tank up on ebay in Nottingham which is close enough to me to pick up, I think it was you that posted that on the bargain cages that made me look at these actually.

Fingers crossed I get it. this has to be the last cage, I can't keep buying!

**Silver** · 06-08-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffychick

thank you silver, that is a great help.

I like the idea of removable shelves for easire cleaning and I guess then I could even leave the shelves out altogether if I decided to set the cage up differently.

there is an Aquaria tank up on ebay in Nottingham which is close enough to me to pick up, I think it was you that posted that on the bargain cages that made me look at these actually.

Fingers crossed I get it. this has to be the last cage, I can't keep buying!

I have my fingers crossed for you, let us know if you win it xxx

SnickersTheFirst · 06-08-2011, 07:48 AM

I had one of the the biggest perfecto tanks for 2 gerbils at one point and it wasn't that big if I'm honest. It was hard to clean too and stuff always got stuck in the corners of the shelves.

The aquaria ones come in much better sizes and I think they look better too.

Lily · 06-08-2011, 08:29 AM

I have a three shelved perfecto tank for my two robos.

Plus things are it is great looking and you can see them well.

The only thing that is difficult is scooping out the woodshavings. I clean the whole tank in the bath when it is clear, spray it first then rince and dry

The perfecto has a vent in the side too

Gizmodo ^_^ · 06-08-2011, 09:24 AM

I think Aquarias look great, Perfecto's seem a nightmare too clean and they aren't that big tbh

fluffymunchkins · 06-08-2011, 10:33 AM

I have to agree that perfectos/critters choice tanks aren't fun to clean. I moved Treo out of his and into the gabber.
But the hamsters do enjoy the levels and its good for chewers. But I'd look for a custom aquaria if you can

Lily · 06-08-2011, 12:00 PM

Here is a pic of my set up just to give you an idea of how many things ou can fit in it

It is a pain to clean, but if you dn't mind that... it is spacey for dwarf hamsters and they love to climb the different levels

Alex G · 06-08-2011, 03:51 PM

what a nice cage.