Barred cage or not?!

[Hanlou]

Hi. As most of you know, I have recently become a hamster mum to Herbert, a Syrian hamster.

Please bear with me whilst I explain my dilemma!

I'd like to give him the biggest home I can, so am looking into cage options for him. He's currently in a Savic Rody Cavia (with Ferplast Duna Fun extension).

I'd like something longer to give him more running space, and it has been suggested to me that I try something like a Ferplast Mary / Savic Ruffy 2. I like barred cages, I suppose all my animals have had them and I love the versatility of them - being able to add shelves, leap n' ledges, toys etc easily. I love the sociablity aspect of them too, being able to communicate through the bars.

But before I shell out on anything (may not be able to for a little bit yet anyway) I'm starting to wonder if this would really suit Herbert!

I've been looking closely at his Ferplast Duna cage, and it's got definite signs of bar gnawing, in fact, whilst he was in it here for about 10 minutes before we moved him into the Cavia he was in a corner gnawing the bars. Though he hasn't touched them since the addition of his new main living space - the Cavia - I'm now starting to wonder if getting him a large barred cage would really make any sense.

I mean, is it likely that even in a large cage, with plenty of things to do and the addition of Ferplast Corner shelves to provide cover and security he would still gnaw the bars? I'm now wondering if I'd be better off buying a Zoozone, or a Rody Rabbit instead for him.

I popped him into a Savic Cambridge (which I have in preparation for some spiny mice I will soon be having) whilst I was redoing his cage set-up and he didn't like it at all! He gnawed the bars, chucked the shelves about etc. I actually ended up popping him into a small animal carrier (enclosed) instead which he was happy in.

A zoozone would really be a little bit big for the space we have too, though we should be able to fit it in, just!

So now I'm wondering what to do!

Any advice welcomed!

[Nicolapompicola]

I think you should lend a barred cage off some one to see if he likes it or not!

That way, you don't have to shell out for a new cage just to see if he hates it. I personally like barred cages better then enclosed ones, because of the social aspects of it, and because of the better ventilation in them.

[souffle]

Check out all the cage reviews and see what you think. We have found that once a bar chewer always a bar chewer. They just like doing it. Even the Gabber rex they can chew the roof bars but we have always managed to stop this with the weighted tiles. I have a theory that it depends on the way the bars run if they chew of not but I dont know. They certainly cause more nose damage on the bars running vertically. If he chews the duna fun bars then he is a bit risky for a barred cage I would say and I think a zoozone would be good. You could consider the hamster heaven which does have some bars but apparantly they are in quite a hard position for chewing though I don't have one myself. He seems to have quite a good set up at the moment so he may just like to stay there especially as cage moves can be quite stressful for hammies.

[babyboos]

If he didn't like the Savic Cambridge I would be dubious about buying another barred cage especially as you can't take them back You may find yourself buying a Gabber (Montana) Rex at some point in the future. I use these for bar biters along with Ferplast and Savics for my Syrians

[Spuds Mum]

I would think, if he is chewing the bars of the Duna fun, which are closer together than normal barred cages then chances are that he will go mad for chewing the bars in a normal 'bar-spaced' cage. I popped one of my bar chewers in the Duna fun and it actually stopped him bar chewing as he couldnt really get his nose through to have a satisfying nibble on them! so my opinion is that once you put Herbert into a cage where he could easily push his nose through there would be no stopping him.

I know you want to change his set up, but from the pictures in your other thread he does seem to have a good and interesting home at the moment - maybe you could wait a little and just see how you feel in a few weeks? I've just made so many expensive mistakes cage wise which have been more about me assuming I knew what my hams wanted than what was actually a good living space for them!

[Hanlou]

Thanks for the comments and input, much appreciated.

The more I think about it, the more I feel a Zoozone 2 would the best thing for him. I know his current set up is ok, and even if I get a Zoozone I plan to attach the Duna in the same way so he still has the two-tiered style of living which he seems to love.

I just feel that there isn't enough scope in the Cavia for toys etc or the flexibility to make it different and interesting for him from time-to-time. Plus, seeing how he runs when he's out, I'd like him to have more room to have a good stretch of the legs if he wants to.

I think that with the Zoozone being so similar (just longer really) to the Cavia that it needn't be too stressful for him to change to this, I could keep his original toys in the same place to start with so that the change-over is as gradual as possible and put some of his 'used' bedding in it too. I won't be able to afford the Zoozone for a little bit anyway so he won't have to cope with too many changes too soon.

Much as I'd like a barred cage, I do agree with the comments that it is very likely he will gnaw the bars. I don't want to spend money on a cage he won't like! The Zoozone therefore seems the best option for him. Just got to save up a bit now! :P

[babyboos]

the zoozones look nice and spacious in terms of overall bottom space I just wish they made them a bit more hamster friendly with a more suitable wheel attachment point, and no hay holder, but the manufacturer obviously doesn't realise it isn't just guinea pig and rabbit owners who use them! Or maybe we just have a limited selection at my local petstore?

[Hanlou]

Originally Posted by babyboos

the zoozones look nice and spacious in terms of overall bottom space I just wish they made them a bit more hamster friendly with a more suitable wheel attachment point, and no hay holder, but the manufacturer obviously doesn't realise it isn't just guinea pig and rabbit owners who use them! Or maybe we just have a limited selection at my local petstore?

I know, there are Rody Rabbits, and Ferplast Duna Maxis and they're all more or less the same. Manufacturers simply don't seem to realise the demand for larger cages.

Though am used to adapting cages so am sure we would be able to do plenty with the space for Herbert. We will have to mesh the roof as well, as the bars are wider. I often dream of my ideal pet cages..... my family laugh at what they describe as a 'cage obsession'.

[Bailey-Benji]

I always seem to be buying cages. I'll have 6 (tomorrow) for 3 hamsters (2 x gabber rexes, a Zoo Zone, unused ferplast laura, unused imac fantasy and unused rody) :O


I'm interested - how did you attach your Rody Cavia to the Ferplast Duna Fun?

[Hanlou]

This is how I did it, I used a spare shelf I had from a Critter cage and wired on to one end of the cage using garden wire.
Then at the other end I wired on a piece of a mesh panel using little pieces of garden wire and the small holes in the top of the Rody. The mesh panel is fairly fine so it's easy to cut and is quite pliable so it's easy to bend around the tube.

This leaves a gap in the Rody roof, which is covered by the Duna itself, but I have another spare bit of cage that covers the gap as well for extra security. It means though that I can lift off the Duna and have easy access to Herbert through the gap.

Then I positioned tubes going through the mesh (I cut a small hole in the mesh) so that they went down at a reasonable angle into the Rody. I also have a grey basket thing (from Wilkinsons) that Herbert sleeps in underneath the tubes - this gives the tubes support and makes it easy for Herbert to get in and out of them.

This is the full set up, but if anyone wanted close-up pics of the bits of mesh wired on and the gap etc, I'd be very happy to do this. Or even a sort of step-by-step format. He really loves it, I suppose he thinks of the Rody as his burrow and views the Duna as the surface!











The tubes were fiddly to position initially but they are fine now they're in place. They are steeper than I wanted them to be but he has no trouble getting up and down.