Housing for small hamsters

[pinkneon]

Hey, so hopefully the housing is coming along soon - fingers crossed! Anyway, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and since Duck has been with the other girl for over 3 months now, I am going to offer if she wants to keep him. If she doesn't then I shall of course take him back again, but if she does I will preparing the Alexander cage for a new arrival. I just wondered though, is the Alexander suitable for robo /dwarf hamsters, or are the bars to big? I also think I read somewhere not to push shelves in for the smaller hamster species - is this correct? I am also thinking of what I would put in the cage, as Duck will keep his toys. So if anyone has robos or dwrafies who have some favorite toys, please let me know! Also, the Alexander is very high, and although most hamsters don't like climbing I'd be worried about them hurting themselves - should I make sure there are hammocks in the cage, or is it likely that robos or dwarfies won't climb up that high?
Also, I know you need 2 of everything incase of fights - does this include 2 wheels and if so is it ok for them to be different sizes? What would be the best wheel for them?

[Scampi16]

I have my two robos in a hamster heaven 1cm gap and they are ok in this but have only just moved in there and are fully grown, i wouldn't recommend for baby dwarfs. If keeping a pair yes you need two wheels or two flying saucers, and yes no levels as they could fight over levels. My robos like the wooden cube (with holes in each side), wooden tunnel (with holes cut in all over), toilet roll tubes, see saw (mine have a tube style see saw and they love that) the attached photo is a photo of when my robo's were in their zoozone before going into the HH, just to give an idea of some toys I have used.

[A_Couple_In_Love]

Cant help with the bar spacing on the cage but I can help with the other bits of info.

All the dwarfs I've got now and have had all LOVE to climb, so plenty of hammocks would be needed! Also the plus side of lots of hammocks is that from what I've learnt they love to sit and play on them

If you get 2 dwarf hamsters then yes you will need 2 of every thing the same e.g. 2 bowls, 2 wheels, 2 houses. A spare cage will be needed in case a fight breaks out as its very popular for them to fall out (I've been there a few times!) thought some do stay well together. Also, you could just scatter food instead of using 2 separate bowls, I did this and it worked very well with no fall outs. One water bottle will be just fine though. No levels also as this causes them to get territorial and fight.

Toy wise - From my experience of having a few dwarfs (Chinese & hybrids).. Bendy Log Bridge, Wooden Trixie toys e.g. play houses and climbing frames, Hammocks, Wooden chew sticks from P@H, Plastic Seesaw from P@H again, toilet roll tubes.

Hope this helps you.

[kyrilliondaemon]

The Alexander bar spacing is fine for everything. But if you get two hams then no shelves and make sure you have a spare cage.
If you only have one dwarf the shelves are fine and I'd suggest filling the base with substrate to allow for digging too (and to cushion falls if anyone is silly). Our hybrids do climb their bars, our robos not so much but that doesn't mean all robos won't.

[GhostsInSnow]

Sheldon loves those Hyacinth tubes (I think Zooplus do them but they are cheaper elsewhere) He likes me to bury them under the substrate and leave both ends free xD He also adores his flying saucer and his rainbow bridge

[samzyzg]

My robo's are fine with their Alexanders but they weren't in them when they were younger so can't say there. I'd be weary for very young hamsters to be in them maybe.