What IS an Ovo Loft suitable for?

[BrainGirl]

Hey all! I got a free Habitrail Ovo Loft today in like new condition. I thought it looked really cool (that's marketing for ya!) and though it clearly wasn't big enough for a Syrian I thought maybe I could put a dwarf in it. Then I searched around the forum and discovered that no one here really likes them for anything! So...is it salvageable or should I cut my losses now and trash it before anyone else tries to put an animal in it?

What about a garden? I could put soilless mix in the bottom and grow a hammy garden for play time in the winter! Yeah...

[Sanctuary]

They are great to add on to a proper sized cage

[HollyHamster]

Hey there, I have a Ovo system setup for Kousagi, my robo. Its definitely not my first choice in cages, but I think its okay. I have a base Ovo cage and two extendable units added on. Its all done on a single level so that Kousagi has easy access to all of it. Here is a picture of it.



I would only recommend housing a robo in one of these, and only when there are extensions, and only on one level. I sometimes feel that its a bit too small for even Kousagi, but I have no room to add another bin cage.

[The Hamster's family]

Proper size cage is 80cm by 50cm for Syrians (and I wouldn't put a Robo in anything smaller to be honest) and for dwarves, 70cm by 40cm is often recommended. So the Ovo collection isn't good for any kind of hamsters I am affraid ! I have all my Ovo cages attached to one cage that is 80cm by 50cm so I didn't buy them for nothing!

[BrainGirl]

Hmm, this thing is approximately 51 x 33cm. I'm either going to plant it up with wheatgrass for winter hammy fun or else get a mouse!

[The Hamster's family]

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Hmm, this thing is approximately 51 x 33cm. I'm either going to plant it up with wheatgrass for winter hammy fun or else get a mouse!

Or connect it to another cage ! If you get a 80cm by 50cm cage and connect the both togeter, it would be very great !! =D

[racinghamster]

My own personal opinion is that one of the smaller `pods` might be a good sand bathing area inside, or attached to a larger cage. But as a stand alone cage?.....No. Hamsters have burrows in the wild and these modular housings are basically burrow shaped spaces where a hamster might sleep, have babies or retreat to from the cold. The wheel obviously gives the hamster some running excersise, but not the space to naturally roam.

I would get the hammer out or use it as a funky CD holder! I would love to see the day when these cages are banned, but the likelihood is, they won`t be as long as people continue to buy them.

[The Hamster's family]

Originally Posted by racinghamster

My own personal opinion is that one of the smaller `pods` might be a good sand bathing area inside, or attached to a larger cage. But as a stand alone cage?.....No. Hamsters have burrows in the wild and these modular housings are basically burrow shaped spaces where a hamster might sleep, have babies or retreat to from the cold. The wheel obviously gives the hamster some running excersise, but not the space to naturally roam.

I would get the hammer out or use it as a funky CD holder! I would love to see the day when these cages are banned, but the likelihood is, they won`t be as long as people continue to buy them.

I agree ! But when you already have it...... might as well use it ! But I would never buy on again !

[racinghamster]

I suppose one could be utalised well enough IF it had to be, but attaching it to a Bin cage might make it more useful.

[BrainGirl]

Yeah, that's why I'm thinking it would be better used as a home away from home for cage cleanings or winter play. Which will bring me to my next question! Maybe I should start a new thread for this but how would I go about planting a hammy garden? I could use just play sand but I'd kinda like to make something cool, plus I'm a gardener, it's just what I do

So my questions would be: What kind of substrate/growing medium? What kinds of plants?