Question about Mini Duna

hannahbubble · 01-01-2012, 09:55 AM

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, buying a chinese hammie next week!

I am planning on buying the mini duna from p@h as a starter cage as its only £25, and after reading reviews on here can see that for taming a chinese it is a good option!

I saw a picture of a mini duna that had been attached to a bin cage via a tunnel, and was wondering how hard it is to modify the mini duna to add tunnels?

I would love to add more space this way in the future, and know that hammies do love their tunnels!

samincittagazze · 01-01-2012, 01:25 PM

Welcome

I have a Mini-Duna that I have attached extras onto. I cut a hole in the wiring and got a ferplast adapter, popped the tubes in and there you go! It was extremely easy. The only problem is that this obviously makes it difficult to open the lid. It doesn't bother me because Frohike comes when I call her so I can get her out from a different section, and I put her food elsewhere too. But if you have a shy Chinese that could cause issues for you. A picture of mine, in any case:

hannahbubble · 01-01-2012, 02:31 PM

Thanks so much that really helps!

Would it be possible to put a hole in the plastic part and use those adapters? Also where do you get them from? I'm in the UK if that makes any difference.

**Eleanor** · 01-01-2012, 02:33 PM

Bear in mind though, once you've cut the cage, there's no going back

Flamestriker · 01-01-2012, 02:35 PM

You could also adapt the cage after your hamster is tame,otherwise if you have a nervous ham it'll be difficult or you to get him or her out.

I got both savic and Ferplast adapters from equinecaninefeline.com

hannahbubble · 01-01-2012, 02:56 PM

Yeah I'm going to wait until I know its a good idea, I just wanted to make sure I could adapt it before I bought it!!

I'm having to wait until Tuesday before I can buy everything + hamster, and its driving me mad!

racinghamster · 01-02-2012, 05:06 AM

I would say use the Duna until your chinese settles, which can take a good few weeks. Although I would personally move up a notch and buy a Zoozone 1 perspex cage rather than add attachments because chinese love to dig and the more floor spece they have the better. I keep my female in a Gabber Rex (same size as the ZZ1) and she loves it. She was housed in a Savic Rody for about four weeks when I rehomed her and then moved into this bigger cage. The Ferplast Duna and the Savic Rody are adequate tanks and are sold by many outlets, but purchasing a Zoozone 1 for your chinese in the months to come would be a better move than trying to adapt a Duna. I would keep the Duna for cleaning out purposes. I have two smaller spare tanks (a Rody and a Gabber Lux) but wouldn`t use them except in emergencies or as temporary housing.

Chinese hamsters are best housed alone by the way, just incase you are coaxed into purchasing a pair by PAH. Don`t fall for it because they usually end up fighting as they mature.

Gizmodo ^_^ · 01-02-2012, 05:16 AM

i Did a cage comparison thread, with the Mini duna and some other cages so you could see between that and the zoozone

I think your chinese would be fine in the Duna, but if she gets active then maybe an upgrade?
Cage Comparison Thread

racinghamster · 01-02-2012, 05:24 AM

Gizmodo, in the fourth picture down in your comparison thread, your Zoozone 1 looks to have a clear lid, yet I`ve seen ZZ1 cages with `tinted` lids? Would I be right in saying the clear perspex lids are a different (better) make than the ones advertised with the `tinted` perspex lids? When I do google searches on the ZZ1, I often see the tinted lidded ones, yet not the clear lidded? Confused...!

SnickersTheFirst · 01-02-2012, 07:58 AM

I think your Chinese would be perfectly happy staying in a Mini Duna of you didn't feel like cutting space for tubes. Bailey is in a Duna and he loves it, it's more than enough space. Plus the shelf makes it a similar size to a ZZ1 anyway, and they enjoy hiding under it.