New Detolf!

[Erestor]

So after having a big problem with bar biting, I looked into some alternative caging, and after speaking to some really helpful people on here I was sold on a detolf. The initial glitch of there being no ikea here was overcome by locating a company who do weekly pick ups from the one in Glasgow, and although this added £20 to the cost, was still a bargain compared to the £35 ikea charge, and much better value than any alternative cage I could find.

The only problem was I specifically had got my dad to convert a cupboard in my study into an open alcove so I could set up penguins previous cages, and it was clearly not going to fit there. After moving bits and pieces around I managed to create enough space to squish it on the floor of my study. The downside is I now have to turn fully around when I'm revising to actually see him, but maybe I might actually stay focused now

So after getting it set up, it obviously needed a lid. Now I foolishly assumed all detolfs were going to be exactly the same, and got wood cut to the sizes listed on a how to video before the detolf arrived.

DO NOT BE AS SILLY AS ME!!!!

Predictably, when I got it put up, the wood was not the right size, although thankfully it was too big rather than too small. I discovered that it's actually quite hard to measure where the bars are as they have a little give, and because it's lower than the glass it's not the easiest to get the measure into. After an hour of very bad measuring I passed the details to my dad, having at this point realised that actually building the lid was beyond me - I did get to use the staple gun to put on the mesh though which was really fun, and really effective!

A few short hours later and my amazing dad had whipped me up a pair of lids. The design was simple, to rest on the glass rather than actually on the bars, but with little wooden blocks under the lid, which do sit on the bars, and means it cannot be knocked off sideways. The length was only for the length of the glass, so it naturally is help in place by the wooden ends of the detolf.

As these were constructed at my parents house, I had to return to my flat to see if they fit - after my nightmarish attempts to measure, I was really worried they would not. However, somehow, the measurements turned out perfectly! The lids both fit together will no gap at the end, and we're snug enough to not move unless lifted vertically. The blocks worked too, and by pushing the lids I could not make it fall of or cave inwards. Result!

For the actual filling of the cage, I decided to keep it simple so that penguin could get used to his new home. As his old cages had been deep cleaned only 3 days ago, his toys were pretty clean, but had been used long enough to smell familiar to him, so I just transferred them straight into the tank. I have ordered him some new toys, especially more chewable ones, and they should arrive sometime in the week. The only changes made were a larger sand bath and a chew house - not something I would normally have in his cage all the time, but as his new wooden toys have not come yet I want to give home something to chew on as well as his wooden barrier.

His wheel is still his old 8" one, which I am planning to upgrade - I got some really good advice, again on here, about different wheel options. Because of how much he chews, I wrote off the Karlie wheel, the chances he would chew on it and get hurt were too high. My two main options were the silent spinner and the larger wodent wheels, and both had some ups and downs. On balance I think he really likes being enclosed so I am about 80/20 towards the wodent wheel, and will probably be ordering the senior any day now. I was considering the wobust, but I think it will be just a bit too high as I've made a little platform so that the normal bedding doesn't prevent it working. He is an averagely sized fuzzle (140g) so I think this should do him as he probably won't grown much more being 9 months old.

I hid some food around the tank as he loves rooting around, attached a water bottle to the end using strong Velcro, and let him loose! He seemed to really enjoy exploring, although it will take him a while to get used to it all. I out some of his bedding material into his favourite house, and once he smelled that he was off burrowing!

Here are some photos of how it is right now, and I'll update as it changes.

Thanks everyone for the help, and if anyone has any other suggestions I'd love to hear them

Charlotte

(And Penguin)

image.jpg

[Erestor]

I can't get more than one to upload at a time

[Erestor]

Another photo

[Pebbles82]

Ooh excellent choice! I saw a detolf in the bar at the theatre tonight standing in the corner and was thinking - hamster cage! I just watched that video you were talking about (if it's the same one) and I was thinking - brilliant - just use the measurements they give! So thanks for the tip on that as clearly it's best to measure up yourself. I also want one now! But really don't have anywhere to put one right now, especially with three of us and all our stuff in the house.

[RubyDG]

RESULT! That's fantastic Erestor, you've got one lucky hammy . I'm glad your Dad was able to sort out the lid, the wooden blocks underneath so it doesn't shift are a great idea and I've not seen a Detolf lid design like that before so tell your Dad he gets a gold star for his creation! I like what you've done with the platform under the wheel as well, although it would be good to put a flat stone or slate coaster or something under your water bottle so the water doesn't seep through. Maybe keep half an eye on Gumtree for something to stand the Detolf on, I've seen some Ikea storage units in Aberdeen on there before so maybe you'll get lucky .

I do spy that you have your radiator behind it though, be very careful especially since the Detolf is glass because he can overheat very quickly without you noticing. Generally most recommend not to have a hamster near a radiator, I have one behind my one's cage too but I've turned it off, maybe that's an option for you too. It might be worth rethinking your room layout again though if not. At least you can get some storage tubs for your hamster stuff and put them in the alcove to make use of the space (I got my big ones from Home Bargains at the Beach Boulevard for £5 each ). I'd also hang on to the small cage and just store it as a travel cage rather than selling it on, you're not really going to get much for it anyway, maybe store it at your parents place if you're short on space. I think hanging onto the gerbilarium would be good too, the tank section should make a fantastic digging box and you could use it for playtime and hide treats in it, or it would be great if it fits inside the Detolf?

Sorry for the ramble! I think it looks fantastic and he's going to love the space. Well done, I'm super jealous now!

[Erestor]

Originally Posted by RubyDG

RESULT! That's fantastic Erestor, you've got one lucky hammy . I'm glad your Dad was able to sort out the lid, the wooden blocks underneath so it doesn't shift are a great idea and I've not seen a Detolf lid design like that before so tell your Dad he gets a gold star for his creation! I like what you've done with the platform under the wheel as well, although it would be good to put a flat stone or slate coaster or something under your water bottle so the water doesn't seep through. Maybe keep half an eye on Gumtree for something to stand the Detolf on, I've seen some Ikea storage units in Aberdeen on there before so maybe you'll get lucky .

I do spy that you have your radiator behind it though, be very careful especially since the Detolf is glass because he can overheat very quickly without you noticing. Generally most recommend not to have a hamster near a radiator, I have one behind my one's cage too but I've turned it off, maybe that's an option for you too. It might be worth rethinking your room layout again though if not. At least you can get some storage tubs for your hamster stuff and put them in the alcove to make use of the space (I got my big ones from Home Bargains at the Beach Boulevard for £5 each ). I'd also hang on to the small cage and just store it as a travel cage rather than selling it on, you're not really going to get much for it anyway, maybe store it at your parents place if you're short on space. I think hanging onto the gerbilarium would be good too, the tank section should make a fantastic digging box and you could use it for playtime and hide treats in it, or it would be great if it fits inside the Detolf?

Sorry for the ramble! I think it looks fantastic and he's going to love the space. Well done, I'm super jealous now!

Thanks for all the information! There are a few tubes coming for him in the post, so hopefully they will fit when they come. I have most of his bits in the unit where he cage used to be, but as there is more stuff coming, I might need more soon. I'll probably go to home bargains soon anyway, there's always something cool to find to convert for him

Sorry I should explain for the radiator, where I photoed it is where I pulled it for construction, but it's not where it stays, which is further from the radiator. Thanks for saying though, I might still turn down th radiator in the room a little just in case

As for the water bottle, yes that's probably an excellent idea, some definatly squeezed out when I attatched it, a tile is probably a great idea! One I get his new wheel I'm thinking about attaching it to the platform so it doesn't move, I was going to make some small holes, thread cable ties through the holes and loop over the stand bar and back down, cut short and make a small hole on the bottom of the stand to push the end piece into so it still sits flat, do you think that might work

I was thinking about keeping the old ones at mum n dads in case we go away, as there is pretty much zero chance of us getting it down the three flights of stairs!

I'll keep an eye on gumtree, that's a great idea, fingers crossed!

[Erestor]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Ooh excellent choice! I saw a detolf in the bar at the theatre tonight standing in the corner and was thinking - hamster cage! I just watched that video you were talking about (if it's the same one) and I was thinking - brilliant - just use the measurements they give! So thanks for the tip on that as clearly it's best to measure up yourself. I also want one now! But really don't have anywhere to put one right now, especially with three of us and all our stuff in the house.

I know, I really thought I was being super smart and efficient, but at least my dad managed to fix it. If you do get one I'd be more than happy to give you what I measured, but I highly recommend just measuring it yourself even though it was a massive pain! I expect my dad modified my measurements a little to overcome my poor measure work.

The great thing was, I got the mesh from b&q in pre made sheets as they do not cut, and using the online instructions I bought two, but with the modified size it only need one for both so I can take the other one back. Because dad already had a staple gun I didn't need that, and the little wooden blocks inside double as connectors for the frame so you don't need the little metal plates( which fyi are £1-2 EACH in b&q and you need eight!) and I think it's actually firmer this way. So in all I only paid £6 for the wood as they were able to get the sizes I needed from off cuts and my dad had the rest, and one sheet of mesh which was approx £6.50, so just over £12 for both!

It looks so cool now, I'm sooo glad I went with it, I hope penguin likes it too!

[Pebbles82]

I have a water bottle stand and it's a dream to change bottles with it. It's not cheap but I like the little bottles it comes with and they are about £1 to buy. Plus it's very easy to use and stable. It's not too big like the living world one (which is enormous). Some people make them out of all sorts though - you just need a tube with a hole in it. If you google 'hamster water bottle stand and click on images, there are some ideas. I've put the link to mine (which is from germany but the postage is reasonable - about £7 - without the postage it is about £10) Cypher has the smaller one of these - I found the taller one better for a syrian so he doesn't get a stiff neck drinking lol. I've also put the link to one that someone else on here has - as I want one too! It looks great and isn't from Germany! It's part of a camping set, but I reckon the rest of the set is too small for a syrian. Scroll down to see a better photo of the 'tree' bottle stand

Rodipet® TRÄNKE mit Standfuß 20.5 cm (L) (Häuser) - Rodipet® Heimtierzubehör Shop

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...=A52EMGNCXBS0G

Charlie used to get quite upset about his water bottle being taken in and out through the bars, so I found a freestanding one better, and more stable - he didn't like the noise of the other one going in and out!

[Heather]

I must have read this and then fallen back to sleep because I dreamed I had a mini hamster sized penguin haha.

I'm so jealous of your cage, I want one of these soooooooooo much! Lucky little Penguin!

[RubyDG]

Originally Posted by Erestor

Thanks for all the information! There are a few tubes coming for him in the post, so hopefully they will fit when they come. I have most of his bits in the unit where he cage used to be, but as there is more stuff coming, I might need more soon. I'll probably go to home bargains soon anyway, there's always something cool to find to convert for him

Sorry I should explain for the radiator, where I photoed it is where I pulled it for construction, but it's not where it stays, which is further from the radiator. Thanks for saying though, I might still turn down th radiator in the room a little just in case

As for the water bottle, yes that's probably an excellent idea, some definatly squeezed out when I attatched it, a tile is probably a great idea! One I get his new wheel I'm thinking about attaching it to the platform so it doesn't move, I was going to make some small holes, thread cable ties through the holes and loop over the stand bar and back down, cut short and make a small hole on the bottom of the stand to push the end piece into so it still sits flat, do you think that might work

I was thinking about keeping the old ones at mum n dads in case we go away, as there is pretty much zero chance of us getting it down the three flights of stairs!

I'll keep an eye on gumtree, that's a great idea, fingers crossed!

Tying the wheel to the platform with cable ties could work but if the platform is cardboard it's going rub and wear the cardboard pretty quickly. Another option would be to take some non-toxic PVA glue and those little wooden dowel sticks or round lollipop sticks and glue them into a triangle shape that the wheel stand just slots into. I've attached a picture I found on the internet of what I mean which explains it better .

Since you have a Wodent wheel another option if you have the cash to spare would be to buy a platform for the wheel : Laufräder Rodipet® L'Étage - Rodipet® Heimtierzubehör Shop. They ship to the UK and are the only place I know of that do stands like that.

Myself I have the wheel sitting directly on the base with a heavy flat rock sitting on top of the standy bit - works brilliantly and zero wobble. If you can find a suitable rock/heavy thing it should work just as well with the wheel on a sturdy platform.