Which cage? - Page 3

cypher · 03-29-2015, 03:19 AM

It's a lot taller than the Alexander!!

Pebbles82 · 03-29-2015, 05:14 AM

Would love one but need smaller bar spacing sadly to keep our occasional wee fieldmouse visitors out. Good idea about trying a digging box - maybe I could pop something in now and see what he does with it. He doesn't dig in his sandbath. I think if I had space fpor 120cm or a detolf I would definitely go aquarium style because height less important then. But with 100cm just want everything lol! Depth and space for shelves. Modding the Alexander sounds good too! Off to drawn some diagrams.

Piebald · 03-29-2015, 05:50 AM

Can't wait to see what you devise!

Pebbles82 · 03-29-2015, 10:21 AM

Well I have half a notepad full of designs and go round in circles lol!

Pebbles82 · 03-31-2015, 04:09 AM

Well I'm narrowing things down a bit. Falco is definitely out, reluctantly, as there's no way I want to take the cage top off every time Charlie comes out and getting him from the top door just isn't an option.

I have spent ages working out how to make the Karat fall-proof. It has a lot of useable floorspace and am keen (apart from the price) but am now thinking it would need to stand on something and am also wondering whether glass in our house is a good idea at all! With two clumsy boisterous members of the male species living here. It would definitely need to be off the floor and I quite like having the cage on the floor as it makes getting in and out easier for Charlie. Plus I'd need to be a table or stand or something - wide enough to support the glass base, but no wider because have 100cm space maximum (it's under a bay window). Might be doable but more to think about than I thought.

Still thinking about an Alexander cage and forgetting trying to do really deep substrate as it's a good cage to set up for all kinds of other things and I'm used to a traditional cage, and so is Charlie, and it's practical.

I nearly decided on a two tier 7mm bar spacing cage (like two Barneys on top of each other) that I found on the German Amazon page and even with delivery was a good price at £85 for two 100cm cage bases. It has a lot going for it - the lower cage has a big front door, which we're used to and I like, the upper cage has two smaller doors - you lose some floorspace for the hole in the floor where it leads down below. Only thing is I'm not sure I like the look of it lol!

Basically there is very little choice in 7mm or 8mm bar spacing things. The Alexander, Barney or Tilo (which are identical apart from colour and contents), the Karat. What I really want is that Imac plexi cage but with smaller bar spacing - but heck it's only a bit of extra plexiglass - but more practical than glass. Decided meshing it, or the lid of a Living World habitat is just beyond me.

So I'm wavering between the Karat which would make a great spacious home with lots of floor level and good depth of substrate with most of the toys and wheel on shelves - and something more familiar - ie just a bigger version of what we have now. No idea how Charlie would react to either but the Karat would be a totally different set up due to the fact the shelves can only go in certain places without blocking the entrance doors, so his house and wheel would be in different places. On the other hand it might be exciting, and he might freak more about a similar set up that just is slightly different shape and colour-wise and think his cage has gone weird. Also I think he seems a bit bored in his current set up.

I could just save the money and get an Alexander cage and then think about upgrading to something more ambitious later but that would mean more money later!

Have ruled out the terrariums because putting plexi in for higher substrate would probably block the vents at the front and the top mesh might not be enough ventilation as it's quite fine, so that rules out the benefit of them. I don't know if Charlie would prefer it or not, but he's used to a cage now and I find them easier to maintain.

So haven't made a decision yet and also feeling a bit emotional about the current cage. I do love it - especially the big front door - I just wish it was bigger!

Pebbles82 · 04-01-2015, 06:56 AM

Ha! Had just decided on the Ferplast Karat and now find it has 1cm bar spacing - dur! I don't know why I thought it was small bar spacing. Just counted the bars to be sure. It kind of makes it easier if the Alexander is the biggest cage available with 7mm bar spacing! So it would be that or a tank.

cypher · 04-01-2015, 08:02 AM

It's not easy is it! I'm going through similar bouts of indecision & frustration wondering what to do for Flynt (hybrid) as I really want to give him more space but don't want to give up on a big front door or get a tank style.
When I got the mamble I was thinking of getting someone to do a hack job & make one big door although I decided it wasn't really that necessary I'm now thinking of getting him an Alexander & doing it with that, if I can find someone I trust to do it!
I think you'd probably find you get everything you really need from a cage for Charlie with the Alexander, there's always going to be something that could be better with any cage but out of all I've seen so far it seems about the best.

Pebbles82 · 04-01-2015, 01:00 PM

Actually I've always wanted an Alexander! And then I saw the Falco and thought it was the best of both worlds. Yes I was wondering about getting someone to put the Savic Mickey door in the Falco cage part but I don't really fancy the idea of sharp edges and cut cages. Anyway I'm going to stick with my 7mm bar spacing (just because of our mouse issues) even if it means limitations, which at least makes the cage choice a lot simpler! And could also save me a fair bit of money too. I think basically, 100cm tank would be too limiting - if it was a tank it would need to be at least 120cm. Whereas the Alexander has bars and shelves and is more flexible. I have also seen that two tier cage but still working out whether you'd actually gain much space due to the hole in the top of the top tray. I still really like the eco habitat too, but really don't fancy meshing the mdf lid. I've heard it's almost impossible to staple into mdf which is much harder than wood, so really it would need a lid making urgh! I've got a virus thing at the moment and little boy here full of energy, so decisions will have to wait a few days.

Thanks Cypher! You've been giving me sound and thoughtful advice ever since I joined. You've done an amazing set up with the Mamble!

I also found this on Amazon in Germany, which looks like a cross between the Karat and the Eco Habitat - only problem is the 100cm one is 74cm deep! And I don't have room for that. It's very expensive too! As for large doors, there only seem to be Savic ones with those.

http://www.amazon.de/M%C3%A4use-Hams..._petsupplies_0

Truffle · 04-01-2015, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I also found this on Amazon in Germany, which looks like a cross between the Karat and the Eco Habitat - only problem is the 100cm one is 74cm deep! And I don't have room for that. It's very expensive too! As for large doors, there only seem to be Savic ones with those.

Mäuse- und Hamsterheim SAN MARINO 100 DELUXE: Amazon.de: Haustier

Wow, that is such a lovely cage! I have never seen it before... I think it's something I'll have to add to my wish list

Pebbles82 · 04-01-2015, 02:16 PM

It is isn't it! Huge! Might as well just convert a small room really lol! Actually I found quite a few on the German Amazon that aren't in the Uk, and some different versions of things we do have. I found something that seemed just right and even had 6mm bar spacing, but unfortunately the sellers didn't ship to the Uk - although for some cages they will. I even found that the conversion rate was quite good and one of the Skyline ones ended up being cheaper with postage, than on Zooplus here, but only very slightly cheaper.