Which cage?

[Pebbles82]

Ok I've got a shortlist of cages to upgrade Charlie. A couple of limitations - 1) Can't fit more than 100cm cage max, so that rules out the detolf or a 4 foot tank 2) has to be 8mm bar spacing or less to be mouseproof.

I'm trying to get more floor space and was going to try and do the 30cm substrate thing, but will probably have to compromise on that now.

I had been prepared to fork out for the Falco 100 but emailed Zooplus and the latest incarnation only has one door on top so ruled that out.

So am now looking at the Ferplast Karat 100 which is 60cm high and has a 20cm base. But for half the price I could get an Alexander which only has 3cm less base height!

I've ruled out the terrarium and don't have the time, skill or concentration for anything diy! (Mainly nowhere to do diy except the living room!). Although did think I could increase the base height by putting some extra plexiglass inside the Karat.

So I guess it is down to

1) Falco 100 with top access (urgh - annoying for the price).
2) Ferplast Karat 100 - 20cm base, good shelves, 3 doors, height for a wheel above the substrate.
3) Alexander cage - because I like it and forget the 30cm deep substrate.
4) Get a 100cm tank and lid made up but think I need extra height for 100cm.

Have ruled out the Eco Habitat because the internal height is 50cm so would only have 20cm left at the top if I had 30cm substrate, plus the lid needs meshing to be mouseproof.

Any thoughts or other suggestions?!

[_Steph_]

I have a falco 80 as a play cage, the door on top is big and the wire part lifts off easily. It's a really beautiful cage and IMO the best choice if you afford it as you get the best of both, a tank for deep substrate and a wire top to attach toys.

I wouldn't bother with the ferplast, it's not worth shelling out the extra cash when you don't get the height on the tank, you'd be better off with a cheaper plastic base cage than that.

[Piebald]

The Falco. Didn't you have bar spacing issues with it ? I posted in the other thread about that. Couldn't remember the name of it though.

[Pebbles82]

Thanks Steph - so the top lifts off easily - that sounds good! The Falco has 7 or 8mm bar spacing so that's ok thanks Piebald - it was that Imac Plexi cage that had wider bar spacing. I'm just trying to imagine always having to take the top off the Falco every time I want to get Charlie out, especially if there is stuff on the shelves. A play cage sounds good! But then I'd need two cages lol! I did think about the Falco 80 and putting my current 80cm cage top on it, but need something 100cm really to fit all Charlie's big stuff in. It's just so annoying they don't have a door on the side as well like all their other cages!

[Piebald]

It has a door too so why would you need to detach every time to get Charlie out?

[Pebbles82]

I think if it just has a top opening door it would be difficult to get him out and do things in the cage. Actually I guess that's the same with tanks anyway.

[_Steph_]

I only have it as a play cage as I bought it on ebay for 9.99, zooplus return but nothing wrong with it! It's certainly much easier to manoeuvre than my mamble 100 which can be difficult, you'd have to find someone with the bigger version though as I'm sure it must get harder when you add 20 cm. What is it about access that worries you?

[Willow Wisp]

Well there would be stuff on the shelves because, well just because there would, you wouldn't leave empty shelves, non of us would and it would drive me totally bonkers if I had to remove everything from shelves daily in order be able to take the top off to get hammy out. Is the roof door big enough to gain access to ham without dismantling the cage? Even if it is though I never go anywhere near my hams from above so I couldn't be doing with that either, personally I would rule that one out and choose between the Karat and Alexander

Edit Piebald says it has a door too, I thought you said it only had roof access lol so ignore my ramblings lol

[Pebbles82]

Yes that's the conclusion I'd come to Willow. Hard choice to pay double the price for 3 extra centimetres and a flat top! Also the Karat only seems to be available on Amazon and all the reviews complain about bad packaging and the glass arriving broken. Actually if I was going to be limited to 20 cm substrate I could still consider the eco habitat - I just don't really want to do any meshing lol!

[_Steph_]

It doesn't say where in the north you live but there is a shop called jungle pets that will custom make hamster tanks, you could then collect in person (mcr or Buxton) if you're worried about glass breaking in transit.