Deciding between two cages

[Enh98]

I'm trying to decide between two cages for a Syrian. The first is the savic mickey, which I prefer for the single large door opening. I'll try to link it below. My concern is that it might not be tall enough for a 12 inch wheel (we have a silent spinner) once substrate is added. The other cage is formerly known as the ferret kit 80. It is taller but with two smaller doors seems a bit less accessible. Thoughts? Links below:
Lixit Animal Care Savic Mickey 2 Mice and Swarf Hamster Cage, X-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QRMBG0..._mJx-wbM0BGJ8Y

A and E Cage Co. Ferret Kit with Tubes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N2JEUC..._8Lx-wb1K7B4W9

[Rsclio197]

The savic mickey looks the best in my opinion..couldn't you have a small area with a little less substrate where your silent spinner will go?

[CMB]

They are both good cages. Floor space is better than height. Although you could have shelves or even a full level in the taller cage (it would help prevent injury from falling).

The big door is easier when setting up the cage ,cleaning and interacting with the hamster. With the small cage you would need to take the wire part off for cleaning and setting up. It would be harder to interact with your hamster, but you could let the hamster come out of the small door into a tube or onto your hand.

Someone may be able to recommend a good wheel that will fit into either cage. You may be able to put the wheel on the side of top of the cage to give more space underneath it for substrate or use something like a bendy bridge to go around the wheel to keep the substrate away from under the wheel and stop it turning.

The wire shelf would need removing as walking on it can cause bumble foot to the hamster. Replace it with a bought or did shelf and something to act as a ladder/step to the shelf.

[Pebbles82]

Hmm tricky. They are both 80cm cages, and the Savic Mickey 2XL is a great cage - I had it for our Syrian - but fitting a Silent Spinner in would be a squeeze. I had about 1.5cm clear at both the top and bottom of my Wobust wheel which is about the same height as the 12" silent spinner. So you would need a much lower area of substrate at that end.

Personally I think if you need a 12" wheel I would get a 100cm cage (if possible). Or get a more compact wheel like the 27cm wodent wheel which would fit well in the Savic Mickey 2XL, especially hung from the roof.

Even with the taller rat and ferret cage you would still lose a fair bit of floor space to the wheel and it would be difficult to fit levels in and access to them.

I think this cage would be better than either of those - but it costs a bit more. The Marchioro Goran - it's just a bit wider than the Savic Mickey 2XL but also a bit taller so fits a 12" wheel better. Virtual Keith has one of these and it seems much more roomy inside the extra bit of length and height makes it a better set up and leaves space for substrate under the wheel. He had a Raptor wheel fixed to the bars, higher up. I would go with the 12" Silent Runner wheel fixed to the bars higher up. But that would mean the cost of a new wheel as well and if your Silent Spinner is fine then it isn't really necessary. I think you can still get a fair bit of substrate under the Silent Spinner as it stands reasonably tall. The Goran has a huge front door and really good access and the rat tube in it is good for a Syrian too. You don't need to use the platform it comes with, you can set it up how you want.

Amazon.com : Marchioro Goran 82 Cage for Small Animals, 32.25 inches, Beige/Green : Pet Cages : Pet Supplies

I found I needed to get a new wheel to go with Charlie's new wheel, so it fitted in right, which is annoying! How big is your Syrian? The 27cm wodent wheel is big enough for most unless it's a particularly large syrian.

[Enh98]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hmm tricky. They are both 80cm cages, and the Savic Mickey 2XL is a great cage - I had it for our Syrian - but fitting a Silent Spinner in would be a squeeze. I had about 1.5cm clear at both the top and bottom of my Wobust wheel which is about the same height as the 12" silent spinner. So you would need a much lower area of substrate at that end.

Personally I think if you need a 12" wheel I would get a 100cm cage (if possible). Or get a more compact wheel like the 27cm wodent wheel which would fit well in the Savic Mickey 2XL, especially hung from the roof.

Even with the taller rat and ferret cage you would still lose a fair bit of floor space to the wheel and it would be difficult to fit levels in and access to them.

I think this cage would be better than either of those - but it costs a bit more. The Marchioro Goran - it's just a bit wider than the Savic Mickey 2XL but also a bit taller so fits a 12" wheel better. Virtual Keith has one of these and it seems much more roomy inside the extra bit of length and height makes it a better set up and leaves space for substrate under the wheel. He had a Raptor wheel fixed to the bars, higher up. I would go with the 12" Silent Runner wheel fixed to the bars higher up. But that would mean the cost of a new wheel as well and if your Silent Spinner is fine then it isn't really necessary. I think you can still get a fair bit of substrate under the Silent Spinner as it stands reasonably tall. The Goran has a huge front door and really good access and the rat tube in it is good for a Syrian too. You don't need to use the platform it comes with, you can set it up how you want.

Amazon.com : Marchioro Goran 82 Cage for Small Animals, 32.25 inches, Beige/Green : Pet Cages : Pet Supplies

I found I needed to get a new wheel to go with Charlie's new wheel, so it fitted in right, which is annoying! How big is your Syrian? The 27cm wodent wheel is big enough for most unless it's a particularly large syrian.

We don't have the hamster yet, this would be a new hammy. I currently have a Marchioro Kevin 82 for our current hamster, which is nearly identical to the goran. It's a fine cage, I was just hoping to spend a little less. I've had wodent wheels in the past and have found them annoying to take apart and clean. I was hoping to find a cage where I could fix the silent spinner to the bars.

[Pebbles82]

That's a good point - fixing the silent spinner to the bars. I don't think that would work in the Savic Mickey 2XL - it's quite low really - about 36cm height internally - and the wheel would probably rub against the base. I know a California Storm Wheel won't fit in it height wise. I think it's a good cage for a small syrian or a dwarf hamster. And ok for an average syrian but you'd want a fairly compact wheel in there really so it didn't get too overcrowded.

Do you have the Silent Spinner already? If not I wouldn't recommend getting a new one because they changed manufacture last year I think it was and they don't seem to spin that well any more.

You probably wouldn't like the Silent Runner from exotic nutrition if you're not keen on wodent wheels because it fits together in a very similar way - with a front and back and a track - although it is easier in some ways as it doesn't have an axle or a pin.

Yes the Goran is a bit expensive. Out of the two I prefer the Savic Mickey 2XL - the other one could work out costing more to set up with extra shelves and so on. And the Silent Spinner will fit in the Savic Mickey 2XL heightwise but you'd have to stand it on the floor of the cage I reckon. The 12" silent runner is less deep but wouldn't fit heightwise. I had the wheel end 'fenced off' with the substrate higher beyond the fenced off bit.

[Enh98]

Thank you! I don't have the silent spinner yet, thanks for the heads up about the change in manufacturing! We have a Carolina storm express wheel in our Kevin. It is a great wheel but takes up much space, and can't be fixed to the cage bars. Are the comfort wheels horribly loud? Although our cages aren't in any bedrooms so maybe a noisy wheel isn't too much of an issue!

[CMB]

Roly wheels are quite quiet and they come in large sizes designed for rats etc. Olive/vegetable oil can be put on a noisy wheel.

[Pebbles82]

I think the Comfort wheels can be a bit rattly but haven't tried one personally. I have heard they break after a few months sometimes though. I think all 12" wheels are going to be pretty big. The most compact wheel is the 27cm wodent wheel.

If you had the taller cage you could get the 12" Silent runner and fix it to the bars, but I'm not sure how shelves would work then. You'd probably need one shelf over the wheel and another shelf lower down that kind of meets it in the middle, so there's no gap for them to fall down. It is totally silent and they sell special plate fixings to fix the wheel to the bars - although they cost extra.

I reckon it would need to be

a) Savic Mickey 2XL with 27cm wodent wheel
b) Taller rat cage with 12" Silent Runner (from exotic nutrition)
c) Marchioro Goran with any wheel basically, but the 12" Silent Runner would fit to the bars and not take up much space - it's only 9cm deep. The other 12" wheels are really deep.

This is the silent runner wheel in Charlie's Cage which is about 43cm - the Goran is a similar height - about 42cm and it is also about the same depth as Charlie's cage. His cage is 100cm but you get the idea. It's a shame the Goran is so expensive now as it is better than either of the others, size and height-wise. It used to be $99 from Doctor Foster and Smith but they don't seem to sell it any more. It might be cheaper to get a tank?

[CMB]

Is there an equivalent of the barney cage in the US? 100cm x 50cm x 50cm.

If you see Charlie's cage complete with toys and accessories it will give you an idea of just how much space is needed for a good Syrian cage setup.