Rotastak Spaghetti Junction

[Cat-J]

Hiya!

Having had 2 hamsters before (at different times) I'm used to using this cage, however, the spaghetti junction has definitely been forgotten! It's such a nightmare to put together and fit in!
Now, I'm pretty certain I've gone over board with the three loops on the cage?? Think I need to calm it down a bit? Will be home to a new hamster soon so needs a good clean and everything put in it before I pick up the new hammie.
This has always been the reason for escapes - the tubes seem to come apart!

* Having had the previous hamsters in this for maybe.... 5 years I've loved the Rotastak, it's easy to use and clean (although I think some of this may have been from practice!) and the hammies have always loved racing around in the tubes! This was the first way to get the most out of the extra tubes, but I really am thinking of taking some off as it seems somewhat impracticle.

[souffle]

It's too small for any hamster in my opinion Cat. A wild hamster can run many miles in a night and this cage is bearly 5 steps across the largest part. It falls way short of the RSPCA and NHC guidelines on cage size. Your hammy would be much happier in a large plastic bin cage. I do not see a wheel either and that plastic attic is stuffy and can cause chest infections as it gets all hot and steamy in there.
I would encourage you to think very hard before putting another hamster in here. Have a look at the cage reviews and see what some of the more suitable cages look like.

[Cat-J]

I had read the replies, this one viewtopic.php?f=30&t=7010 seemed quite a positive review for a similar cage?
The first hamster lasted 2 years and the second 3, they had no problems with the cage or tubes so I don't know if that says anything or not really, both were tamed in there too. Neither of these 2 used a wheel inside or out of the cage! I do have one, but it's not set up yet as not getting hammie for another 2 weeks!

Comparing it to some of these - http://www.pearsonspets.fsnet.co.uk/pro ... store.html - it seems much bigger!

However, I can see your points and have seen some equally similar views around, was thinking of maybe attaching this http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp? ... pf_id=0870 to it?

Sorry for all the links here!

Obviously, as all this came to a fair amount I am disinclined to get rid of it, but if anyone could recommend some cheap-ish attachment parts with some wire and more ventilated parts that would improve it then I would be grateful - don't want an unhappy hamster! Some Crittertrail ones look better?

Could I get opinions on some of these -
http://www.onlinebizbuilder.co.uk/produ ... odID=14180
http://www.cheappetproducts.net/CRITTER ... 67250.html (this one seems fairly small but would obviously be an add on)
https://www.petstuffgalore.co.uk/small- ... r-pod.html

* I don't know how easy or if it's impossible to add on different branded cages?

[shazzy]

Originally Posted by Cat-J

I had read the replies, this one viewtopic.php?f=30&t=7010 seemed quite a positive review for a similar cage?

The owner of the cage in the link mentioned seemed to have his heart set on the cage because he liked the look of it, and he was going to get it whatever we said about it (He asked opinions on the rotastak in an earlier thread and we did try to put him off buying it and getting a better suited cage for various credible reasons). You will see from our replies on the link mentioned about that the majority of hamster owners think Rotastaks are useless!

[Tammy22]

Hiya Cat,

i completely understand where you are coming from - these cages look like they would be great fun for a hamster, they are colourful, full of different compartments, interesting to change around etc. - but in reality these cages are made to appeal to people, especially children, and they have been made with no consideration to the poor hamster that has to live in them!

I think almost everyone that buys a hamster for the first time is interested in these cages, because of how they look - i had a similar setup myself when i first kept hamsters, but once you have a look round at the forums and reviews of these cages, you can see that they are just not suitable, no matter how good they look! and, as Souffle says, they are not even as big as the recommended cage size by the RSPCA and NHC - so obviously thay can not be used!!

Luckily, you have joined just at the right time, and you havent actually got a hamster in that cage at the moment - so the best thing you could do is to buy a new cage which is big enough for a Syrian hamster - you have asked for our oppinions on the cage and you have been given people's oppinions - please take head of what has been said, and please do not put another hamster in that cage.

Where are you buying your Syrian from? I saw in your previous post that you had trouble with a hamster from a pet shop, so i would hope that you are getting your next one from a reputable breeder. If you do get your hamster from a reputable breeder then the chances are that the hamster will definately grow way too big to even be able to fit in those tubes!!

Please think of the hamster and get him or her a nice new cage which is big enough for him or her to be happy in

I understand about the cost of the cage you have there too - they are rediculously expensive, even though they are not really suitable for any hamster, but as you say, you have had two hamsters living in this particular cage, so i would think that you would have had your money's worth out of - so the best thing to do would be to dispose of it.

If you need any help or info about which cage to buy then please just let us know

Tammy x

[souffle]

I would avoid the crittertrail as it is very flimsy. If you are set on keeping the rotastac the cosmo pod is the best bet. If you get two or three triangle bits and join them together you do get a reasonable size running area and the wheel is actually not a bad size on this set up. For that price though you could get a fab cage like this: http://www.ferplast.com/scheda_prodotto ... m_pagina=2
If you do go with the rotastac I would set up the bed under the shelf. They sometimes try and sleep in the wheel so you may need to take this off until the hamster has established a bedding area. The joining tubes need to be secured, even taped as hamsters often push them out and it is a nightmare to clean. Add your current set up but don't put the attic on at all as he will stuff himself up there and get a chest problem. If you are getting your hammy from a breeder the rotastac will not fit a breeder hamster which will be much larger than a pet shop one.
Your other hamsters may have lived a while in there but you really need to move with the times and think about the time the animal spends in the cage and its welfare. Would you like to spend 23 hours a day shut in a stuffy bathroom sized room?

[Cat-J]

Originally Posted by Tammy22

Where are you buying your Syrian from? I saw in your previous post that you had trouble with a hamster from a pet shop, so i would hope that you are getting your next one from a reputable breeder.

Hiya! Not sure on which hamster yet, I'll go have a look at what ones they have! Yes, P@H was awful, thankfully we got 2 after that from the same place that were perfect (it's a small, one-off shop over the road from where we live)!

Am really hoping to get a wire cage that I can attach to the rotastak but can't seem to find one!

[Cat-J]

Ok, scratch that last page! Have foudn this site http://chocolate-hams.piczo.com/?previe ... r=2&rfm=y/ which states the minimum requirements, I assume they're correct? So I'll ditch the rotastak, any recommendations for cages? Sorry for souding tight, but preferrably cheapish!

I've found some here, but they all seem too small?
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-21960-cri ... -cage.aspx
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-19286-fer ... -69cm.aspx
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-21365-fop ... 26-cm.aspx
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-22071-hag ... -cage.aspx
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-20578-pen ... x56cm.aspx
http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-16756-pen ... 465cm.aspx

http://www.thepet-shoponline.co.uk/hams ... -176-p.asp

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/pet-s ... googlebase

Am having a lot of trouble finding a cage big enough for a syrian

[Tammy22]

Hiya Cat

i am so glad that you have decided to get a better cage

These cages are very good:

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/pet-s ... age-1.html

but, as they are for rabbits, the roof bars will need mesh adding to it to prevent escapes - but apart from that, they are great cages with a lot of space - and that price is really good for them too!! They are usually more expensive than that!

A lot people also use this one too, i think:

http://www.savic.be/DetAnimal.asp?group ... =Cambridge

There is this one too:

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/pet-s ... -duna.html

I *think* these are big enough for Syrians - some one please correct me if i am wrong!! but the next size up one is definately big enough.

Good sites to use are ebay and freecyle, as well as the classifieds ad sites - sometimes there are good, cheap cages on them

Tammy x

[Cat-J]

Do you know how easy the mesh is to do for the rabbit cage one? Not very skilled in the art department! And where would the water bottle go? I'm worried it will be quite dull because it doesn't have a shelf - what do you think? Maybe the one before it might be better

I think I have found it cheaper here http://www.shanetodd.co.uk/Hagen-Zoozon ... ANXYN.aspx

There's also this http://www.k9capers.com/shop/proddetail.asp?prod=14585

If anyone wants to point out a really good cage feel free