Cage questions

Trick · 07-03-2016, 03:01 PM

Hello! I recently bought a cage as I'm going to be buying a Russian Dwarf soon. However I found it was smaller than the recommended size cage for dwarves, and was too small to fit any of my current toys for the future hamster in.

I'm returning the cage tomorrow and I'm possibly buying a new one at Pets At Home. So, if anyone can suggest a cage, especially from Pets At Home, for a Winter White RD hamster, I'd be delighted!!

I also forgot to add that I am looking at getting the Rosewood Pico XL cage, and I would love if somebody could confirm if this is a suitable cage for a Winter White.

Rodent Fan · 07-03-2016, 03:50 PM

Any chance you'd consider buying something online? I don't think the selection at pets at home is great really. For a winter white you'll need something at least 70 x 40 cm and as far as I know, pets at home doesn't stock something that large.

I have a winter white called Archie and he lives in a Duna Multy cage which is 71 x 46 cm and he seems pretty happy in there

I got it for about £33 here (delivery was free) Cage Duna Multy

AlfredHam · 07-03-2016, 04:30 PM

I had this cage, it's appalling and the name is wrong it is not xl. Stay well away!

Not the Duna Multy lol, I need to start quoting the comment I'm replying to

AmityvilleHams · 07-03-2016, 05:06 PM

If you want a really large cage that also looks very nice at a good value for the size,an Ikea Detolf makes a wonderful cage for a dwarf hamster on their own as long as you set it up properly with lots of hiding space(as with any cage).They're a little bit over half a square meter on their own,but if you attach two lengthwise or widthwise you can easily create a square meter cage in the future that would be perfect for a Syrian as well.

You can do a lot with a Detolf that you can't do with tanks or barred cages,like easily connecting multiple Detolf's to each other without the use of tubes.Also,the Detolf can have hanging toys for even more enrichment due to its bar support things(not sure on the proper term but you can use them to hang things on)as well as due to its depth you can have a lot of substrate that barred cages just can't have.

If the idea of DIY is scary,the Detolf isn't much DIY at all actually and it comes with instructions so you aren't going in blind!Making a lid is just as easy,simply purchase kiln dried pine or another safe wood and staple mesh to the undersides.Make the lid in pieces as well if you choose the Detolf,as this makes it easier to move the lid instead of one large and awkwardly sized piece.

If you can find the Detolf second hand or items for stands secondhand,it will definitely work out much cheaper than a similarly sized tank.When space and substrate depth are considered plus no modification unlike similarly sized wire cages which are often far too shallow for proper burrowing and have huge bar spaces which make modification essential,it is easier to just buy a Detolf,set it up with a stand,and make a lid.

Pebbles82 · 07-03-2016, 06:15 PM

Agree with Alfred Ham - don't get the Rosewood Pico - it's terrible! All wrong - too high, too small - and a house at the top instead of on the floor of the cage on top of substrate (so they can bury hoards in their house or under their nest). The Duna Multy that Rodent Fan linked is much better. A detolf is also great, as Amityville says, if you have the space!

If you're returning the cage, you can get a refund without having to buy anything else from Pets at Home - other people have done that and bought something elsewhere. The issue could be, I guess, if you return it tomorrow you need another cage the same day to put your hammy in! What would you put your hammy in when you return the cage?

The only thing big enough I could think of that you could exchange it for at Pets at Home would be the Hamster Heaven, and that's not a cheap cage - you can get it at Zooplus cheaper. The bar spacing is 1cm and ideally you want about 8mm or less bar spacing for a dwarf hamster (or a perspex tank style cage like the Duna Multy), but people do use the HH for a dwarf hamster and it should be ok. It has a lovely big front opening door. You'd need to remove the tubes and penthouse for a dwarf hammy (the cage come with blockers for the holes).

http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs...DrUaAnkX8P8HAQ

It costs about £7 less at Zooplus

I think the Duna Multy would be a good buy.

daphnephoebe · 07-04-2016, 07:41 AM

Please take into account what everyone else has said but looking online for P@H the only one I'd even consider for a dwarf would be this one:

Hamster Heaven Hamster Cage (Web Exclusive) | Pets At Home

I'd possibly consider this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Frie...ds+gerbilarium

I have it for my gerbil and its brilliant. Once he's passed my robo will be upgraded into it. (At the moment my Robo is in this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Frie...ds+gerbilarium)

Have a little look on this website if you decide to buy online:

Hamster Cages | great selection at zooplus

Lots of good cages that have been discounted (nothing wrong with them, I always buy from here)

Pebbles82 · 07-04-2016, 07:54 AM

That gerbilarium looks great

Slightly bigger than a Duna Multy as well but with side doors which is good - a bit more expensive.

The Kerry Terrarium on daphne's Zooplus link is a good option too, but also about £69.

Having said that, those are all minimum sized cages for a dwarf hammy and there are plenty of dwarf hammy owners who have the 100cm Maxi Duna Multy or 100cm cage or even a whole detolf. I forgot about the detolf as an option. It costs £40 and makes a great large tank cage. It's an ikea glass cabinet you tip on its side and leave the door off - it doesn need a lid making though out of wood and mesh, so a bit of diy, plus it depends if you have the space for it.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=de...YsBzgQ_AUIBigB

The standard duna multy from Porton is about the cheapest option and the smallest you'd want to go with really. They need a lot of floorspace in one cage, and it's more space for enrichment toys as well. The Hamster Heaven is fine too if you need to get something from Pets at Home the same day.

AmityvilleHams · 07-04-2016, 08:03 AM

Savic Zeno 3 Rat Cage | Pets At Home This one is 100 x 50 but would need lots of levels and things to make it safe.It also might need meshing as well due to the 9.5 mm spacing,but considering the cost it really isn't a bad thing to have to do since it is such a great price for a good sized cage.It says not suitable for hamsters,but that would be due to the height which really isn't an issue if the cage is set up well

Rabbit 100 Guinea Pig and Young Rabbit Cage | Pets At Home It is another half square meter cage!Due to being a cage with rabbit sized spacing it would also need meshing,but it isn't much more than the HH though it does have more space.It is shorter than the previous cage mentioned,however that is a very good thing since it means less worrying about falls and such.

P@H seems to have a very small selection of large cages that are cost effective,but those two are definitely good options even though they would require just a bit of modification.

CMB · 07-04-2016, 12:05 PM

Hamster heaven might be available in p@h.

The Slavic ruffs rat cage is a low cage and looks to have narrow bar spacing. Have a look when you are in pets at home. You can also order on their website for in store delivery.

Savic Ruffy 2 Rat Cage | Pets At Home

Trick · 07-04-2016, 01:26 PM

We bought a larger cage, the new one is 55cmx38cm (x26cm). If seems to have a lot of room for little bits and pieces for hideaways, and appears to be good quality. If anything with this one, I'm worried about how loud the lock is when I open the cage, because it could scare the poor thing! I'm pretty sure it'll become quieter with time, but still, its a minor concern to me as I could easily find a way to remedy this (but any help from more experienced owners would be much appreciated!) I'm sure this is a big enough cage for a Russian, but as always I'm open to advice.