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Old 02-19-2021, 11:59 AM   #1
Noreenom
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Default UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Hi,

I have a pets at home cage; described as large, but since getting my hamster in October last year, and it increasingly biting the bars, I have discovered that the cage is not fit for purpose size wise !!

Really struggling to find a new cage at a reasonable price that is big enough. I have taken now to searching for rat cages which seem to be bigger. I have come across Pennine Large Rat Cage which can get for about £45.

But really struggling to find any reviews or info on the size of the built in wheel.

Has anyone any experience of this cage ?

Thanks,

Noreen
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Old 02-25-2021, 06:30 AM   #2
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Hello,

Most rat cages will have wider bar spacing and be taller. Had a quick google and unsure on this one but you could always replace wheel.

Looking on ebay and gumtree etc can be a good way to find a 2nd hand cage cheap such as the barney, alaska or hamster heaven
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Old 02-26-2021, 12:37 AM   #3
Noreenom
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Thank you. I wasn't getting very far; so decided to just bite the bullet and get the hamster heaven.
Thanks, Noreen
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Old 02-26-2021, 09:05 AM   #4
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

If the bar biting ever becomes a problem again the zoozone cages are quite good as they are all plastic except for the tops, which may need some meshing but they are only about £40-£50 which for a good sized cage is quite good.
Glad youve got yourself sorted though!
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Old 02-27-2021, 01:19 AM   #5
Noreenom
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Thanks for the tip RenW.
Unfortunately, the bar biting is back on second day of getting the new cage ! But after just spending £75 on s new cage; which is pretty huge as well, I'm all spent out !
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Old 02-27-2021, 03:14 AM   #6
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Noreenom View Post
Thanks for the tip RenW.
Unfortunately, the bar biting is back on second day of getting the new cage ! But after just spending £75 on s new cage; which is pretty huge as well, I'm all spent out !
Can you return the cage and get a refund?
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Old 02-27-2021, 06:18 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Sorry to hear the bar biting is still going on in the Hamster Heaven. The cage move may have caused some stress which can also lead to bar biting. It might settle down. Did you move everything across from the old cage without cleaning? If not then the hamster will be stressed as it will all smell unfamiliar.

But as Luna says you could take it back for a refund (PAH are quite good with this). If your hamster does seem to have bar biting as a habit now, then a tank style would be good but it does sound like the hamster needs plenty of space as well. Is it a female hamster by any chance?!

It isn't easy to find larger tank style cages. The 100cm zoozone and maxi duna are good but some hamsters don't find that big enough either - I think that is partly due to the height not being that tall to allow for extra levels and enrichment etc.

I think you can either try for a refund (and meanwhile put the hamster back in the old cage but allow plenty of out of cage time - you could even set up a playpen area and put the cage inside it and leave the door open most of the time (if you're around or they can escape playpens).

Or try and persist with the hamster heaven. They can take 2 weeks to settle after a cage move and adding enrichment, a large house and scattering food can help distract from bar biting and wanting to escape. But personally I have a feeling the bar biting could continue and the hamster needs a bigger cage.

So I would try for the refund. Alternatives: It is difficult to get hold of cages right now. And limited choice in tank style.

Amazon have the 100cm maxi duna multy in stock - but it has become expensive. The 100cm zoozone is basically the same and cheaper. But it needs the lid meshing as it has 2cm bar spacing so not escapeproof.

It might be a good option but would need setting up so there was lots of enrichment so the hamster doesn't get bored. Eg a large house, a platform, lots of floor toys and tunnels and different textures/substrate levels eg.

Ferplast Large Plastic Cage for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs MAXI Duna Multi House for Dwarf Rabbits, Small Animals , Ventilation Grid, Transparent Roof, Grill and Plastic Bottom, 99 x 51,5 x h 36 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

This is the Zoozone - a lot cheaper - if you don't mind meshing the bars on the lid. The lid is quite clunky to use and some people find that frustrating. The maxi duna has narrow bar spacing and a better lid overall - but costs a lot more.

Zoo Zone Large Small Animal Habitat

A second hand 4ft fish tank is an option, if you can find one. Otherwise tanks are very expensive (and make the maxi duna look cheap!). Someone on here recently got one from Junglepets though - they make them whatever size you want and they come with a lid already meshed. You'd be talking about £125 at least plus delivery.

Hamster Gerbil Mice Tank 48" - 122 x 48 x 48cm no platforms 2
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Old 03-02-2021, 07:13 AM   #8
Noreenom
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Hi all, thank you very much for your help and advice.

Serendipity 7000, I truly appreciate the time taken to respond and the suggestions made. Given the amount of time I spent researching and choose the hamster heaven from pets at home (which was already a replacement for a previous cage that they offered poor advice on), I've decided to leave it for now, and hope the bar biting calms down, and as suggested, might be due to the stress of the change (all new bedding etc)/habit. Does seem to have calmed down a little
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Old 03-02-2021, 04:51 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Yes it will maybe settle down when your hammy has adjusted . If it’s all new bedding and a big change it could take a couple of weeks. For another time, a tip is to move the old bedding over abd not clean anything at changeover time so it smells familiar. They are still a bit freaked but it wears off quicker.

But for the two week settling now it would be best not to do any cleaning (it’ll be fine!). If it gets a bit whiffy after a week then you could just spot clean the pee area (often a corner of the cage) by taking a handful of substrate out abd adding a new handful and mix it in a bit. If you can’t see an obvious pee area just leave it for now!

The main thing is not to disturb things in the cage fir that couple of weeks or it has to start again with another couple of weeks. Once he has a little routine in the cage, a cosy nest built etc he will feel settled. Is it a he or a she? So best not to move anything round (unless it’s essential for safety) or take anything out. They usually accept something new being added though as long as it doesn’t mean taking something away they‘be just claimed as theirs, or moving things around. If you’re using the HH as it comes then he might take a while to decide where to nest as the houses are small. They usually nest in the penthouse on top and block the tubes up! Then it becomes a big stinky mess and needs cleaning out too often (clean outs stress them).

But after a couple of weeks you can look at the odd minor adaptation maybe. Most people remove the penthouse and tubes and block off the tube holes and add a large ish house at floor level, open underneath and sat on the substrate. That keeps things naturally cleaner and more hygienic/aired in the house. They will usually use a litter tray too so then you just empty that once or twice a week. It’s only their pee that is smelly.

Hope he settles soon! Scatter feeding can help distract from bad chewing as well. You still put food in the bowl as usual but scatter a bit too - they like to forage fir it. Not sure if you have a different wheel but it usually means taking out one of the shelves to fit a larger wheel in. The 28cm trixie wheel is a good fit. The one supplied with the cage is too small and that can lead to bar biting too.

It’s a very nice cage with a lovely big front door that helps with interaction and taming. Also just keep talking to him gently through the bars so he gets used to your scent and presence.
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Old 03-02-2021, 04:58 PM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: UK hamster owners - any users of pennine large rat cage?

Ongoing - big clean outs aren’t recommended as it does stress them. Partial cleans are better - eg spot clean the pee or empty the litter tray now and then. If anything else needs cleaning (eg wheel ) do that a different week and so on. If they use a litter tray you can easily go 2 to 3 months without the substrate needing changing. Then it’s best to keep back some of the old substrate that’s clean and spread it on top of the new. And resist the temptation to clean everything all in one go.

They are particularly precious about nest and hoard so I leave those alone unless they are pee’d in. Otherwise they see you as a thief! If they are peed on and need removing then replace the hoard with some new food to avoid stress behaviours. And try and leave a little bit of the old nest behind and a big pile of torn up toilet paper sheets so they can rebuild it. Near the house but not inside (they like to forage fir that too).
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