Cage question and chinese hamster question

[Veer]

Now that my Hammie passed away, i only have Ukkie left who is about 1,5 years old.
He is in a tank style cage in the living room, it is 80x40x50cm, he has always lived in this tank and seems happy with it.

I am thinking about giving him a bigger cage. This would only be possible if i place it in my bedroom.
Problem is the roomtemperature there.
During winter the lowest temperature is about 15c.
During summer it can get up to 28c.
Would that be too much for him?

Is it better to keep him in his tank in the living room, with the constant temperature (19c-21c), or could he be happier in a bigger cage in the bedroom, but with hot and cold temperatures?

Is a cage with bars safe for him? Here in the netherlands people prefer tank style cages because of climbing and fall risk, and tooth problems because of bar biting

(I would hate the sound of bar biting during the night too)

In the netherlands the dwarfhamsters are not allowed anymore (to breed and buy) since july 2024. The only dwarf hamster that is allowed is the chinese dwarf hamster.
With this in mind, i am not sure if i want to get another hamster after Ukkie, and if i do, it can only be a chinese dwarf hamster i think.
(There are still legal cases pending regarding this ban and the positive list)

I know the chinese dwarfhamsters prefer cages for climbing.
But how are these hamsters as a pet?
I have read that they are shy and only up and out during the night? Is this true?

I would buy a bigger cage if it is better dor Ukkie, but i also keep in mind the possibility that he could be my last hamster if the chinese dwarf hamsters are not the species for me.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I would keep Ukkie in the room with the stable climate rather than trade that for a 20cm increase. If you can go to a 40cm increase it might be worth it, but I think he would be happiest staying in his familiar tank and climate.

 

[Maz]

Hi - I can't believe Ukkie is 1.5 already! Here's hoping he has a long healthy life like your recent Hammie I haven't had a Chinese hamster but yes they do have a reputation for being shy. They can be tamed but it can take a very long time I think. @Daisy has had Chinese dwarf hamsters.

Are roborovski hamsters banned in the Netherlands as well? Or just Russian Dwarfs? Also have you considered having a Syrian? They are such characters

 

[Daisy]

I'd probably lean towards keeping Ukkie where he is at his age. Highs of 28C might be ok if it's just a few days a year, and I think 15C is ok for a dwarf hamster. But it depends on how much space he would actually gain.

I have a Chinese hamster, my first Chinese. He is very shy. He's not a "people hamster". When he was younger he was only up late at night. Now that he's older (3 years old) he's up more in the day. I believe some Chinese do become more interested in people as they get older as well.

Chinese do enjoy heights and climbing. Personally I prefer barred cages for a Chinese because it's easier to hang hammocks and ropes and things for them. Mine has never bar-chewed.

 

[Veer]

roborovski's are also banned.
I would likw to stick with the dwarf species, because of the space and all the stuff i have for their size.

Yes, Ukkie is from june 2024. Time flies!
THe high temperature can continue for the hottest time in summer, maybe about a week or two at most.

I think as long as he is happy in his tank, and doens't show any strees signs, he is okay, am i right?
A cannot fit a bigger cage in the living room, or only if i place it on the floor.
Not sure if that would be a good place.

 

[Maz]

What do you think about Chinese? I think they are very different to Russian Dwarf Hamsters. Those who have them love them - but they are very different And would a new hamster need to be in the bedroom then if needing a larger cage then? Where was Hammie's cage?

Edit - I think with time and patience you could tame a chinese hamster but as with all hamsters, their personalities vary

 

[Veer]

They both had a tank style cage.
If i would give Ukkie or a new hamster a bigger cage, it would need to be placed in the bedroom or on the floor in the livingroom too.

I had their tanks on a kabinet in the livingroom for a while, but the kabinet wasn't strong enough, so i placed both of them in the bedroom,until last summer,
it was too hot there.

Hammies tank got damaged and i didn't buy a new one, because of her age.
I had here in a bincage on the floor in the living room, and she was very happy with it in her old age:



Ukkie was and still is on a aquarium stand in the living room.
This is his tank right now. He is happy in it. But would a bigger cage be better, considering it would need to be placed in the bedroom or on the floor?

 

[Socks' Mum]

Ukkie's cage looks perfect ❤ I honestly wouldn't change a thing about it. I think he wouldn't either.

 

[Veer]

Thank you! I keep in mind that he is ok in his current tank, no need to change things, but I am looking around for cage options, would like to give him more space, maybe i could place a cage on a ikea coffeetable?

He is not used to a cage with bars, so not sure if he can appreciate it, or if he will start climbing and fall, of start bar biting. What do you think?

what about this cage:

Skyline Cage Speedy Gonzales 120 - Gray, Large | Shopping in EU

Skyline Cage Speedy Gonzales 120 - Gray, Large, price from 104.68€. Compare prices in online stores via Shopping in EU

www.shoppingin.eu

 

[Veer]

Skyline Knaagdierkooi Speedy Gonzales 120 voordelig online bestellen

Nu Skyline Knaagdierkooi Speedy Gonzales 120 extra voordelig bij de online dierenwinkel van zooplus ⭐️ Snel en eenvoudig bestellen ✓ Gratis verzending vanaf €29,-

www.zooplus.nl

 

[Maz]

Firstly, I was always so envious that you could get the Speedy Gonzales 120 in Netherlands, Europe and other European countries for years, and that we couldn't get it shipped to the Uk 120cm cage with 7mm bar spacing. All those years we had no 120cm cage option - until the Savic Plaza 120.

I think it's quite tall and with only a 6" base you'd need something inside the bars to allow for deep bedding and reduce the height. I believe the gaps at the corners are a bit larger but the main bars are 7mm so the corner gaps are likely to be no more than 1cm which is ok or you can use cable ties on them. But I seem to remember they are ok - I think it was Elusive had one once for a Chinese hamster (when for a short while they could be shipped to the Uk via Amazon before the pandemic).

So yes with some adjustments for deeper bedding and to ensure the height is made safe, it could be a good option It has good access from both the front large door and the top large door.

There is also the Savic Plaza 120 which is about the same size, but that has 9mm bar spacing instead of 7mm.

It is possible he may climb the bars but it's much less likely with a cage that size. There are ways of making sure they don't get as far as the room though

 

[Veer]

It's a shame that the tray isn't high enough for safe bedding and fall height. If it needs a lot of tinkering, I think that's a big disadvantage.
How is that with the Savic cage at only 120? I also saw the Savic with plexiglass, which allows for deeper bedding, but the cage is also higher. Is that a safe combination?

 

[Maz]

Yes I use the Savic cages with the plexiglass panels (not the full panels, the screw on ones). It works well for deeper bedding. Or you can just use cardboard panels or grass mats. The plexi panels can get expensive though so some people put cardboard round three sides and just plexi at the front So you can still see into the cage and what the hamster does and so on.

The Savic with plexiglass is the Aura 120. It gives 10" of bedding and has 6.5mm narrow bar spacing. But yes it is tall for a dwarf hamster. If I was using that for a dwarf hamster I'd probably put extra plexi panels in - either at the bottom for very deep bedding (to reduce the height) or (maybe better) around the top bars. I've done that before - it means the hamster can't get past it to get to the roof.

However, as I found with a dwarf hamster, when I had 7mm plexi round the top bars - that wasn't deep enough! The hamster just reached across it to the roof! So it needs to be at least 10cm deep plexi round the top. Which is additional cost. The panels for the Plaza 120 would fit though.

The Aura 120 is a great cage for a Syrian - but it does need a bit of adapting for a dwarf. Although the good thing about 6.5mm bar spacing is the bedding doesn't fall out through the bars So you can fill the base to the top - ie the full 10".

Actually the plexi panels for the plaza 120 might not fit the aura 120 because of the narrow bar spacing - ie the bolts might not fit through the bars.

To be honest, the better option for a dwarf hamster would be the Plaza 120 with the perspex bedding panels for deeper bedding - and it's a better height once you have the 10" or so of bedding.

If you just had the plexi at the front it would cost £26 for the plexi (and had cardboard the other three sides). For plexi all round it would cost about £86.

Savic Plaza 120 Draught/Bar Biting/Deep Bedding Cage Screens - Viking Laser

Customise your Savic Plaza 120 with these acrylic cage screens, suitable for stopping draughts, bar biting or for creating deep bedding areas.

www.vikinglaser.co.uk

Or if you get the Plaza 100 you can turn it into a tank with full plexi panels (they replace the slide in bars). But that costs about £120 for the plexi. Which is not bad if you already have a Plaza 100 or can get one second hand, but if buying it new it's about the same cost as a Bucatstate.

Savic Plaza 100 Complete Cage Screens - Viking Laser

Transform your Savic Plaza 100 with crystal clear acrylic complete cage screens. Replace the bars on your Plaza with almost invisible screens.

www.vikinglaser.co.uk

 

[Veer]

How could i make the speedy ginzales cage suitable? Could i use perspex on the inside, about 10cm high? Could this be attached to the cagebars and how?

 

[Maz]

This might be a good option for a table top maybe?

Skyline Marrakesh 120 Small Pet Cage | Order now ✔

Buy Skyline Marrakesh 120 Small Pet Cage now at zooplus. Free delivery from £39. ► Unlock the deals, shop now.

www.zooplus.co.uk

 

[Veer]

It could,but i prefer having a front door too.
I also looked at the ferplast criceti 120, but it has very small doors on the front.
Is that a cage with safe hight/bedding?

CRICETI 120

Criceti 120 is the ideal hamster and mouse cage, designed to provide a spacious and comfortable habitat that meets the needs of small rodents. Thanks to its generous dimensions, it provides maximum comfort and a stimulating environment, allowing the animals to explore and move freely. The...

www.ferplast.com

Are there any other good options?

 

[Maz]

How could i make the speedy ginzales cage suitable? Could i use perspex on the inside, about 10cm high? Could this be attached to the cagebars and how?

That could be difficult getting somewhere to cut them to fit the Speedy Gonzales. The Viking laser ones are tailor made to fit certain cages and have specific cut outs for all the little plastic notches on the base etc. However - Viking Laser also make them for the Barney cage! And that could be an option - it's also a bit lower - I think it's about 43cm tall internally.

Skyline rodent cage Barney | Order now ✔

Buy Skyline rodent cage Barney now at zooplus. Free delivery from £39. ► Unlock the deals, shop now.

www.zooplus.co.uk

The fittings all come with the perspex included in the price (bolts and washers).

Skyline Barney Draught/Bar Biting/Deep Bedding Cage Screens - Viking Laser

These acrylic Skyline Barney cage screens are perfect for stopping draughts, bar biting or for creating deep bedding areas.

www.vikinglaser.co.uk

To show what the perspex looks like when screwed on, this is a photo of a Plaza 100 set up for a robo

 

[Maz]

It could,but i prefer having a front door too.
I also looked at the ferplast criceti 120, but it has very small doors on the front.
Is that a cage with safe hight/bedding?

CRICETI 120

Criceti 120 is the ideal hamster and mouse cage, designed to provide a spacious and comfortable habitat that meets the needs of small rodents. Thanks to its generous dimensions, it provides maximum comfort and a stimulating environment, allowing the animals to explore and move freely. The...

www.ferplast.com

Are there any other good options?

Ah the Barney only has small doors on the front as well I hear you, I like the big front doors as well. In which case I think there are only the Savic cages and the Speedy Gonzales that have the large front doors.

 

[Veer]

I am from the netherlands and would have to buy cut to size perspex somewhere online.
I am looking for options without needing extra perspex, would love a 120cm cage.
I could go for a new tank, but i rather have a less havy cage if i go for an update.

 

[Maz]

With that photo above, I used one plexi panel to go part way across the front door and just wedged it behind the two side panels. It meant I could have the bedding deeper across the whole cage - it just made the front door less tall but it worked fine! And when it came to cleaning I could scoop the front bedding out and lift out the front panel to get the full sized door back for lifting larger things out through the door.

The Plaza 100 only has the front door though. The 120 has a large door on top as well as at the front.