New 3.0

[ShelbysMum1984]

Just had the Bucatstate 3.0 delivered and it is HUGE! Wondering if the 2.0 would have been a more reasonable purchase! Honestly not sure how to go about setting up something on this scale but want to do it well otherwise there isn’t much point in having it! The amount of substrate alone is going to be a lot! Any tips on how to layer to allow burrowing but also space for houses and wheels and toys etc would be most welcome! Thanks!

 

[Maz]

It looks very nice I assume that is the 120cm version. The 2.0 only comes in 100cm but the 3.0 comes in either 100cm or 120cm. The 3.0 is just a later, improved design on the 2

I think your hamster will appreciate it! A good start is with platforms and other items on legs - eg a multiroom house. Arrange those in the tank in a layout that could work so the hamster can access shelves etc. And then pour/put bedding in to fill the gaps between and under the platforms and things on legs After that you add additional enrichment items, eg additional hides or tunnels and sprays.

 

[Maz]

The video below is more about adding perspex to a barred cage, but does show how to start with the basic items on legs, fill in with substrate, and then add the rest Although it doesn't show the additional shelf/house I had in there as well. This was only in a 100cm cage so you'll have more room to play with. But as an easy basic set up you could have multiroom house on legs at one end, platform on legs at the other end, and another platform for the wheel centre back. You might also need a lower plaform to sit a sand bath on as well, as they can be heavy. But an easier option might be one larger/longer platform at the end opposite the house and the sand bath can sit on that.

Happy Henry homes has a really good selection of platforms and you can choose the leg length you want. It can take a bit of maths! Eg if you want 21cm deep substrate (9") then you'd want 11" legs (about 23cm). So the platform is about 2" above the substrate. Anything taller and an access ramp would be too steep and take up space - maybe 3" maximum. If you want a sand bath at substrate level then the platform legs would need to be the same height as the substrate - eg 21cm. With a multiroom house the legs can the the same height as the substrate (house sits on top and flat roof makes another level), or slightly less (house is partly submerged and makes a lower level).

Cork logs next to or partly under a platform make a good ramp/tunnel combined - ie a nice big tunnel to run through and they can run up the side of it to reach the platform. You can also make little steps out of cork log rounds - ie stick them together to make small steps.

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[Maz]

A better example here from another cage - everything structural set up before adding the bedding

 

[Maz]

Happy Henry Homes platforms on link below. Something like that long rectangular platform might work well in the Bucatstate and double up as both a place for a sand bath and a general platform maybe.

Platforms | Happy Henry’s Homes

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

 

[Socks' Mum]

The female hamsters really benefit from the extra space. Once the bedding is in, the bulk of it stays and won't need changing. It's just the bedding in their specific toilet places that needs to be changed if it's damp. I do Socks' toilet once a week Putting together a collection of hides and platforms is fun and the 100cm doesn't offer nearly as much scope for designing as the larger cage. Once the wheel, a sand bath and a multi chamber house are in the cage you will be surprised by how much space has been taken up.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Most of the burrowing will be under the hammy's nest, so if she has a multi chamber house, she will burrow underneath it for her nest chamber, often a second sleeping chamber, a store for her hoard and a toilet chamber. Socks likes to create a couple of secret exit tunnels from his nest into the middle of his cage, but now that he is quite old, he doesn't tunnel as much any more. So there are often a few carefully concealed passages around the multi chamber house Having the house on legs is useful. You can also use shoe boxes with the bottoms cut out and the lid turned into a removable roof as these are light and won't fall into a tunnel. I made Socks' first multi chamber house from cardboard and he certainly put it to good use

 

[Maz]

I forgot to say, a cardborad shoebox house works as well as a large multiroom house, is free and doesn't need supporting on legs. So it doesn't have to be too expensive Anything heavy needs supporting on legs. A platform can just be a piece of wood with legs/dowels stuck on

 

[Hamster Haven]

Just had the Bucatstate 3.0 delivered and it is HUGE! Wondering if the 2.0 would have been a more reasonable purchase! Honestly not sure how to go about setting up something on this scale but want to do it well otherwise there isn’t much point in having it! The amount of substrate alone is going to be a lot! Any tips on how to layer to allow burrowing but also space for houses and wheels and toys etc would be most welcome! Thanks!

View attachment 12763

I have the largest Niteangel, and without checking to be sure, it's probably about that size. For sure, when I first fill a fresh cage with substrate, I go through 1-2 LARGE bags of bedding; however, after that, with just spot cleaning, bedding is replaced very slowly! Your hammy will be so happy! You can find some of my set-ups in the Niteangel in the Show us your Cage threads.

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

I have the largest Niteangel, and without checking to be sure, it's probably about that size. For sure, when I first fill a fresh cage with substrate, I go through 1-2 LARGE bags of bedding; however, after that, with just spot cleaning, bedding is replaced very slowly! Your hammy will be so happy! You can find some of my set-ups in the Niteangel in the Show us your Cage threads.

Thank you, I will have a look!

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

It looks very nice I assume that is the 120cm version. The 2.0 only comes in 100cm but the 3.0 comes in either 100cm or 120cm. The 3.0 is just a later, improved design on the 2

I think your hamster will appreciate it! A good start is with platforms and other items on legs - eg a multiroom house. Arrange those in the tank in a layout that could work so the hamster can access shelves etc. And then pour/put bedding in to fill the gaps between and under the platforms and things on legs After that you add additional enrichment items, eg additional hides or tunnels and sprays.

Yes the 120cm, I went for the bigger space since she chewed out of last enclosure which was almost 100cm. Although the weird thing is she is loving life in the smaller temporary cage! Do not understand her at all! Your posts are very helpful! I am fine in terms of what they need for enrichment etc, it’s more the set up/layout so I will look at all your pictures and videos. Just want to make the most of the space but it’s hard to visualise how the deep bedding will work alongside the ‘furniture’ etc. Is it easier to have the substrate level? How can I stand the wheel safely if there is bedding everywhere? Do I just use a large platform to sit it on? Prob just need to have a play around with it!

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

I forgot to say, a cardborad shoebox house works as well as a large multiroom house, is free and doesn't need supporting on legs. So it doesn't have to be too expensive Anything heavy needs supporting on legs. A platform can just be a piece of wood with legs/dowels stuck on

I think a shoe box would def give more room than the multi-room I had delivered, will think about that! X

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

Most of the burrowing will be under the hammy's nest, so if she has a multi chamber house, she will burrow underneath it for her nest chamber, often a second sleeping chamber, a store for her hoard and a toilet chamber. Socks likes to create a couple of secret exit tunnels from his nest into the middle of his cage, but now that he is quite old, he doesn't tunnel as much any more. So there are often a few carefully concealed passages around the multi chamber house Having the house on legs is useful. You can also use shoe boxes with the bottoms cut out and the lid turned into a removable roof as these are light and won't fall into a tunnel. I made Socks' first multi chamber house from cardboard and he certainly put it to good use

Great idea, thanks! Shelby already has quite a big mansion house which she nests in so I think she will stick to that but I like the idea of something else at bottom of cage. Need to think about what her current house will sit on or if it can safely go on top of subtrate.

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

The female hamsters really benefit from the extra space. Once the bedding is in, the bulk of it stays and won't need changing. It's just the bedding in their specific toilet places that needs to be changed if it's damp. I do Socks' toilet once a week Putting together a collection of hides and platforms is fun and the 100cm doesn't offer nearly as much scope for designing as the larger cage. Once the wheel, a sand bath and a multi chamber house are in the cage you will be surprised by how much space has been taken up.

I worry because Shelby likes to poo in her hoard like a lot of hamsters and having all these secret locations will make that harder to monitor/clean! She does have a sand bath but uses it mainly to make a mess! Digs all the sand out!

 

[Maz]

Any house will need supporting underneath with legs or stilts, unless it's cardboard The wheel would need to stand on a platform. So you would probably need at least two platforms - one for the wheel - one just for somewhere to go and the sand bath. Or 3 platforms - one for the wheel, one for the sand bath and one just for somewhere to go. Or, if the house is supported underneath, you could use the house roof for the sand bath (which I've done).

 

[Maz]

I worry because Shelby likes to poo in her hoard like a lot of hamsters and having all these secret locations will make that harder to monitor/clean! She does have a sand bath but uses it mainly to make a mess! Digs all the sand out!

My Syrians have tended to do that too! Some Syrians aren't that bothered about sand, once they find it doesn't lead to a way out!

 

[Maz]

So for the furniture - start with what you need - on legs. Substrate level throughout is best, so they can dig tunnels. You could put a peep hide at the bottom at the front if you wish

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

A better example here from another cage - everything structural set up before adding the bedding

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So you can still have some lighter toys/bridges on top? Making more sense now. I’m normally so confident with the environment, jst not used to this set up!

 

[Maz]

Yes lighter items like cork logs, small additional hides (eg coconut hut or carrot cottage) and tunnels can just sit on top of the substrate.

 

[ShelbysMum1984]

Yes lighter items like cork logs, small additional hides (eg coconut hut or carrot cottage) and tunnels can just sit on top of the substrate.

Perfect and I have all that already so that’s ideal. Think I’m overthinking! Will sort the ‘big stuff’ tonight and see if I need to order anything else. Won’t know what I’m missing til I start trying things out!