Best enclosure

[badger1979]

Not yet a hamster owner. Looking for enclosure advice - please!

My options: (i) Omlet (only issue from what I can see appears to be that it's under the recommended 100 cm length (and price)); (ii) Savic Aura Plexi (like that it allows for depth without the bedding falling out with the plexi sides), but does not appear to be as easy to clean and handle as Omlet (?); (iii) Bucatstate - not really considering, too expensive and concerned that it will get too hot in the summer; (iv) pawhut - understand Syrians can chew through so not an option (?).

Any other options I'm clearly missing? I would like to cage to be easy to clean, comfy for the hamster, but ideally to also look good!

Thank you

 

[Maz]

Hello. They are all good options, The Aura Plexi is the biggest. It's a lovely big cage. It can be slightly awkward to clean reaching down through 10" of bedding through the front door, but you don't need to do that very often - maybe every 3 months or so for a "third" clean. Or the odd bit of spot cleaning depending on where the Hamster pees.

Others have the Omlet cage so might be able to comment on cleaning aspects, but with that one you would need to take the top bars off to do a "third" clean and it would still mean reaching down but a bit more manoevrability maybe. And yes it is expensive!

The best bang for the buck is the Aura 120. It does look very nice and holds 10" of bedding but you would need to fill the base to the top of the perspex so the perspex is there for extra bedding depth. However the bedding doesn't really fall out anyway as the bar spacing is very narrow at 6.5mm. Is this for a Syrian? If it's for a smaller species, the Aura is very tall and would need adapting..

In terms of ease of use it's probably the Omlet. It does look a bit undersized, but the floorspace between the perspex is actually fractionally larger than the Savic Plaza 100.

The Savic Plaza 100 is also a good option (and the Plaza 120). Although they don't have the perspex built in, they are a lower height at 50cm, so suitable for all species, as long as the bedding is deep enough and you can actually buy tailor made plexi panels to fit them. But that adds to the cost and then it costs about the same as a Bucatstate! Alternatively, some people just use grass mats and/or cardboard inside the bars to hold deeper bedding and you could do that at one end and have a deeper bedding end.

 

[badger1979]

Maz, thank you so much for your prompt reply, and for welcoming me to the forum!

We are looking to get a Syrian, correct. Currently on the waiting list at Scallywags. I have also reached out to a breeder I could find on pets4home who is based not too far from us, so hopefully will get one soon-ish. We are all very excited!

I would love if a Syrian owner with the Omlet cage could share their experience, and particularly if they felt it was undersized. I would look to get the playpen with it too, but even with the playpen the majority of the time will be spent in the cage (such as at night when hammies are most active).

It's an expensive cage so I assumed it would be best (I know that's not always right! . Scallywags whom I was speaking to actually seemed concerned that it's under the recommended size and that they might not be able to give us a hamster if we get this cage.

Good to know that it does not have to be Aura Plexi to not have the bedding all over the floor near the cage. I think I read somewhere that complained about that with Savic cages. (I might come back and ask about bedding depth as a bit confused. Victoria Raechel said in her videos it needs to be quite deep for burrowing, whereas Scallywags said 8 inch max (perhaps that's just for a baby).)

I have now also found your super helpful guide to enclosures, which I will go through.

Thank you again for all the advice.

 

[Maz]

Re getting a hamster - I would be very very wary about using anyone who calls themselves a breeder on Pets4Homes or other websites. Some of them are backstreet breeders and the genetics of the hamsters could be iffy which can lead to health issues. They don't have the same standards as NHC breeders. Scallywags is the better option.

You're doing all the right things working it all out. Yes 8 to 10" is usually recommended and 8" is fine, especially for a baby hamster. However with the Aura, it is 61cm tall because it allows for 10" of bedding depth, so with 8" of bedding it would be risky in height. And in that case you'd be better getting the Savic Plaza 120 which is the right height - but to fit 8" of bedding you'd need something inside the bars. That cage is much easier to clean out than the Aura though because the door isn't as high. However on it's own it will only hold 6" of bedding - but what you could do is get the Viking Laser perspex just for one end and have a deeper bedding end. For the perspex at one end it costs £43 (linked below) - the panels just screw in. The Plaza 120 costs £115. So that would make the cage £158. Or - you could just put grass mats inside the bars at one end - this also makes it feel more cosy and sheltered for a baby hamster

If you want the option to have deeper than 8" of bedding though, the Aura 120 is better. I'd just be concerned about the height with 8" of bedding.

Savic Plaza 120 - this is the plaza 120 - click blue link

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

 

[badger1979]

Thank you Maz. That's great advice - really appreciate this.

I think I prefer the front door opening too rather than the whole top lifting up which may be intimidating.

So unless anyone comes out with the Omlet cage convincing me that's better I will go with the Plaza 120 with the grass panels (perspex when the little guy/girl is older potentially).

Thank you also for the breeder advice. Will wait for Scallywags

 

[Socks' Mum]

Socks lives in an Omlet cage. I think they are better for dwarfies, but Socksie is an elderly hamster and just goes between his shoebox house, dinner bowl and wheel and the front door to catch a ride to the playpen. It is convenient to clean and the perspex sides mean you can really fill it up nicely. I got it because it has a super wheel which is smooth and stable. I have to lower the bedding height around the wheel but the depth elsewhere makes up for that. But the Savic 220 allows for much more furniture such as platforms and hides and sand baths if your hammy likes sand.

 

[badger1979]

Bless him Thank you for your message. That's good to know as I would def like to get our hamster a sand bath, saw somewhere that's how they clean themselves. I can't wait to get our first hammy! x

 

[Socks' Mum]

A concern I have with the Omlet is the little single screw that holds on the side doors. If it works loose the door on the side which allows tubes to be fitted could come off and allow hammy to escape. It needs to be checked and tightened regularly and you might want a few extra screws as it's tiny. You can get enough bedding into the Omlet to prevent hammy from falling too far during a bar climbing session and the bars are close together which might help to prevent bar biting, but I'm not sure about that. Congratulations on being a hamster parent to be

 

[badger1979]

A concern I have with the Omlet is the little single screw that holds on the side doors. If it works loose the door on the side which allows tubes to be fitted could come off and allow hammy to escape. It needs to be checked and tightened regularly and you might want a few extra screws as it's tiny. You can get enough bedding into the Omlet to prevent hammy from falling too far during a bar climbing session and the bars are close together which might help to prevent bar biting, but I'm not sure about that. Congratulations on being a hamster parent to be

 

[Maz]

I think the Plaza 120 is a good choice . It has both a large top door and large front door - which makes it easier when setting up (eg if trying to fix a wheel to the back bars). I had mine on a cupboard at waist height so I only really used the front door after that - but it was a good height for seeing the hamster (and saved on bending ). I have used both the plaza 120 and the Aura 120 - they are both great but I did prefer the Plaza 120 for ease . However it would limit you to 8” of bedding really - or a deep bedding end.

I think it sounds sensible to start with grass mats - and see how it goes. You will need quite a lot of items to fill it - I’d recommend at least a multiroom house, a platform and a large cork log plus a couple of smaller hides.

I had a large multiroom house at one end and platforms at the other end and there was still a lot of space in between - a good place for a large cork log!

I’ll see if I can find a photo of my plaza 120 set up from a couple of years ago.

So is there a waiting list for Scallywags then? You could also check out rescues as some have litters of babies needing homes.

 

[Maz]

Couldn't find many photos but this was a setting up video I did when the Plaza 120 first came out. It's a couple of years ago and roof runs have gone out of fashion I just did the set up the same as his old cage as it was a cage upgrade for a 15 month old hamster. Likewise you can now get platforms that fit in this cage instead of having a wood shelf made, which I had. I later changed this set up when he got older, and used platforms instead - I'll add a photo of that.

On this video it has 8" of bedding and I did have the perspex panels - so you can see what it looks like with 8" - and had it a bit deeper in other areas. You can just use cardboard instead of perspex but this particular hamster chewed all the cardboard off

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This was the set up later when he was a bit older - all at floor level and with two Happy Henry Homes platforms instead of the shelf (they fit that cage well). It needed a bit more adding at this point, but you get the idea. As he was older I needed things quite level and easy to get about.










And there's a video here which shows options for bedding panels instead of or as well as perspex Some people just have them at one end

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These are the Happy Henry Homes Cloud platforms. They work really well in barred cages, because the legs/stilts are offset - so the platforms can sit against the edge of the cage without the legs getting fouled up on the curved base. Most platforms have the legs in the four corners and that doesn't work with a curved cage base. I still use these in my hamster cages. Two fills the width of the cage and one slightly higher than the other so they can step up between them. So if having 8" (20cm) of bedding, you would want 25cm legs on one and 30cm legs on the second one). My Syrians love sitting in a corner under these platforms, to have a wash and groom - a private little corner. You choose the leg length at the time of buying the platforms but can change the legs to different length ones later if you want - they sell them separately.

Hamster Cloud Platform 300mm x 200mm with Solid Birch Legs | Happy Henry’s Homes

Hamster Cloud Platform with Solid Birch Legs Description:Hamster Platform with 4 supporting legs. Legs come complete with brass threaded inserts for stainless steel screw fixings to fix the platform and legs to one another.

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

They also do a very good Syrian sized multiroom house that slots together like a jigsaw - again they sell legs to fit those.

Hamster Chamber House - Formaldehyde Free, Non Toxic, Wooden, Slot Together & Mo | Happy Henry’s Homes

Slot Together Wooden Hamster Chamber House Made from robust materials Assembled without glue or nails Flat packed to save on packaging materials Modular, allowing you to change the design to suit your requirements Chambers can be changed into two main configurations Removeable roof for checking...

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

The one thing about the Happy Henry homes items is, you need to allow plenty of time for delivery - it can take two weeks or even a bit longer - it's a small company and they make them all.

So it's good to prepare everything before you get the hamster

 

[Socks' Mum]

Lovely video! ❤

 

[Maz]

Lovely video! ❤

It seems so old now! It was only 2 years ago and the first 120cm cage for hamsters - before the Bucatstate's even.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, it has become a staple cage. Its a hamster generation ago ❤ You can fit an endless amount into it.

 

[badger1979]

Maz, thank you so much. That's a fantastic set up in 120 - fits a lot of things! Love the variety and that large wheel looks really awesome - is it freestanding or fixed? Can I ask where you got that from?

I have a list going now for the set up, and will place the order for the Happy Henry platforms now so will arrive on time. ok to use the links from above? want to make sure you get the commission if applicable, for all the support

I have not actually been able to find many hamster rescue places that we could easily get to. The only one London-based I could find is Hamster Hostel but their website no longer works. I messaged via insta but not heard back. Having searched on the forum I can see a couple of other places mentioned though, will message them too.

I just wanted to say I am so grateful for such amazing support and info from this community - so glad I have joined this forum. all my questions answered so far I'm sure I'll be back for more advice once we actually have a hammy. Can't wait! xx

 

[Maz]

Unfortunately the site doesn't get any commission for things like Happy Henry Homes items It's just items from places like Amazon or or a large Pet store mainly There are links on the cages thread though

There is India's Hamster Rescue in London - you could maybe have a look there. They sometimes have litters of babies. If not I hope you don't have to wait too long with Scallywags

Home | India's Hamster Rescue

www.indiashamsterrescue.co.uk

 

[badger1979]

Thank you! have reached out to India's. If I can't find plaza 120 second hand (not much luck so far), will get via the links on your site for sure

 

[Maz]

I hope you can find one second hand - I did see one recently for sale - can't remember where now. It's a shame the price has gone up a bit as it used to be £100. And at one point during a sale it was being sold for £80. Only for a very short time.

 

[badger1979]

quite a few 100s for sale but not many 120s. the ones I did find on facebook marketplace are over 3 hours drive from us which is too far.

 

[Maz]

There are a couple for sale on ebay - not sure if they're anywhere near you?