Cage question and chinese hamster question

[Maz]

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.

It's difficult as nearly all cages need some kind of adaptation. Would Viking laser not ship to the Netherlands? They are quite helpful!

The only other cage with a deeper plexi base, that wouldn't need adapting is the new Omlet cage. But that might not be the larger upgrade you were thinking of. It's about 86cm x 56cm. In terms of floorspace between the plexi it actually has slightly more floor space than the Plaza 100 though. But it's less wide and deeper.

It's also quite expensive - but the wheel is included with it! And it's a silent wheel and quite good.

New Omlet cage - Netherlands

 

[Maz]

However if you're thinking about for a chinese hamster in future. A taller cage wouldn't be an issue so much

So in that case an Aura 120 might be best - that already has the perspex at the base. And then it's just a solution to stop the hamster climbing to the roof (if a hamster was so inclined).

But the Omlet could be ok for a Chinese hamster as well.

 

[Maz]

If you prefer the idea of the Speedy Gonzales, Viking laser will make the plexi panels any size you want - you'd just need to measure inside the bars. It may not be a perfect fit without notches cut out at corners eg, but that doesn't really matter - I've had the wrong panels in the wrong cage before and it works fine. Just a tiny gap at a corner or the bottom - bedding can't fall out and a hamster can't get through anyway.

 

[Veer]

I have found a webshop in the netherlands that can make the perspex sides for me any size i want.
How could i measure it and how to attach it to the cage?

 

[Maz]

I have found a webshop in the netherlands that can make the perspex sides for me any size i want.
How could i measure it and how to attach it to the cage?

That sounds great Is this for the Speedy Gonzales? (It does have some good shelves). If so you'd probably need to buy the cage first and then measure inside the bars between the corners - I'd take a couple of mm off the measurement. All the Viking lazer ones are the odd mm less to allow for adjustment and to make sure it's not too big to fit!

But the Speedy Gonzales has proper corners so should be easy enough to measure (the savic ones have rounded bits at the corners).

So when you have the cage, I would measure the long side at the front between the corners, then take off 2mm. But then when you measure the sides, don't do it right up to the corner because you need to allow for the thickness of the perspex for the front piece. So I would measure the sides from the inside edge of the first main vertical bar (before the corner gap).

So front and back, full width measurement less 2 or 3 mm. Sides measure from inside of vertical bars. Better to have a bit of a gap at the corners than have them too tight to fit. Although I have managed to overlap perspex panels before.

However the front part has the door so you want three separate pieces of perspex for the front.

One from the corner to the inside edge of the thick vertical bar surrounding the door. And the same at the other side. Then one piece wider than the door itself (like in my photo above) that can just sit inside the two side pieces and be lifted out if needed.

You could have the perspex as tall as you want - if it was 20cm high it would allow 30cm of bedding plus a bit extra to stop the bedding falling out.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I have found a webshop in the netherlands that can make the perspex sides for me any size i want.
How could i measure it and how to attach it to the cage?

The perspex cage liners from VL have square holes in them for wingnuts and square washers, if that makes sense. They have cut out pieces for the parts of the door as well

 

[Socks' Mum]

The perspex cage liners from VL have square holes in them for wingnuts and square washers, if that makes sense. They have cut out pieces for the parts of the door as well

For instance, they have a little cut out so that the door latch can make contact with the bars.

 

[Veer]

I think Ukkie is happy in his current tank. I don't see any signs that he is not happy.
But i think more space is always better.
if i decide on a new cage,i think i go for the skyline speedy gonzalez.
Not sure about it yet, because Ukkie might be my last hamster....

 

[Maz]

It's a great cage You wouldn't even need perspex really - you could just use grass matts, cardboard etc.

 

[Veer]

Do you think the Speedy gonzales might be suitable for a chinese hamster too?
I want to learn more about the Chinese, because they are the only dwarf hamsters that aren't banned over here.

 

[Maz]

I do think it would be suitable for a Chinese Hamster yes They are fine with more height and even things like hammocks can work with them. Daisy has a set up for a Chinese Hamster in the "Show us your cages" thread (linked the page it's on below). Some people also keep them in tanks but they do need some height for climbing. In fact looking at her set up, that is another option to stop a dwarf climbing to the roof, that I've seen elsewhere as well. The plastic tubes. If you have them all round the inside near the top, then the hamster can't get past them to the roof They don't even need to have access to them or use them. They can just go all round and be closed off - but it blocks the roof in a taller cage To avoid climbing too far and fall risks. It's near the bottom of this page.

Show us your cages 2023 onwards

Set up for a dwarf hamster.

www.thehamsterforum.com