Reccomendations for buying cage accessories without spending a fortune?

[mealwormdevourer]

After months of trying to get a Bucastate 3.0 120cm second hand, they have come back into stock and I gave up and bought a brand new one.

I am really looking forward to upgrading Stig to a spacious cage, his current temporary one is only 90x45.

I need to set the cage up, fill it and move him in on the same day as I don't have space to set it up and wait. Is it ok to do it like this? Or does it need to sit around and get the smell of the environmetn first? I would of course be transferring everything from his current cage so that it still smells familiar.

I also would like some tips on where I can buy things like wooden burrow starters, a wheel and platforms for food (and the wheel) and water bottle stands etc. I will not buy from amazon or temu, but am happy to do two seperate orders if I can't get it all from the same shop.

Are plastic wheels any good? Do hamsters tend to slip on them? I ask because he has eaten most of his current wheel, I am concerned that a new wheel might just go the same way!

 

[Maz]

I think Happy Henry homes is a good place for platforms, and you can choose what length legs you want for them Eg you could have one at substrate level for a sand bath. One or two at different levels (I have one about 2" above the substrate and one about 2" above that and a little step between them. You could spend ages on there working out platform combinations!

Platforms | Happy Henry’s Homes

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

You could use a small water bowl rather than a bottle. I use the Ikea Glasig tealight holders. They are just the right size and quite heavy so not easily knocked over. If it's in the corner of a platform its not likely to get spilled or fallen in. I don't really have any recommendations for bottle holders really as most are not that good. I do like the Rodipet one, but rodipet are offline at the moment. The Bucatstate cactus one might be ok but I've only seen that on Amazon.

For a nice big cork log, this places is good - and you choose the size and shape you want. They also arrive very clean.

Cork caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting

Cork Caves / Hides. Caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting. The Cork Shed UK. Full Worldwide Delivery on all cork products.

www.thecorkshed.co.uk

I think with a couple of platforms and a cork log you'll have quite a full cage already! Plus sprays. A multiroom house is good too (Happy Henry homes have a good one of those as well - see above link).

Wheels - You can't really go wrong with the Trixie 28cm plastic wheel It's cheap. It's not silent, but they're usually quiet and spin quite well. That is sold at other places as well as Amazon. And yes a plastic wheel is fine. Unless he chews it but I've never had a syrian chew a plastic trixie wheel yet.

Is ebay any good? It seems to be out of stock everywhere else. You don't need an expensive wheel, just a reliable one.

Trixie Exercise Wheel 28 cm Diameter Smooth Motion Quiet Grip Solid Surface Safe 4047974610114 | eBay UK

Trixie Exercise Wheel, 28 cm ---Plastic ---Protects the spine due to ideal wheel size ---Particularly smooth motion and quiet ---Solid running surface (no rungs) with lateral reinforcements for better grip ---Safety stand and closed rear wall prevent the animal from getting caught...

www.ebay.co.uk

Where did you manage to find the Bucatstate enclosure? Amazon used to be the only place and they haven't had them for a while and I believe people had been getting them from Temu as the only other option? Or do Bucatstate ship direct? He's a lucky boy!

 

[mealwormdevourer]

I think Happy Henry homes is a good place for platforms, and you can choose what length legs you want for them Eg you could have one at substrate level for a sand bath. One or two at different levels (I have one about 2" above the substrate and one about 2" above that and a little step between them. You could spend ages on there working out platform combinations!

Platforms | Happy Henry’s Homes

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

You could use a small water bowl rather than a bottle. I use the Ikea Glasig tealight holders. They are just the right size and quite heavy so not easily knocked over. If it's in the corner of a platform its not likely to get spilled or fallen in. I don't really have any recommendations for bottle holders really as most are not that good. I do like the Rodipet one, but rodipet are offline at the moment. The Bucatstate cactus one might be ok but I've only seen that on Amazon.

For a nice big cork log, this places is good - and you choose the size and shape you want. They also arrive very clean.

Cork caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting

Cork Caves / Hides. Caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting. The Cork Shed UK. Full Worldwide Delivery on all cork products.

www.thecorkshed.co.uk

I think with a couple of platforms and a cork log you'll have quite a full cage already! Plus sprays. A multiroom house is good too (Happy Henry homes have a good one of those as well - see above link).

Wheels - You can't really go wrong with the Trixie 28cm plastic wheel It's cheap. It's not silent, but they're usually quiet and spin quite well. That is sold at other places as well as Amazon. And yes a plastic wheel is fine. Unless he chews it but I've never had a syrian chew a plastic trixie wheel yet.

Is ebay any good? It seems to be out of stock everywhere else. You don't need an expensive wheel, just a reliable one.

Trixie Exercise Wheel 28 cm Diameter Smooth Motion Quiet Grip Solid Surface Safe 4047974610114 | eBay UK

Trixie Exercise Wheel, 28 cm ---Plastic ---Protects the spine due to ideal wheel size ---Particularly smooth motion and quiet ---Solid running surface (no rungs) with lateral reinforcements for better grip ---Safety stand and closed rear wall prevent the animal from getting caught...

www.ebay.co.uk

Where did you manage to find the Bucatstate enclosure? Amazon used to be the only place and they haven't had them for a while and I believe people had been getting them from Temu as the only other option? Or do Bucatstate ship direct? He's a lucky boy!

Happy Henry homes looks great! I will have to get a tape measure and work out what the different heights look like in person.

His current wheel is very loud and I have mostly got used to sleeping through it! His cage is right next to my bed so it isn’t ideal. I’ll see where I can get the Trixie wheel.

I ordered direct from bucatstate. I’ve been looking at their website for a while, and the prices have all been set to £720 for everything because it was all out of stock. They finally had the enclosures back in so I decided to just go for it and order one. I haven’t opened it yet, it did come with Evri who are notoriously terrible in my area. Hopefully it’s intact!

 

[Maz]

What is his current wheel? I can't remember. Occasionally some trixie wheels will have a rattle or a squeak but best thing then is just send it back and replace it (and actually that's why I usually get them from Amazon! They are good about returns). Most other wheels are ridiculously expensive now - all over £40 usually.

The exotic nutrition silent runner (12" orange) is a good silent wheel that only costs about £26 and I have found those very long lasting. But they seem very hard to get hold of now (they are imported from the US), although the sugarglider shop has them in stock. Similar idea to the trixie wheel - but a 12" wheel, bigger holes, silent. It is better made but also harder to take apart for cleaning than the trixie wheel.

Tip: Doesn't need taking apart that often - it can be wiped out without taking it apart.
Tip 2: Once you've taken it apart and put it together a few times it gets quicker and easier!
Big tip 3: Don't submerge the back part in water - the centre contains ball bearings which will rust if it's submerged in water, and stop working.

Silent Runner 12″ Wheel – Sugar Glider Shop

sugarglidershop.co.uk

 

[mealwormdevourer]

What is his current wheel? I can't remember. Occasionally some trixie wheels will have a rattle or a squeak but best thing then is just send it back and replace it (and actually that's why I usually get them from Amazon! They are good about returns). Most other wheels are ridiculously expensive now - all over £40 usually.

The exotic nutrition silent runner (12" orange) is a good silent wheel that only costs about £26 and I have found those very long lasting. But they seem very hard to get hold of now (they are imported from the US), although the sugarglider shop has them in stock. Similar idea to the trixie wheel - but a 12" wheel, bigger holes, silent. It is better made but also harder to take apart for cleaning than the trixie wheel.

Tip: Doesn't need taking apart that often - it can be wiped out without taking it apart.
Tip 2: Once you've taken it apart and put it together a few times it gets quicker and easier!
Big tip 3: Don't submerge the back part in water - the centre contains ball bearings which will rust if it's submerged in water, and stop working.

Silent Runner 12″ Wheel – Sugar Glider Shop

sugarglidershop.co.uk

This is great, thank you!

His current wheel is the wooden one by pets at home. I think it’s about 28cm. It has definitely got a lot louder recently, partly because it probably needs a bit of oil and partly because it’s in pieces where he’s eaten it!

 

[Maz]

I remember now! He's a naughty boy eating it! I think a silent runner would be a good option as in my experience, they tend to last for years with no issues. Providing you don't mind it being orange! And it's guaranteed to be silent.