Socks: Mouseworks Dynamic Cardboard Redesign and Basic Tunneling

[Socks Mum]

I have ordered some Viking Lazer perspex panels for the HH cage door and 1x front so that some (but not all) of the array of cardboard can come off. And sat the cage off the ground in case of any mouse visits. I don't have mice, but want to avoid them just in case.

 

[Socks Mum]

His play pen is busier than before and he is pretty good at working out routes through the boxes. He likes stomping around in the cereal box!

 

[Socks Mum]

His play pen is busier than before and he is pretty good at working out routes through the boxes. He likes stomping around in the cereal box!

I am still mulling over cage options as he definitely needs a bigger cage. Tank or wire cage? He has a powerful urge to run and roam and needs to interact. I would say that hamsters are just as demanding as a dog or cat, but he does sleep very soundly all day, which is a big bonus when I am at work. He loves being handfed and seems to enjoy being stroked gently on the fur covering his scent glands and sometimes on his forehead. He is amenable to being picked up but is quite restless when in my hands.

 

[Socks Mum]

I am still mulling over cage options as he definitely needs a bigger cage. Tank or wire cage? He has a powerful urge to run and roam and needs to interact. I would say that hamsters are just as demanding as a dog or cat, but he does sleep very soundly all day, which is a big bonus when I am at work. He loves being handfed and seems to enjoy being stroked gently on the fur covering his scent glands and sometimes on his forehead. He is amenable to being picked up but is quite restless when in my hands.

I think hamsters have a very powerful instinct not to spend time in the open in case of birds of prey and it takes quite a lot of taming from an early age to get them to feel safe in the open.

 

[Maz]

Yes they do - although strangely my current Syrian seems totally unafraid of being out in the open - in his cage or free roaming - but still instinctively goes into tubes or dark areas.

The Perspex would really help .

Which cage is always a difficult one. It’s a big purchase as well. I like the Savic plaza barred cages. But to get the Perspex all round for that doubles the price so it ends up being about £160. And for £180 you can get a Bucatstate 100 Perspex tank which also has a front opening door. I was tempted with one of those recently as they were on sale on Black Friday. But - I still think the ventilation on a barred cage is much better. Maybe someone with a Bucatstate can comment on how good they find the ventilation.

On the other hand. The Savic plaza with cardboard instead of petspex is only £80.

If you have space. The new plaza 120 is fantastic - I love it. It has a big top door and a big front door. Mine was £114. It’s not as big and bulky as it sounds - mine fitted into the same space my previous plaza 100 fitted - it’s about 20cm longer and quite a bit deeper but not much taller.

Pets at Home are supposed to be selling it online (from 23 December) but can’t see it on their web page yet. I suppose “from” a date could be anything!

 

[Maz]

On the other hand, if you do have concerns about mice, then a tank style cage could be better. The standard Plaza with full Perspex panels (which replace the bars) costs more than the Bucatstate 100.

The plaza bar spacing is slightly less than the hamster heaven - I measured it as 8mm but officially it’s 9mm. But mice can get through anything bigger than 7mm.

If you find a second hand Barney or Alexander cage (both 100cm cages) they have 7mm bar spacing. Another advantage of that is the bedding doesn’t fall out with narrow bar spacing so no need for Perspex panels.

Some second hand Barneys are only 80cm though (the older ones).

 

[RainbowBrite]

I personally like tank style cages and had one custom made as I am hopeless at DIY. I am not sure if you are into DIY at all but there are some cheaper ways of making hamster cages using IKEA furniture.

Rather then order the panels, would it work to use cardboard for now until you can get cage upgrade? I would not want you to waste your money on the panels when you will not be using them for long.

 

[Socks Mum]

Socks gets through cardboard very quickly and knows that bar biting will make me pay attention, cheeky sausage! I also want to reduce the number of ragged toilet roll inners on the cage front or at least concentrate them in one place. If I get a bigger Savic Plaza 120, which appeals to me, I can hopefully use the panels around a deep bedding area.

 

[Maz]

Yes you can re use the panels He might not chew on a plaza anyway - I find they tend not to bar chew in a 100cm cage.

 

[Socks Mum]

Thanks for all the great recommendations. I will research them. If I got a tank and the weather turned very hot, I suppose I could put Socks into the HH until it got cooler, or during the day when he sleeps anyway. I'm don't have much DIY experience

 

[Socks Mum]

Thanks for all the great recommendations. I will research them. If I got a tank and the weather turned very hot, I suppose I could put Socks into the HH until it got cooler, or during the day when he sleeps anyway. I'm don't have much DIY experience

 

[Socks Mum]

That's good news about the big cages, bar biting is a danger to their teeth.

 

[Socks Mum]

It's great having a pet who sleeps all day He still needs fresh water and access to food and a clean toilet of course.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Thanks for all the great recommendations. I will research them. If I got a tank and the weather turned very hot, I suppose I could put Socks into the HH until it got cooler, or during the day when he sleeps anyway. I'm don't have much DIY experience

I have a tank style cage and have a thermometer attached to it. It does not get any hotter then the room it is in. There is ventilation through the mesh on the lid so you need not worry about that.

I understand that. I could never begin to make a hamster cage. If you like tank styles there are places that make them or you can get an actual glass tank but if you like cage style then your plan of waiting to get the Savic 120 is great.

 

[Socks Mum]

Yes they do - although strangely my current Syrian seems totally unafraid of being out in the open - in his cage or free roaming - but still instinctively goes into tubes or dark areas.

The Perspex would really help .

Which cage is always a difficult one. It’s a big purchase as well. I like the Savic plaza barred cages. But to get the Perspex all round for that doubles the price so it ends up being about £160. And for £180 you can get a Bucatstate 100 Perspex tank which also has a front opening door. I was tempted with one of those recently as they were on sale on Black Friday. But - I still think the ventilation on a barred cage is much better. Maybe someone with a Bucatstate can comment on how good they find the ventilation.

On the other hand. The Savic plaza with cardboard instead of petspex is only £80.

If you have space. The new plaza 120 is fantastic - I love it. It has a big top door and a big front door. Mine was £114. It’s not as big and bulky as it sounds - mine fitted into the same space my previous plaza 100 fitted - it’s about 20cm longer and quite a bit deeper but not much taller.

Pets at Home are supposed to be selling it online (from 23 December) but can’t see it on their web page yet. I suppose “from” a date could be anything!

Raffy is such a sweetie!

 

[elusive]

A good tank style cage shouldn’t get too hot if it has enough ventilation, there are ways of cooling things down like putting ceramic items, tiles & sand in the fridge for a while but you definitely wouldn’t want to be moving Socks to another cage once he’s settled in the new one, although they’re fine coming out in the playpen their home is their home & moving them is very stressful.
Personally I prefer bar cages for both interaction & ventilation & think they’re a lot easier to set up than tanks.

 

[Socks Mum]

I have a tank style cage and have a thermometer attached to it. It does not get any hotter then the room it is in. There is ventilation through the mesh on the lid so you need not worry about that.

I understand that. I could never begin to make a hamster cage. If you like tank styles there are places that make them or you can get an actual glass tank but if you like cage style then your plan of waiting to get the Savic 120 is great.

I must admit, I am drawn to the Savic 120 as it's really spacious and does not seem very heavy. It's the same size as his playpen and he can pick up a bit of speed in that!

 

[RainbowBrite]

I must admit, I am drawn to the Savic 120 as it's really spacious and does not seem very heavy. It's the same size as his playpen and he can pick up a bit of speed in that!

I really hope it is available here soon so you can buy one.

 

[Socks Mum]

A good tank style cage shouldn’t get too hot if it has enough ventilation, there are ways of cooling things down like putting ceramic items, tiles & sand in the fridge for a while but you definitely wouldn’t want to be moving Socks to another cage once he’s settled in the new one, although they’re fine coming out in the playpen their home is their home & moving them is very stressful.
Personally I prefer bar cages for both interaction & ventilation & think they’re a lot easier to set up than tanks.

True, Socks wouldn't like being hot and bothered about moving between cages, which is stressful for them.

 

[Socks Mum]

Yes they do - although strangely my current Syrian seems totally unafraid of being out in the open - in his cage or free roaming - but still instinctively goes into tubes or dark areas.

The Perspex would really help .

Which cage is always a difficult one. It’s a big purchase as well. I like the Savic plaza barred cages. But to get the Perspex all round for that doubles the price so it ends up being about £160. And for £180 you can get a Bucatstate 100 Perspex tank which also has a front opening door. I was tempted with one of those recently as they were on sale on Black Friday. But - I still think the ventilation on a barred cage is much better. Maybe someone with a Bucatstate can comment on how good they find the ventilation.

On the other hand. The Savic plaza with cardboard instead of petspex is only £80.

If you have space. The new plaza 120 is fantastic - I love it. It has a big top door and a big front door. Mine was £114. It’s not as big and bulky as it sounds - mine fitted into the same space my previous plaza 100 fitted - it’s about 20cm longer and quite a bit deeper but not much taller.

Pets at Home are supposed to be selling it online (from 23 December) but can’t see it on their web page yet. I suppose “from” a date could be anything!

Hamsters are smart! Apparently dogs can't rotate a stick to get it through a doorway, but hamsters will put it down, adjust his or her hold and pull and push the stick through the door! Rodents can be quite smart animals.