Cage help - SOMEONE!? PLEASE!?

[Smssms01]

This is probably the *most* frustrating problem I've ever dealt with!!! EVER!!!! :grumpy:

I have a Roborovski dwarf hamster (called Nugget) and I CANNOT find a cage ANYWHERE! Right now I have him in an aquarium tank about 1 ft by 2 1/2 ft. I would really love to get him in a two-level cage that has open bars. The actuall size doesn't have to be larger, but it could be. I've found a lot of homes for dwarf hamsters, but they're always so small, and the larger cages I find have bars that are too wide.

I've gone to a lot of stores, so if you're someone who knows their hamster items, maybe you know a website I could visit? Or could I do something to an already existing cage's bars? :confused: Thanks!!

[sisco16]

when i had dwarf hamsters i kept them in a critter trail three and they never escaped :) it has many levels and is pretty big you can purchase it just about anywhere petco i believe www.drsfosterandsmith.com has it for sure or you could try ebay they have lots of cheap cages that are suitable good luck :)

[bubblz]

Hey I have three dwarf hamsters and I had the same problem when I first got them. I found that all of the wire bar gaps on any of the critter trail cages is smaller than any other brand around. Right now my guys have a rather extensive set up but I have a critter trail 3, a critter trail 1, a critter trail X, and a crittere trail Z. Thesae are all linked and I've never had any escape. Actually right now I have a litter of 5 pups and they haven't been able to escape either. I hands down suggest the crittere trail cages for dwarfs.

[PetLuver21257]

Why don't you like the aquarium tank he's in now? You can always get a cage topper for the tank.... Or get some kind of BIG crittertrail, but a tank is better than a crittertrail.

[bubblz]

eveyone has different opinions on what they like best for habitats. Personally I don't like tanks because I find they very limiting on what you can do for expansions. I find of the hamster habitats out on the market critter trail is the most dwarf friendly. Also making a tank into a multi level habitat if very difficult in comparison.

[903409518093852]

I suggest a big aquarium, maybe 30 gallons. I find all habitats they make for hamsters WAY small. I like tanks because they are nearly escape proof. She/he said they have a robo, which are smaller than normal campbells. I think the bars will be to far apart.

[Smssms01]

The problem with getting an even larger tank is that I have a limited space in which to put this thing. I really don't want to move his cage somewhere else. Thanks for the suggestions, btw!

...And I'm a she, :rolleyes:

[903409518093852]

I thought so but I didn't want to say she if you were a he lol! What is the space you have to keep them on? What about a 10 gallon with topper? They are GREAT! Wait... robos might escape. My mice can't so I dunno.

[Smssms01]

Why did you think I was a girl?! Am I that obvious?! Lol!

Anyways, I have about a space that's 1 (or 2) ft by 3 ft to put the cage in. I've never heard of this "topper" thing before, so I'm gonna look into that too.

:boat: These smilies amuse me to no end.

[903409518093852]

You can order them at petsmart.com. They looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Mooing_cow/IMG_3613.jpg
The way you said HELP ME PLEASE. or whatever. Sounded like a girl.

[bubblz]

I know the few topperes I've actually seen have rather large spaces between the bars. Also the tanks do not have good ventilation.
I know what you mean about habittats for hamsters being small. That's beacuse they are designed to have multiple modules linked together using the tubing. In an effort to mimic the hamster's natural habitat. Instead of a rectangular tank.

[PetLuver21257]

I hate critter trails, they are too small, I don't like the extension things, they are plastic, funky colors, and some are just plain ugly.

[Smssms01]

I never knew you could link the critter trails TOGETHER! And that would be really cool, the whole mimicking the enviroment thing! I'm really leaning towards that now, but wouldn't it be expensive? Could anyone tell me how much these cost?? Oh, and will I have enough depth on the bottom for shavings that he can dig in?

I'm all excited now!! :hyper:

[PetLuver21257]

They cost from $20-$40. While the tanks and top and clips only cost 15 maximum ALL TOGETHER.

[bubblz]

It's true that the funny colors of Crittertrails can sometimes clash with the decor. But the point isn't to look nice it's to make a nice enviroment fo the hamster. Other companies also make modules for hamster set ups. I've found that anything made by S.A.M, Pen-plax and crittertrail all link together too (there's one more I've used but I can't think of it). hamsters by nature are burrowing animals that in the wild would create series of tunnels with various small areas off of the tunnels. The module system is much more like this than any Aquarium could be. Seriously the glaas tanks were designed to be enviroments for fish, not rodents. Not to mention the complete lack of ventilation. If you live some where the temperature my vary greatly in your house you need to keep that in mind and time the temp rises slightly. It's probably much hoter for your hamster.
I'd say comparison shop for you cages. You maybe able to find the same cage on-line brand new for less thatn your local pet store. Where I live we have a petco and a petsmart in town. Petsmart tends to be consistantly cheaper but petco has some good sales.

[903409518093852]

Yes, the connectable cages are great. No, they are not easy to clean. Yes, I've had plenty of experience. I had a Habitrail Space Station, a Crittertrail Mini, Crittertrail One, Crittertrail outlook, (2) SAM smaller cages (I don't know the names), one large SAM cage, and umm let me try and remember... Oh wait, that may be it. They were all linked together on 4 shelfs in my closet. My hamster LOVED it so much. He got to run through all night and have fun. Me on the other hand, cleaning 7 cages every other week is NOT fun. I wash everything in the bath tub with warm water and soap and dry with a towel. Just figuring out how to make the cages link together takes hours. All together it takes about 4 hours, give or take. If you have that kind of time, go for it! If not, toys in the aquairum and tubes can stimulate the same thing as in the tubes. I got all my cages for about $35 used (except for one, $25, which totals it to $35.. all the other lot for $10). Good deals :).

[PetLuver21257]

Try eBay, they have a lot of cheap stuff there! I got an Altar Boyz CD on there for only $10.00 ($3.00 Shipping and handling)! So $13.00 all together instead of the $20+ you would pay at a store or at the actual play! I LOVE BARGAINS!

[bubblz]

Yeah cleaning the modules is more work than an aquarium. My boyfriend and I do it together. (I guess I'm lucky)....I still think the hamsters are that much happiere that it's woth it.

[903409518093852]

Well, I feel that is a matter of how much toys you put in the cage. With 12 toys and 4 home made toys in my cage, I think they are stimulated enough (this is mice now). A small pewny 10 gallon is a bit bigger than one habitrail/crittertrail. A 50 gallon, however, is like the size of 5 (I'm guessing). A tank like that, imo, is much better than one or two habitrails. Most people don't understand they need more than one habitrail/crittertrail linked together to make a suitable set up. My mice are going to have a few levels in their tank, 4 more home made toys (like a jungle gym), and some tunnels/tubes. The only problem I would say is the ventilation. They make tanks with low sides (12 inches) and that is what I'll be looking for. That provides alright ventilation.

[bubblz]

I agree that's why a pair of my dwarfs are in a set up with 4 crittertrails. The ventillation thing is my main problem with aquariums.

[cheekoandkeiko]

I've got a habitral for my 2 dwarves. They love it too. I connect it to a bin so they have more living space. I agree with the washing though...takes time to wash all those tubes!

[LMDH]

Dont put robos in anything with bars - you wont have them for long if you do.

Adult robos can get out of Critertrail. Habitrail and Rotastak. Keep them in a tank, its the safest and best thing for them.

[bubblz]

Realy? I have baby Dwarfs and even they can't get out & trust me these guys have tried. I say measure the bar gaps each brand has different sizes. and make sure you reassebley the modules correctly everytime you clean them. I found that people who have escaping problems tend to have miss alligned a piece whe putting back together after cleaning and didn't notice. And some one escapes.

[FemaleCheetah]

my dwarves have lived in crittertrails for the past 2 years and not one has ever gotten out

[FemaleCheetah]

My male and female dwarves are seperated into two 9 quart sterilite bins and they are about the size of a 20 gallon tank and I got them for $10 at walmart and all I do is leave the top off and they are just fine... I love them and they are see through.

[LMDH]

What do you mean by dwarf though? There are 4 species of hamster commonly kept as pets under the term 'dwarf'. Three of these species will be fine in a wire cage, robos wont.

You will always have exceptions where they dont escape, personally i dont think it is worth the risk. I wont put any of my hamsters at risk, and to me putting robos into anything with wire IS putting them at risk.

I have had Campbells/WWs/Chinese all in Crittertrail without a hitch - but not robos.

[bubblz]

I just find with Robo's being so small the lack of ventilation in a tank causes great risk too.

[Smssms01]

Argh! Now I don't know what to do!! And I was all excited about connecting the cages, too.

Couldn't I take a flexible wire and weave it in and out around the cage? So the bars are *really* close? I know that might take awhile, but I don't mind. Or would that just make it impossible to clean?? :(

[bubblz]

I personally think if baby Campbell's can't get out Robo's won't. I believe that my Campbell's babies are much smaller.

[Smssms01]

I could try one cage first, just to see. And even if he does get out, he'll be somewhere in my room cause I keep my door closed. And then I'll know for sure.

[bubblz]

Just be careful when putting together the cage every time you have to take it apart and you should be fine