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Recommend me your gerbil/hamster cages please

10 replies

Allice · 22/01/2018 06:25

We currently have a Omlet Qute which I love, looks great and lots of room for the boys.
It's broken sadly, we bought it second hand so I can't really complain. I'd like another new one but they don't seem to be in stock anywhere, I've emailed Omlet and am waiting to hear but if I can't get one I'd love recommendations please.
Must haves are a deep tray as they like to nest and burrow in their sawdust and be able to have a wheel as one of them runs half the day/night.

Thank you

OP posts:
littlebillie · 22/01/2018 06:28

Try eBay

bluemosquito · 22/01/2018 06:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rightsaidfrederickII · 22/01/2018 10:42

Do you have a hamster or gerbils? They have different housing needs, neither of which is met by the frankly awful Qute cage.

For hamsters, the minimum unbroken floorspace is 80x50cm; check out Zooplus.co.uk - the Barney or Alexander cages are excellent, or the Alaska if you're on a tight budget. You'll also need a wheel - 20cm diameter for dwarves or 28cm diameter for Syrians (about the size of a dinner plate). If a hamster has to bend its back or neck to run it will cause painful spinal problems.

If you want a more stylish option, or one that would work for both species, look at the Living World Eco Habitat which is a tank style cage

rightsaidfrederickII · 22/01/2018 11:35

Please don't use that cage ElfEars, it's wholly unsuitable for both gerbils and hamsters Sad

The minimum size for one or two gerbils is 100cm long x 30cm wide x 30cm high with at least 20cm deep bedding. www.woodgreen.org.uk/pet_advice/511_gerbil_accommodation By comparison, that cage is tiny. For hamsters, the minimum is 80x50cm floorspace + 35cm high www.woodgreen.org.uk/pet_advice/557_hamster_accommodation

The barred floors are problematic too - in hamsters it can cause bumblefoot (nasty, sometimes fatal, probably a thing in gerbils too) and all species can get feet caught.

The first rule of keeping small furries is that you don't believe a word the pet shop (especially Pets at Home) tells you, unless you can verify it using other reliable sources. I would recommend joining a facebook group such as Hamsters UK (I'm sure there are gerbil equivalents too)

ElfEars · 22/01/2018 12:19

Oh no sorry! My gerbils have been gone a few years now.

littlebillie · 22/01/2018 17:40

I bought a very very large plastic storage box and used animal welfare guidelines on sizing and staging. Our hamster lived for 2.5 years

Allice · 23/01/2018 21:05

Thanks all.

We have gerbils, they seems to like the depth of the bottom tank as they like to bury and tunnel.
I like the glass cage that was posted, I'm going to look at that.

OP posts:
bluemosquito · 23/01/2018 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oddsocksforeveryone · 23/01/2018 21:23

Our Roborovski dwarf hamster has a great big fish tank.
We are gerbil sitting and have now realised they may be with us a long time. There are 2 in what I think is a sort of standard gerbil cage. Plastic tub with cage on top.
I hate it. There's no way it is enough room for them, it makes me feel bad. So I'm going to build them a 5 storey house from an Ikea shelving unit we have, a deep drawer for burrowing and shelves with hutch doors.
My mum thinks I'm nuts, the hamster could fit on a spoon but you should see him running around and diving into the sawdust. I think the gerbils deserve more space as well.

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