I posted this in Daisymoo's thread but it seemed a bit off topic and wafflish in there so I thought it'd be better in it's own thread.

I hear loads of negative comments on these two brands on lots of hamster forums. I do sometimes think lots of people have never seen the cages in question and have just heard negative reviews or have seen one tiny set-up with no extensions and judges all set-ups against that one. Are they really all that evil, or is there a lot of misinformation?

Personally I love Habitrail, for single robos I don't think it can be beaten. They have lovely enclosed wheels the correct size (Habitrail mini fly wheels) and the mushroom drinking oasis so they don't have to reach up and use big waterbottles. You can extend them and rearrange them to add interest and space for your hamster. The locking rings are a brilliant invention and used correctly the cages are very surdy and escape proof. Every section opens to get to your hamster to add toys or food. Need to go to the vets, just twist of a cage section and off you go. I'm trialling a Habitrail/Crittertrail set-up with a syrian over the next few weeks.

A basic Habitrail set up wouldn't be any good for a syrian (or even a dwarf) as there isn't enough floor space, but they do extend wonderfully. There is absolutely no reason you can't set one up with the cage floor space of a multistorey Imac Fantasy, but they do take up more of your living room floor or surface space because they don't stack or but up to each other easily. Connect enough sections together though (eg 6+ pods) and you are left with loads of space for toys and running around (though no money left in the bank). You can buy 9inch Habitrail wheels that attach to any Habitrail cage. They have far more air holes than rotastak.

Rotastak I don't really like, but it's ideal for chinese hamsters which is why I got a job lot second hand. It has far less ventilation, harder to put together (though it stacks easier), requires costly purchases of anti-gnaw rings and ladders etc. And even second hand it's expensive. Most of the units sold are far too small to keep hamsters in too. And the only wheels big enough for syrians have to be fitted externally. However actually having some and using it I don't see that it quite deserves it's bad reputation. Sugar and Spice give it the paws up anyway.

I'm not trying to say that everyone should go purchase one or recommend them to everyone. I just don't see that they are worse the the other major hamster cage manufacturers. Also all the negative comments I get from people saying Acorn's cage must be too small before the see it don't help.
I have several Imac Fantasies (personally recommend these for syrians), Savic cages, Crittertrail cages, Ferplast cages, Fantasia cages, SAM, horrible Tesco cages (good for vet transport) and bin cages, even a Dora the explorer cage (Merlin came home in one so he wouldn't chew through the cardboard box in the car!). Many of them linked together, apart from the Imac Fantasies, most of my hamsters have more than one cage to run around in. My Habitrail and rotastak places just add to Hamstertropolis in my living room

Below are the comments I see the most often, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Habitrail tubes are no smaller than Ferplast tubes, Savic tubes, Imac Fantasy tubes, Fantasia tubes, SAM tubes and countless others. All of my syrians, even the biggest can turn completely around in them. All but the very oldest ranges have air holes in the windows of the tubes and ridges to help the hamster climb down.

Rotastak tubes are marginally (about 1 mm) smaller in diameter however few of them come with air holes and they have no ridges. Also they have right angles not elbow bends that are harder to navigate.

Actually I'll agree with you on this for Rotastak, to get my russians out I've given up and take the cage to bits! Habitrail is easy-ish for hamster removal, every section has a removable lid which is actually big eough to reach into.

Dwarf hamsters can manage Hamitrail and rotastak tubes horizontally and at an angle of up to about 50 degrees. Robo hamsters can climb Habitrail mini tubes vertically and have no problem with elbows. I assume chinese hamsters would have no problem with Habitrail mini tubes though I often wondered if larger russians can fit though (never tried it). Rotastak tubes can be adapted with Rotastak ladders for vertical climbing, all dwarf breeds can use these, though my robos do fall down them sometimes rather than climbing down in a dignified manner. Though I have one rotastak curvy tube my dwarfs cannot manage.Other tube manufacturers are very hard to use vertically with dwarfs as the ladders are hard to fit with elbowed tubes (can be done though).

The standard Habitrail Ovo wheel is 7.5 inches, bigger than a lot that come with normal cages, though short of the 8 inches recommended for syrians. Habitrail do a 9 inch external wheel. (This can also be attached to Rotastak units with Crittertrail connectors).

I heard this one a lot, none of mine have this problem, though I personally can't see the point of the Ovo waterbottle design. The wire cages it's not problem as they can have normal water bottles.

Learn to build to cage properly, use the locking rings (Habitrail) or wire clips (Rotastak) correctly. I'm not saying they can't fall to bits, but I've never had a problem.

Umm, time consuming and fiddily admitedly compared with Savic and Imac cages.

Not in a modern Habitrail it won't. Some of the much older units (years and years ago) have smaller air holes. I guess if a syrian squeezed itself into a attic or loft bedroom with a ton of bedding it would be uncomfortable, but I'd say the same for any small plastic house.

My hamsters have been fine in their Rotastak, though most tubes have no air holes so you do need to keep them short and the kidney units have tiny airholes (mine really don't seem bothered).

They do this is cages with levels too, or if they don't have enough wheels, or water bottles, or just because. I wouldn't recommend them for groups, but they're fine for one hamster on it's own. (having said that Sugar and Spice get on fine in there's at the moment).

Depends how big they are and what you put in them. Too many extra tiny dens, attics, lofts and towers are pretty pointless. My hamsters use all their big sections as long as there is a reason to do so - wheel, food, favourite toy, etc.


So are they really that evil, or just expensive and misunderstood?

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I have habitrail for my dwarfs! and wouldnt have it any other way!!!!, i love rotostak, its more nateral as in the wild they have tunnels and tubes etc!! im all for rotostack and habitrail always have always will!!

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i had a rotastak for my two dwarfs, unfortuantly they did start fighting but theres always a chance when you keep two hammies together. They are also right bu**ers to clean and put back together.
Unfortuantly i do believe the wheel is too small for syrians - if their back rubs on the pole in the middle it can cause deformaties if they're always on it. I haven't put my syrian in one since i think he would be too big although i know he would love it if the wheel was bigger (wheel is my only problem) x

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Mental enough to own a Basenji X who has a profession of sniffing carpets and crying - wouldn't change it for the world!!!!

My problem with these cages is if someone bought just one and didn't bother connecting up a few together, for example if someone thought that the ovo was a suitably sized home for a hamster, but I guess there are some absolutely awful wire cages available too and there will always be idiots.
Personally I wouldn't use them because they are too expensive and a pain in the arse to clean.

To add to the list of questions/comments! Would you not be worried about a syrian chewing through the plastic? A dwarf hasn't got the same chewing power but Iv seen what a determined syrian can do!

I kept my Chinese hamster in a rotastak cage and she loved it. It was quite tall and had quite a few extensions. My Roborovski has got an habitrail loft with a maze extension on and he seems happy enough. I can't see that these cages are any worse than any other cage really as long as you get the extensions. I have also had the habitrail mini cages and connected two together for a roborovski and it was fine and the hamster seemed happy - still got two in the shed I think.

i see from a few comments that the people who own the rotastack/habi/crittertrail cages that there for there dwarf hamsters.

but i still think i'd rather see a syrian in a hamster heaven,savic cambridge,imac fantasy,zoozone/gabber rex cages.

and on madabouthamsters.com u can be sure that the hamster breeders and owners on there myself included don't use the rotastack,crittertrail cages.

but its up to personal opinoin what they choose for there syrian to live in.

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I'm Amy I have a
German shepherd-blade.
10 male rats.
2 male mice.
1 Syrian hamster.

My hamster, Mack, has a Habitrail Ovo loft. He is a syrian but he's not a big fatty as i don't fill him full of treats. It is perfectly big enough for him and he spends most of his time in his bed or pootling round on his wheel anyway.

I would say out of the 10 hamster cages i have had over the years... this one is by far the best. The only draw back i think is the water system. I don't like the bottle and don't like that he has to drink upside down although he doesn't seem fussed that he has to?

I didn't extend mine because it's already pretty massive. Has a lovely mesh lid and each side has a lifting side so you can get into the food bowl.

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“It is not what you say that matters but the manner in which you say it; there lies the secret of the ages.”
William Carlos Williams (American Poet, 1883-1963)

I have gerbils, but I really love my rotastak.
I don't think it's too much of a pain to clean, because it doesn't all need cleaning twice a week - only the toilet areas then the rest get a full wash and disinfect every so often.
I find it fun to put together and think of new things, rather than a pain in the bum.
The cage itself becomes interesting to the animals, a rearrange every so often will keep them busy for ages.
The anti gnaw rings protect things from being chewed so you shouldn't have to replace anything.
My current set up allows full access in each area, but I don't find it a major problem when there isn't because they tend to come up to the food area with the front door when I'm near the cage.

I did have a habitrail ovo for a short time, but it was the absolute pits imo. Took up so much more room than the animals got, not really stackable, everything was chewable, the bases of the large units obscured your view of the animals and there were a few other niggly things that I can't remember.
That said, other habitrail stuff looks fab to me, I've just never tried it.


Here are a few pics

I get what you are saying about the cages

I personally am one who doesnt like them.. I got one with a syrian in that i once rescued. All ht had was a starter cage, which he had lived in for a few years

He came to me and i immediately put him in a big rat cage (which he loved)

The reason i didnt like the rotastak, is because it was tiny (yes i know it can be added to)
It was a pain in the backside to take apart and clean and the wheel was tiny (even for a russian imo)

However... I love the look of the pink rotastaks you can get. I would love one, but they are way too expensive and the dwarfs i have wouldnt be able to manage the tubes

Never tried a habitrail cage, so i cant comment

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Oscar and Molly Pooches
Oliver, Lily, Jacob, Sweep, Stevie, Blue, Dillon, Daisy and Flopsy Rabbits
Midnight, Alice, Bethany, Midget, Hermionie, Dora, Valentine, Casper, MJ and new babies!!! Meeces
Dean, Bella, Ruby Hammies

Yes I agree, they are only suitable for dwarf hamsters really. My two Syrians have an hamster heaven each.