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Showing posts with label Rotastak Hamster Cage Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rotastak Hamster Cage Articles. Show all posts
Rotastak Hamster Cage - Deciding Whether To Buy

  • 5/31/2011 12:49:00 PM
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Some questions I ask before deciding whether to buy a Rotastak hamster cage for my dwarf hamsters or not...


1. What cages are available? – a comprehensive, well-organised list with Pictures, Reviews and what I think.

2. How to efficiently clean and maintain a Rotastak hamster cage? - a simple 10 Step-article on 'How To Keep Any Hamster Home Clean'.

3. How do I maximise the amount of money I’ll be spending on my Rotastak cage? - cool ideas on how to place and setup my hamster cage.

4. Are there Pictures/Videos of other people’s pets in Rotastak cages? – so I can visualize my pet(s) living in them.


6. What do I really want? - my hamster cage wishlist

         8. How do I train my hamsters?

Some new questions that popped up...


  • ESSENTIAL things to know about caring for my dwarf hamsters? - Some helpful info and tips on how to care for dwarf hamsters.
  • Interesting Things About Rotastak Hamster Cages
  • How much space does a dwarf hamster need?
Some Q&As I’ve come across, while researching Rotastak hamster cages…





Perhaps the weirdest article I've come across during my research...
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I wonder how happy Rotastak pet animals are...

Here are some photos other Rotastak pet owners have shared:




Mischief's home by RCTLisa
(What a pretty setup using Rotastak!)













A playpen that uses 'Rotastak Spaghetti Junction Tube Kit' by simonmcglary
(This looks like a creative use of materials and space that looks cost-effective)











A mansion for a pet called 'Ghost' by Kim-Randell.
(The hamsters must really enjoy themselves just zipping around the place! Such a roomy home...)






Colin's cage by Lislis from The Hamster Fanatic Forum. (Look at the setup. Colin is a lucky boy!)



A Super Cool Video of 5 AMAZING Rotastak Pet Homes.
p.s. my favourite is the 1st cage. I love how the tube runs across the top of the doorway. The hamsters must feel like they're flying when they cross that 'skybridge'!

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This is an article I wrote to help those people who find cleaning hamster cages a chore. It is actually very simple and can be done within minutes! Click on the title to enjoy this article and do leave me some comments and ratings to let me know how useful it was. Thanks =)
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Dwarf Hamsters

  • 12/16/2009 12:22:00 AM
  • 1
I've been reading through some articles/information about Dwarf Hamsters and wrote an article on EzineArticles.com. It's "3 Simple Tips on Introducing Dwarf Hamsters to Each Other". For those who just bought new dwarf hamsters and want to introduce it to your existing one, you can follow these 3 simple steps and use it as a guide to introducing your hamsters.

Note that this article serves as a guide and, when handling your dwarf hamsters, use your discretion and be patient with them.

Do leave me some comments/ratings on my articles. Or if you've found it useful, do share it with your friends and fellow hamster owners who are looking for the information. Thank you. =)

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Taming your hamsters

  • 6/25/2009 09:08:00 AM
  • 1
Taming Hamsters

Taming hamsters requires patience, especially for certain breeds like the roborovski hamsters. I took 2-3 months before training Hamu and Hamsti to climb up my palm without trouble.

This is how I did it:

  1. Before feeding your hamsters, talk to them. Let them know you are approaching their cage and let them get used to hearing you call them.
  2. Put some treats/food at your fingers and slowly put it into the cage. Make sure you do not startle your hamster by moving too fast. Another thing to take note is, hamsters will be able to sense your fear. So if you are afraid of being bitten by your hamster, try to relax because there is a high chance that your hamster will take a nibble.
  3. Once it gets to the food on your finger, let it savour its food and do not make any sudden move. Otherwise, the hamster might get frightened and you have to wait for it to run back to your palm again.
  4. After 1 week of feeding them on your finger, it is time to progress. Spread the food towards your palm. Let it crawl towards your palm, sit and feast. (Shown in the pictures below) Alternatively, you can place the food on your palm, face the food towards the hamster and once half of its body climbs up to get the food, slowly lift your palm up. Your lovely hamster will climb up to your palm and get the remaining food.
  5. Do not try to grab your hamsters as they do not like it. Make sure that your hamster is not held at a great height in case it runs out of your palm and take a fall. All these steps can take up till a few months depending on the nature of your hamster.





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While doing more research about 'Rotastak hamster', I came across a very strange and weird article. It's title is: 'Prankster's pals turn room into man-size hamster cage'.

It was simply too strange and weird to pass up, so I went ahead to take a look.

I am baffled, amazed and astonished that a group of guys (8, to be exact), spent/invested 100 hours of their time to 'pay their friend back' for a similar prank.

Even more interestingly, it's a prank that will take their friend approximately more than TWO YEARS to clean up! (The thought is quite out of my reality-box and I am so appreciative of my friends right now...)

I admit I've imagined myself living in a Rotastak hamster cage, because it's so pretty and fun. But, I have not gone to the extent of imagining my own home being filled with shredded paper, a LARGE hamster wheel in the hall, hanging water-bottle and feeding-bowl. This article has really opened up my mind to the ways other people do choose to live in their world.

Still, I'm impressed with these people's commitment to their 'art' because the one who designed the large hamster wheel is a 'theater set designer'. So, I suppose I can see where he's coming from - (perhaps it's something he's familiar with and enjoys doing?) He must be an interesting person to get to know and it'd be nice to see some pictures and visit the apartment itself and check out what it's like to run in a human-sized hamster wheel.


Interested to read the whole article itself? You can find it at:
http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/laughs-oddities/18978-mans-room-turned-into-giant-hamster-cage-pals.html
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The recommended space for 1 dwarf hamster is at least (H) 11.8" x (W) 11.8" x (D) 17.7" (30cm x 30cm 45cm).

The recommended space for 2 dwarf hamsters is at least (H) 16" X (W) 16" X (D) 20" (40cm x 40cm x 50cm).

Although dwarf hamsters may be small in size, they need lots of space to run around.


Since Syrians live alone (unless there are babies with mum) the recommended amount of space a Syrian will need is at least 24" x 12", and at least 12" tall (61cm x 30.5cm x 30.5cm tall).

[Note: Hamster lovers suggest getting the largest size hamster cage / tank you can afford in terms of space and budget.]


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Who buys Rotastak Cages? Why do they buy?

- New Adult Hamster Owners
- Adult Hamster Owners (have owned hamsters before)
- Parents whose children want a hamster

----------------------

- New Adult Hamster Owners want...

- Adult Hamster Owners (have owned hamsters before) want...

- Parents whose children want a hamster want...
Their kids to be happy

Rotastak Hamster Cage Owners commonly want...
Their pet(s) to be Happy!
To be happy watching their hamsters in their living environment.
A cage that's easy to clean and maintain.
A good price for their cage.
To buy from a reliable seller who provides help and assistance if needed.
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10 Simple Steps To A Clean Rotastak Hamster Cage

Step 1

Remove your hamsters from your Rotastak hamster cage and put them in a safe place. (We like to cordon off a space in our room, and put our hamsters in their hamster balls to run around and play in.) If you have a spare container or tub, put some used bedding inside and put your hamsters in there instead. Avoid using a cardboard box if your pet is an avid chewer.
Step 2
Remove all the items from your cage and put them in the sink or pail. Put the rest of your disassembled Rotastak cage into the wash area as well.
Step 3
Empty all the used bedding material, poo, sand, etc into the rubbish bin or a disposable bag.
Step 4
Rinse everything with water. Be careful about using normal washing soaps as the ingredients for human soap may be too strong for your little pet(s).
Step 5
Dry everything using a piece of cloth that you can spray with pet disinfectant.
Step 6
Assemble things that attach to the side of your cage (for example your Rotastak tubes).
Step 7
Put fresh bedding in.
Step 8
Place your toys, water bottle, feeding bowl, running wheel, etc. back into your Rotastak hamster cage.
Step 9
Replace the top of your Rotastak hamster cage. Check to see your cage is secure (tubes don't fall off easily when you hold them to lift your cage off the ground). Sellotape your tubes if you want to be extra cautious.
Step 10
Put your hamster(s) back into their Rotastak hamster cage and enjoy watching them explore their 'new and refurbished' hamster home!

It's always so satisfying to see hamsters run around and explore their cage after a good hamster cage cleaning. They seem to treat it like moving into a new home and have such fun rediscovering what's in their cage again. Hamsters are so cute!
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If I want a large space for my hamsters to play in, I will have to buy many Rotastak hamster cages. I understand this can add up to be a hefty investment. Are there any cool ideas and ways on how to maximise my dollar spent - so my hamsters can have the best possible home experience of their lifetime?

Interestingly, I came across someone sharing about how he/she put their rotastak unit into a plastic bin in order to give their pet more SPACE to move around in + give his/her hamster the FUN of playing in a Rotastak unit. What a fantastic idea!

I've also seen a photo of someone using Rotastak tubes to link two tubs together for a super huge space for a hamster family. This could be a cost effective alternative to getting a Rotastak cage.

I like how large plastic tubs are. I also love how cool and funky Rotastak hamster cages are - with all the connecting tubes for hamsters to climb in and out, up and down. This would be a fantastic way to merge my two favourite hamster home solutions. :) Awesome.
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Both Crittertrail and Rotastak have their ups and downs which can make it confusing which one to choose. So, to help you and your hamster with your 'Search For The Most Suitable Cage', here's a summary of the similarities, pros and cons of both Rotastak and Crittertrail.

Similarities
  • Both cages are well known and recommended by experienced pet owners.
  • Both come in wide range of designs.
  • You can buy spare parts to enhance the size/look of your cage.
  • Cages can be taken apart so that thorough cleaning can be done, especially inside tubes.
  • Different cages suit different breed of pets.
Differences - Strong And Weak Points

Rotastak Strong Points
  1. Rotastak cages come in more shapes and sizes as compared to Crittertrail.
  2. They are more value for money because their cages are bigger in size and cost the same or lesser than Crittertrail.
  3. Cages can be modified to a single level if you are afraid your hamsters might fall.
  4. The walls of the cage are plastic walled (as opposed to metal grills) so your pet can burrow the sawdust without making a mess.

Rotastak Weaknesses
  1. Rotastak tubes are larger in size. So it will suit larger pets like the Syrian. Alternatively, mice ladders can be placed in the tubes to allow the hamsters to climb better.
  2. There are some reviews saying that Rotastak cages are difficult to disassemble, but there are others who think that it can be done very easily. The ease of assembling and disassembling the cage comes with experience. So if you are new to Rotastak cages, it might take you awhile before you get the correct technique of handling the cages.
Crittertrail Strong Points
  1. Their tubes are smaller for smaller pets.
  2. They have attractive add-ons.
Crittertrail Weaknesses
  1. As oppose to Rotastak, Crittertrail tubes are too small for larger breeds.
  2. The wheel of 'Crittertrail Revolution' are too heavy for dwarf hamsters to run.
  3. The plastic catches on the door are quite fragile.
  4. You have to pay more for a Crittertrail cage that is similar in size with Rotastak.
Overall
Overall, both cages have their good and bad points. Most importantly, choose one that will provide sufficient space and comfort for your hamsters and one that is within your budget.
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Pet owners are eager to share the success they've had with Rotastak units. Here are 5 common things people say...
  1. Rotastak units are simple to enlarge and upgrade with their wide range of add-on units and spare parts like tubes, tunnels, extensions and accessories that you can buy to link to your basic Rotastak cage. Many pet owners enjoy building empires or mansions for their small pets by linking many Rotastak units and cages together. Some people have been known to go as far as linking 12 different compartments for their hamsters!
  2. Rotastak cages come in many different shapes, colours and sizes. The variety makes it easy to find something to suit people's tastes and match their homes. The different designs, rooms, tubes, etc, which can be arranged in many different ways keeps it fun and interesting for both the pets and their owners to watch!
  3. Rotastak units are relatively easy to clean since they come in parts that can be disassembled and reassembled again, and most disassembled parts fit in a sink.
  4. Rotastak cages are designed help keep homes tidy - by keeping sawdust and bedding from flying out of the cage, and all over the floor, when pet(s) are burrowing.
  5. Pets seem to love and enjoy playing in their Rotastak cages – running around in tubes, burrowing in rooms, sleeping in other rooms, etc. The tubes also simulate their natural living environment (burrows and tunnels) better, as compared to wire cages.
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Isn't it nice to know as much as possible about a product BEFORE buying it, instead of spending the money, taking it home, and then finding out the 'problems' about it?

The Internet is great for discovering the information that you need (that the salesperson will conveniently forget to educate/inform you about). So, here are some things you might like to know about small pets and Rotastak...
  1. All pets, no matter how small, need
    • Sufficient living space to travel, exercise, burrow, hoard and sleep and eat in
    • A stimulating environment
    • Lots of attention
    If you cannot give your 100% commitment to your pet(s), it’s better that you don’t keep them as it is not fair to either you or the little animal(s).
  2. Hamsters may get bored if they are kept in only the circular original units. It's better to get combination units or join a few basic units together so pets have all the space they need.
  3. Cages which have a number of levels can be dangerous for hamsters since they have no sense of height and will just jump from the top level of the cage to the floor and either break legs or far worse their back.
  4. Long base units do not have great air circulation but there are so many different types of Rotastak extension units that will encourage your pets’ natural instincts and simulate their natural underground burrowing environment.
  5. If pets are too small to climb vertical tubes, put 'mice ladders' inside to help them. Alternatively, arrange tubes horizontally or at a slope to make things easy for them.
  6. If you want your pets to live in the best environment possible, you must be prepared to clean their cages at least once a week. If time is an issue for you, a tip is to keep the arrangement of your cages relatively simple - so it’s easy for you dismantle your Rotastak pieces, clean and put them back together again. Take photos of your original arrangement to help you remember how to reassemble it again after cleaning.
  7. For those who are afraid that your pet(s) will undo the tubes, place a small amount of tape (masking or sellotape) around the tube connectors and they won’t be able to undo them.
  8. If the noise of pets chewing wire bars (night or day) might annoy you, get one without bars.
  9. If you start off your cages when your pet is a baby, get 2 or 3 Rotastak units first. And as your pet(s) grow, you can grow your cage with it by getting new units when you can afford it. Spread the cost, and in time, your pet(s) will have an ideal, stimulating environment.
  10. Rotastak tubes can be connected to Habitrail tubes using the new Habitrail connecting rings. This means you can mix Rostastak and Habitrail units and give your pet(s) the best of both worlds!
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Although very similar, Rotastak and Habitrail both have their own strong points and weaknesses. Here's a summary of their similarities and differences (strong points and weaknesses) and overall rating that may help others, like myself, choose what’s most suitable for their pet(s).

Similarities
  • Both have 'modular design' cages made of plastic with wire panels that connect with tubes
  • Popular choices when it comes to hamster caging
  • Both very well-known and highly recommended by experienced pet owners
  • Rotastak and Habitrail are both suitable for gerbils, mice and hamsters – Dwarf and Syrian
  • Can be taken apart for thorough cleaning, and put back together again
  • Re-arrange-able for greater variety
  • Rotastak and Habitrail are both designed to simulate the natural habitat of gerbils, mice and hamsters – tubes and units simulate tunnels and burrows (as compared to metal wire cages)
  • May take a fair bit of time and effort to clean but if you have given a hamster a home, you must be willing to put in the effort to give them the best environment they deserve
  • Habitrail and Rotastak tubing can actually be connected together (using the new Habitrail connecting rings), which means you can combine both types of units for even greater variety

Differences - Strong And Weak Points

Rotastak Strong Points
+ Rotastak has a wider variety of shapes and sizes than Habitrail, which makes a more interesting pet environment.
+ Rotastak units and accessories come in a greater variety of colours than Habitrail to suit the tastes of both children and adults
+ Rotastak units are very durable when taken care of. I’ve come across a lady who still uses Rotastak pieces that she’s owned for more than 22 years!
Rotastak Weaknesses
- Tubes may be too large for smaller pets like dwarf hamsters to climb vertically. May have to get mice ladders to put in vertical tubes or arrange tubes horizontally instead.
- Some people find Rotastak connecting tubes less secure than Habitrail and have complained about their pets escaping. Some experienced users think that it may be due to inexperience that causes pet owners to be careless when connecting the parts back together. Those who’ve been using Rotastak for many years recommend using selotape or masking tape to secure joints for extra peace of mind.

Habitrail Strong Points
+ Have mini tubes for smaller pets like dwarf hamsters
+ Attractive looking units
Habitrail Weaknesses
- Has less variety of shapes and sizes than Rotastak
- Fewer colour choices than Rotastak
- Large Habitrail units cost more than large Rotastak units
- Some of the clear plastic might turn a milky colour after a while, even if you don't use abrasive cleaning products, which prevents you from viewing your pets as clearly as you might like

Overall
Neither cage is perfect. Both have their pros and cons so the choice usually comes down to personal preference and budget. Since both systems are compatible (Habitrail and Rotastak tubing can actually connect together using the new Habitrail connecting rings), give your pet(s) even greater variety by mixing and matching both types of units!
In fact, many people do keep their pets in combinations of both Rotastak and Habitrail units. If you want to see how, here’s a video on 'How to join Rotastak and Habitrail Housing Systems':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrLcXMcEu4I
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