260 replies to this topic

[Freep]

The Imac Fantasy

 

 

 

 

Specification:

Main cage includes: wire, base, level (for the loft), wheel, tubes and top living area.

• 58 cm width
• 38 cm Depth
• 38.5 cm Height

 

Extras:

An extension can be bought to add onto your imac. Each extension adds one more floor. This includes 1xlevel, 1x outer bars, 1x level cap, 2x tubes and 2 clips.

 

Parts:

parts can be replaced and bought speratly such as the tubes, clips and caps.

 

Species:

This cage is made for dwarf only, the tubes are dwarf sized.

 

Price:

• The main cage can cost anywhere from £30 to £60
• The extension can cost from £25 to £35

Availability:

This cage is only available in the UK.

 

Cleaning: 

The cage comes apart easily for a complete clean. The loft area can be taken off to clean without having to take the whole cage apart. Two access points in the loft allow you to open and interact with your hamster.

Cleaning tubes can be harder when putting them back in but come apart easily for cleaning.

 

Pros: 

• Looks very pretty
• Can stack as high as you like to give more room to your hamster.
• Easy to put together and take apart.
• Easy to keep clean.
• The wheel is a great size for a dwarf hamster.
• Can house a baby syrian while it is small enough.

Cons: 

• Only big enough for dwarfs
• The price can be very expensive
• Hard to tame a skittish hamster as doors are small.
• Low sides in the bottom level so bedding falls out
• Can not put enough bedding in for hamsters to burrow.
• Small or baby dwarf hamsters can find it hard or impossible to climb tubes.

 

 

Review

This really is one of the good cages especially if you need the space. Adding extensions is fun and allows your hamster to have more room for even more toys. The wheel is a great size for dwarf hamsters although make sure it is not too hard for it to use while it is a baby.

If being used for a baby dwarf then make sure you have food,water and a den on the bottom level until it learns to go up the tubes.

 

Putting syrian hamsters into this cage is a hit and miss idea. Baby syrian hamsters will do well at the beginning but will very quickly become to big for the cage and the tubes. The wheel is not big enough for an adult syrian hamster and there is just not enough room so your hamster will get bored and chew the bars.

 

I believe that if you are going to buy this cage for any hamster then please get at least one extension.

Edited by Freep, 25 May 2013 - 12:51 AM.

[tinypixie]

ATTN Members: A lot of really great projects are being started, of late, to better the forum! However, the Moderators are currently discussing the best way to handle projects to ensure quality, fairness, and accuracy of information. At this time we ask that you please put your projects on hold until we agree upon the best course of action. Thanks all!!

 

This topic has been locked, but never fear, it will be re-opened as soon as the Moderators decide how to handle these kinds of projects.

[Lon]

Wait this is open right?

[tbiM20]

Wait this is open right?

 

Apparently so! It was locked earlier, along with all of the other project threads.

[Lon]

yay I like this project

[quekxl]

on pg 2, i read that biscotti did a review on Harlan Teklan shredded aspen. and thanks to her very well written review, i decided to source out the company that brings it in to Singapore, and i finally did manage to find it and i end up ordering 4 bags of that for both my hamsters and gerbils. 

 

i have to say, its one of the best aspen bedding that i have ever used. well actually, i've only used kaytee aspen and this HL aspen, but this HL aspen is much much better than kaytee's aspen. it really is finely shredded and no weird smell, with much less dust. and most importantly, its SO MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL and cheaper by weight than kaytee aspen!! (even after all the shipping fees etc. btw, it was the company who brought it into SG, not by me.)

 

i even went ahead and ordered HL's paper based bedding, called TEK FRESH, which is exactly like carefresh natural, and its fantastic! i would love to do a review if i have the time

 

so once again, thank you biscotti and everyone who has reviewed the wide range of products here! if only more of the products are available in singapore then i would be so glad... oh well, i guess i'll have to wait for the day to come  

[Biscotti]

@quekxl: You're welcome.   Glad you really like the HT aspen. I've been looking for awhile for TEK FRESH to buy from lab supplier, but they never returned my inquiry, so I'd love to know what you think when you have the time. If your supplier can source all the HT bedding, you might want to try the Diamond Soft bedding, it's supposedly similar to Kaytee Clean & Cozy (white and super soft) but cheaper.

[tbiM20]

Great to hear quekxl  Biscotti did do a great job didn't she!

 

If you decide to write a review of the Tek Fresh just let me know. There's a 3 week reservation period, but you can post a review at any point as long as it's not reserved (following these guidelines.)

 

You know, this makes me wonder if it would be good to add a testimonials section? For anyone who wants to second a review or add their own personal experience. Dunno where to link them though... maybe I should just leave well enough alone :P

Edited by tbiM20, 25 July 2013 - 02:48 AM.

[tbiM20]

!!!UPDATE!!!

 

The Product Review Thread now includes edible chews and toys! I know at least one person had wanted to do chew toys but I had initially left them off the list. So if you have a favorite chew toy you want to review, send me a PM!

 

Don't forget that edible things have lots of pertinent information, like the ingredients, that wood or plastic toys don't have.

[Taxonomist]

Whimzees

 

 

General

Whimzees are potato starch dog chews that make excellent edible chew toys for hamsters.  They are also sometimes known as Paragon chews or Antos chews.

 

Ingredients

(List from Petco.com)

 

Potato starch, glycerin, powdered cellulose, lecithin, dried brewer's yeast, color added (malt extract, annatto extract, alfalfa extract)

 

 

Varieties

Whimzees come in multiple shapes and sizes.  The following is a list of the different types and their sizes.  Not all types and sizes are available at all retailers. Sizes in red font are not pictured.

 

Toothbrushes (XL, L, M, S, XS)

 

 

Alligators (L, S)

 

 

Sticks (L, S)

 

 

Celery stalks (L, S)

 

 

Hedgehogs (M, L)

 

 

Crossbones (S, L)

 

 

Price & Availability

Petco sells small trial packs of Whimzees for around $3.00 each.  The trial packs contain 1 - 4 chews (depending on the size and shape chosen).  Available trial packs include:

 

4 S toothbrushes

4 S sticks

2 S alligators

2 M toothbrushes

2 M sticks

1 M hedgehog

1 L alligator

 

Full-sized packs are also available for around $16:

 

49 XS toothbrushes

27 S toothbrushes

17 M toothbrushes

7 L toothbrushes

3 XL toothbrushes

 

27 S sticks

7 L sticks

 

7 M hedgehogs

4 L hedgehogs

 

17 S alligators

7 L alligators

 

Non-chain pet stores sometimes sell indivudal, unwrapped chews for $0.50 - $7.00 each, again, depending on the size and shape chosen.  As a note, non-chain stores are the only place to get the celery and crossbones shapes--Petco does not carry these.

 

Recommended shapes and sizes

It's best to err on the side of getting larger chews.  It's really not ideal for the hamsters to pouch them, so it's best to remove the chews when they get too small.

 

That said, the XL and L sizes are probably unnecessarily large for hamsters.  Most of the M and S sizes would work very well, especially the alligators and hedgehogs. The XS toothbrushes are wonderful for dwarf hamsters, but should be used with caution for Syrians, as they may be small enough to pouch.  

 

Use & Effectiveness

These chews seem to be popular among hamsters.  The different shapes and textures give lots of options for chewing.  Hamsters especially seem to enjoy the nubs on the alligators and hedgehogs.  These are great for picky chewers that are unimpressed with wood blocks.

 

As with any edible chew, it's probably best to offer Whimzees only with supervision.  Some hamsters will go nuts with them and try to eat the entire chew in one sitting (which is not healthy).

 

When Whimzees get damp from being chewed on, they do develop an odor that some may find unpleasant.

 

Comparison to similar products

Whimzees stand head and shoulders above other products in their class.  They don't have added sugars (like Ecotrition Cheesie Chewz) and they don't have mile-long ingredient lists (like Greenies).  They're a simple, natural choice.  Even the dyes used to color these chews are of natural origin.

 

Pros

+Very appealing to hamsters

+Inexpensive

+Come in fun shapes

+Natural and healthier than similar alternatives

 

Cons

-Hamsters may overindulge

-Smell a bit when damp

Edited by Taxonomist, 01 August 2013 - 06:02 AM.
Added an ingredients list

[emiee7]

Great job Tax!

[jukeboxbri]

I was waiting for a review of Whimzees, thank you! My hamsters aren't really chew fanatics, so hopefully they'll take to these when I pick them up the next time I'm out.

[HoppingHammy]

Thank you so much for that Taxonomist!

What a wonderful, detailed review that covered all of the questions I had about Whimzees. It's nice to know they sell small, trial packs for those who are unsure if their hams will like it. Next time I'm at Petco, I will definitely get some. (I can just picture little Streudel, sitting atop a green alligator. )

 

Fantastic as always! Nicely written.

[Mazie]

Thank Tax!! I'm glad to see the trials are so cheap Going to get my girls the trial pack of small alligators, since Biscotti posted pics of Raster/Fiona enjoying a hedgehog Whimzee

Edited by Mazie, 01 August 2013 - 06:57 AM.

[Ldoerr]

Great job Tax. I did not know that they even sold them at Petco. I might have to go and get them this weekend. Do yo know if they are safe for rabbits? (my hamster has WAY more treats than my 2 rabbits combined).